Teddy guinea pigs are an adorable alternative to other guinea pig breeds.
They have a teddy bear-like appearance with their long fur and small size.
This, combined with their docile personality, has made them one of the most popular types of guinea pigs.
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Why Are Teddy Guinea Pigs Popular Pets?
One of the main reasons for the popularity of the teddy guinea pig breed is that they are relatively low-maintenance pets.
They don’t require a lot of exercise, and they can be kept in a small cage.
Additionally, they rarely bite or scratch, making them ideal for children.
Their small size also means that they can be housed in a variety of different environments, from apartments to suburban homes.
And because they don’t require a lot of food or water, they are a relatively economical pet to own.
Overall, teddy guinea pigs make great pets for people of all ages who are looking for the low-maintenance, docile animal.
Thanks to their adorable appearance and calm demeanor, they are sure to be a hit with anyone lucky enough to own one.
Where Do Guinea Pigs Come From?
Guinea pigs are originally from South America.
They were first domesticated by the Incas and used as a food source.
Today, they are popular pets all over the world.
Some people may be surprised to learn that guinea pigs are not pigs, but rather rodents.
They belong to the same family as hamsters and gerbils. While they make great pets, guinea pigs also require a lot of care and attention.
Where Do Teddy Guinea Pigs Come From?
Teddy guinea pigs are a specific breed of guinea pig that was developed in the early 1900s.
They get their name as they really look like a living teddy bear.
The dense coat of a teddy guinea pig resembles that of a stuffed animal toy.
Teddy guinea pigs come in a variety of colors, including white, brown, or black coloring.
Despite their cuddly appearance, teddy guinea pigs are hardy and active little animals that make great pets.
They are very friendly and love to play, so they are perfect for people who want a pet that will keep them entertained.
If you’re thinking about getting a teddy guinea pig, be sure to do your research first; these little guys require a lot of care and attention.
But, if you’re up for the challenge, teddy guinea pigs are worth considering!
Where Did Teddy Guinea Pigs Get Their Name?
Where did a teddy guinea pig get its name is a common question.
The answer to this question is not definitively known, but several theories attempt to answer it.
One theory is that teddy guinea pigs got their name from President Teddy Roosevelt.
In 1902, Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in Mississippi when he came across a small, furry creature.
He was so fascinated by the animal that he refused to shoot it and instead had his aides capture it.
The creature was later brought to Washington D.C., where it was named Theodore Roosevelt’s “teddy bear” cub.
Apparently, among many other animals, Theodore Roosevelt had several guinea pigs named Admiral Dewey, Dr. Johnson, Bishop Doane, Fighting Bob Evans, and Father O’Grady.
A more likely explanation for the teddy guinea pig’s name is that it was inspired by a stuffed animal, a teddy bear.
Whatever the true origin of their name may be, one thing is for sure: teddy guinea pigs are one of the most popular types of guinea pigs today.
What matters is that they are known for their soft, plush fur and their sweet, docile personalities.
So if you’re looking for a cuddly pet to call your own, a teddy guinea pig might just be a perfect choice!
How Do Teddy Guinea Pigs Look Like?
This type of breed is different from other guinea pig breeds.
Teddy guinea pigs have short hair and come in a variety of colors, including black, white, beige, brown, and gray.
Not only that but they also come in mixed patterns of two colors.
This breed has a very distinct rough dense coat, and if you ever touch them, it feels like you’re touching a real teddy bear.
And because of their coat, most people are more likely to choose this breed over others.
They typically weigh around two pounds and measure six to eight inches long.
Physical features
Considered a small pet, adult teddy guinea pigs reach the length of 10 to 12 inches and grow to be around 3 pounds heavy.
If you pay attention to their nose, you will see it’s slightly wider and has a curve upwards.
Their dense fur makes them resemble a teddy bear.
Life span
On average, guinea pigs have a lifespan of 4-11 years.
A teddy guinea pig in the right environment and the right diet can live up to 11 years or even longer.
In the last few years, teddy guinea pigs have become even more popular because of their unique personality and ability to warm people.
The ability to warm people means they have a very energetic and cheerful nature.
Born of genetic mutations
Here’s the most shocking fact about your teddy guinea pig: it was born by a genetic mutation.
