how to play with guinea pigs

To make guinea pigs like you, spend lots of time with them and be consistent. They will chase each other around, play with their toys, eat near each other and communicate with different sounds. Some guinea pigs are happy to sit on their owner’s knees for a good hour before wishing to head home whilst others never really take to it and are fairly relieved to go back after ten minutes, he best indication is to take the lead from your guinea pig, if they become nibbly, biting at your clothes, trying to dig, wriggle or make a high pitch squeak then its fair to say its time to put them back inside! Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad4ab1b23dbda63163202fc687c793a1" );document.getElementById("ja745ddbdd").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Notify me of follow-up comments by email. gives you one on one time with them to just enjoy being with each other. Like dogs and cats, guinea pigs also have a variety of breeds to choose from. If that doesn't work, ask her to call a vet's office and verify this information with them. Guinea pig play involves spending time together where the guinea pigs appear happy. Off To The Races: Does your guinea pig come when called? Guinea pigs each have different personalities, though, so while one guinea pig may love playing with a small ball or a stuffed animal, another might disregard them completely. Guinea pigs each have different personalities, though, so while one guinea pig may love playing with a small ball or a stuffed animal, another might disregard them completely. Because guinea pigs thrive on consistency and schedule, The Humans provide the Happy Cavy with floor time every day for about 45 minutes. Think of the basic guinea pig enclosure, equipped with soft bedding, water bottle and food dishes, as only a starting point. Guinea pigs love little hideaways and nooks, and this tunnel is a perfect way to meet this need. Guinea pigs have been one of the best pocket pets for many years due to their ease of maintenance. Do this a couple of times. Guinea pigs love to play with all kind of toys. Bonding with your guinea pig is an important part of learning to care for them properly. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Because of this, it is not only a hideout, but also a fun chew toy for guinea pigs. Bonding with your guinea pig is an important part of learning to care for them properly. Monitor your guinea pig(s) and make sure they are … Your guinea pigs will enjoy crawling in and out of each circle. In this case, 88% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Are you a new pet parent who simply has no clue what these adorable rodents like to play with? The more time and love you put into caring for your guinea pigs, the more love you will get back. Here Are Our Top 20 Picks For The Best Guinea Pig Toys: They need plenty of exercise and significant variations of foods daily so that they will remain healthy, and of course, to