So, if you are not sure whether this type of breed is perfect for you or not, you have to read this next section.
How Big Does a Teddy Guinea Pig Get?
When it comes to guinea pigs, there are a lot of different types and sizes.
But how big does a teddy guinea pig get compared to the average guinea pig?
Teddy guinea pigs are about the size of a regular guinea pig, but they tend to be a little bit bigger.
They are between 10 to 12 inches large and between 1 to 3.5 pounds heavy.
So, if you’re looking for a small pet that’s still got some heft to it, a teddy guinea pig might be the right choice for you!
How Long Do Teddy Guinea Pigs Live?
Teddy guinea pigs are a specific breed of guinea pigs that have a life expectancy of around 7 to 11.
An average guinea pig can live for up to five years.
To live a long and healthy life, teddy guinea pigs require the same level of care and attention as other guinea pigs.
If you are interested in owning a teddy guinea pig, be sure to research all the necessary information on proper care and feeding before bringing one into your home.
By providing your teddy guinea pig with everything it needs, you can ensure that it will live a long and happy life.
What Do Teddy Guinea Pigs Eat and Drink?
In this section, you will know all about your teddy guinea pig diet.
A healthy diet for teddy guinea pigs includes hay, a small amount of fresh vegetables, and water.
They should not eat any processed foods, like cereal or crackers.
Processed food is unsafe for guinea pigs as they cannot digest most foods that we find tasty.
However, that doesn’t mean that all fruits and vegetables are safe for these small animals.
For instance, calcium in some foods causes bladder stones, which can be very dangerous for a teddy guinea pig.
Guinea pigs have a fragile digestive system and any disbalance in their diet can cause many health problems.
Therefore, you will have to be careful when choosing the best, healthy, and balanced guinea pig diet.
Also, not all guinea pigs have the same food preferences and choices.
You have to try and see what works best for your furry friend.
Fresh vegetables that are safe for teddy guinea pigs include:
- Romaine lettuce
- Cucumber
- Broccoli
- Carrots- Bell peppers
Water is essential for all living things and should be provided to teddy guinea pigs in a spill-proof bowl.
Hay is also important for their diet and should make up the majority of their food.
Timothy Hay
Timothy hay not only contains fiber but also calcium and proteins.
This is the single best food resource for your teddy guinea pig.
You can use timothy for your teddy guinea pig’s bedding as well.
If you choose timothy hay for their bedding, you have to replace it regularly to eliminate all the wet parts as your teddy guinea pig will pee in it so it may get sick.
So, what should you do?
You will train your guinea pig to eat from the hayrack.
This will also allow them to differentiate the bedding hay from the food hay.
Here is a beautiful trick you can use: when you use a hayrack, you can mix some pellets and other food with their timothy hay.
A Top-Rated Guinea Pig Diet with Fruits and Vegetables
Like humans eat fruits and veggies to fulfill their nutrient requirements, every teddy guinea pig also needs fruits and veggies.
Fruits and vegetables are the best resources of vitamin C, which is very important for your pet.
And they will make “wheek” sounds to express their desire and love for this food.
Nonetheless, fruits are also the source of sugars, and for guinea pigs, this sugar is dangerous.
It will cause diarrhea so you have to make sure to feed them in moderation.
Which foods and vegetables are best for your teddy guinea pig?
Special Pellets for Teddy Guinea Pigs
When it comes to pellets, you have to provide your teddy guinea pig with high-quality pellets.
If you give your teddy guinea pig low-quality, cheap, low-class pellets, it can cause serious health problems.
All guinea pigs have a very sensitive digestive system.
That’s why they require high-quality foods and lots of fiber, which aids their digestion.
If pellets have at least 16% fiber, 20% protein, and a high vitamin C, those are high-quality pellets.
Never give your pet:
- Chocolate and other “human treats.”
- Dairy products
- Meat
- Corn
- Iceberg lettuce
- Tomato leaves
- Potatoes
- Anything that has sugar in
- Rhubarb
- Raw beans
- Multi-vitamins
These foods are harmful, and some are poisonous.
Schedule the Guinea Pig Diet
Guinea pigs are creatures of habit.
They have a specific time to eat, sleep, to play.
So, if you train your teddy guinea pig to eat at a specific time, your pet will eat at this specific time.
But what if you are busy, and you don’t have the time to give them food?
It will affect their balanced lifestyle.
And so, it’s must you provide them with food at their specific time.
Why Is a Teddy Guinea Pig the Perfect Pet for You?
When you walk into the guinea pig shop, you’ll find more than 11+ different guinea pig breeds to choose from.
However, every single breed is different and has its characteristics.
Nonetheless, guinea pigs are easy to manage.
When you are not at home, you can leave your guinea pigs in your kid’s hands.
And not only are they easy to manage, but they are very sociable pets.
They love to make noises, play with humans, and eat.
These small animals also love to cuddle.
The great thing about teddy guinea pigs is that they are inexpensive.
How To Care for Your Teddy Guinea Pig?
Caring for a teddy cavy is like caring for a baby.
When you bring them to your home, you’ve got to feel you’ve brought home a baby – you’ve got to become its parent.
And just like any baby, they need your time and attention but don’t get this wrong, caring for a teddy guinea pig is not hard.
Teddy guinea pigs need plenty of exercise to stay healthy.
A good way to provide this is by giving them a large running area where they can play and explore.
If you don’t have enough room for a running area, you can also set up some toys for them to play with.
Teddy guinea pigs love to play and will be very active when given the opportunity.
If you are not sure about the size of the guinea pig cage you will need for your teddy guinea pig, it has to be 8 square feet per guinea pig.
Keep your pets moving inside the cage with chewing balls, tunnels, mazes.
If you will don’t do this, they will feel bored and get depressed, and it will make them sick.
Most guinea pigs love to climb, so you can add some ramps to the cage.
Your teddy guinea pigs love to chew things so give them something to chew.
Make sure what you are giving them is non-toxic – the best thing you can give them is cardboard.
Besides all these things, you can give your teddy guinea pig a friend.
How to Understand What Your Teddy Guinea Pig Is Saying?
Do you have the ability to understand your pet’s language?
You might want to understand the 8 different sounds that every teddy guinea pig makes.
They make this sound to communicate with one another.
And if you know these unusual sounds, you will understand what they are saying.
So here are these 8 different sounds:
Wheeking
Just like every dog “woof,” and every cat “meow”- every single teddy cavy “wheek.”
This is the most common sound among the other eight ones, you will notice they make these sounds more often.
But what does this sound mean?
Well, they make this sound when they are hungry.
As you know now, your guinea pig has a specific time to eat, so, they make this kind of sound when it’s time for their meals.
They are like human babies, they cry if they are hungry.
The same for your teddies; they make these sounds when they are hungry.
And here is the most exciting thing about this sound: In one experiment, some scientists noticed, naturally, they can’t wheek.
What do I mean by that?
It means when guinea pigs live in the wild, they do not depend on anyone.
So they do not make this sound, they just search for food and eat them, but when people start adopting these guinea pigs, they have to make these sounds to grab their owner’s attention to give them food.
So, these sounds are not natural to them, they just adopted this sound.
Purring
Purring is the second kind of sound that your guinea pig makes.
If you ever see a cat, they make a “Purr” sound.
This is the sound that your teddy guinea pig makes but in a very low pitch as compared to the cats.
Now, what does this sound mean?
Well, your teddy guinea pig makes this sound when feeling happy and content.
Pay attention to this sound when you spend time with your guinea pig, as that is a sign that your piggy is happy just because you are around.
Rumble
Rumble is the third kind of sound every teddy guinea pig makes.
This kind of sound is just similar to Purr.
This kind of sound they make when they want to mate with the opposite sex.
Most owners don’t have the privilege to hear this sound because they don’t have a male and female teddy guinea pig.
But if they do have, they will listen to this sound more often.
Most teddies make this sound and start moving their hips and walk around with the female teddy guinea.
This is the most usual pattern they make.
If you are thinking, only male teddies make this sound, then you misunderstood.
Also, female teddies make this sound to attract male teddy to mate.
It’s a signal they give their male partner.
Growling
Growling is the fourth type of sound that your guinea pig makes.
It sounds like “DRRR DRRR.”
And most teddies make this sound when they feel like somebody is threatening them, or somebody is going to harm them.
Sometimes they make these sounds when there is a sudden change in the environment.
It may be a high-pitched sound or loud music, as you may know, your guinea pig does not want any changes.
It’s also possible they make this sound if there is some kind of fight going on in their cage.
Teeth Chattering
Teeth chattering is the fifth kind of sound that your teddy guinea pig makes.
The best part about this sound is this: as humans, we also make this kind of sound when we are in a cold environment.
But for the guinea pig, it is a different situation.
They make this sound when they are feeling angry, or anxious.
Or they are in an unpleasant mood.
For example, if you have one guinea pig in the cage, then you bring in another one inside, they both start making these sounds as they are not comfortable with each other.
Both of them produced this kind of sound to warn each other to not interfere with them.
Cutting
Cutting is another kind of sound that your guinea pig makes.
You may hear this sound as “Schutt Schutt” by your guinea pig.
Now I want to tell you an exciting thing about this sound.
And that is not all breeds of guinea pig make this sound.
If you have other kinds of guinea pigs, some will make this sound, and some of them will not.
But what does this sound mean?
Well, what this sound means is they are happy, and they’re in the perfect mood.
They make this sound when they are in good spirits but don’t confuse it with the purring sound; they are similar but not identical.
To be more specific, most guinea pigs make chanting sounds when feeling relaxed.
Shrieking
Shrieking is another sound that your guinea pig makes.
This category of sound you sure hear from your teddy cavy, it’s because it is one of the loudest sounds that they make.
This sound may scare you.
But why would a guinea pig make this kind of sound?
A guinea pig might produce this sound when in pain, for example.
Also, it is a sound that expresses horror, when a guinea pig gets scared of something.
Hopefully, you won’t hear your teddy guinea pig scream (shriek).
Whining
Whining is a high-pitched moan.
A guinea pig produces this sound when disturbed by something or bothered by someone.
For example, suppose your teddy guinea pig is sleeping and another guinea pig starts bothering him or her.
Therefore, that is a sound a guinea pig will make to express dissatisfaction and complaint.
And if you pay attention to them, you will notice they are complaining about something.
If you pay attention to these sounds, you will understand their feelings.
Do Teddy Guinea Pigs Bite?
That’s a tough question to answer because it depends on the individual teddy guinea pig.
Some might never bite, while others might occasionally nip at their humans.
If your teddy guinea pig does happen to nip you, it’s important not to snap back or show any signs of aggression.
Instead, remain calm and try to figure out why your guinea pig bit you.
Maybe they were feeling scared or threatened?
Or maybe they were trying to express dominance over you?
Whatever the reason may be, it’s important to correct the behavior as soon as possible.
If your teddy guinea pig feels like they can get away with biting people, they’re likely to do it again in the future.
But if you handle the situation correctly and show them that biting is not acceptable, they’ll likely stop doing it.
In short, whether teddy guinea pigs bite depends on the individual guinea pig, but you should always correct any unwanted behavior as soon as possible.
Are Guinea Pig Bites Dangerous?
Guinea pigs are lovely and loving pets.
They have a very calm demeanor, and they love their owners very well.
And in most cases, guinea pig bites are light and hardly leave any marks.
And if your guinea pig bites you regularly, it might be a sign that they are afraid of you.
Gaining the trust of your guinea pig can take time and effort.
So, here are more tips that will help you to build some fantastic relationships with your little guinea pigs:
- You must wash your hands before and after you interact with them
- You have to build trust with your guinea pig by becoming familiar with them
Final Thoughts
A teddy guinea pig is just one of the many guinea pig breeds.
However, teddy guinea pigs are among the most popular pets because of their wonderful nature, sociability, and size.
These pocket-sized pets are great companions that like to cuddle and spend time with their owners.
Old guinea pig owners know that the best way to bond with a guinea pig is to spend some time with the pet and play with it.
Provide your guinea pig with quality food, unlimited amounts of timothy hay, and soft bedding in which a guinea pig can burrow.
Change your pet’s water frequently and don’t forget to equip the guinea pig cage with toys such as ramps, tunnels, chewable exercise wheels, etc.
Or, simply place cardboard and toilet paper rolls and let your teddy guinea pig run around, play, hide, and burrow.
You will be happy having a happy and healthy pet.
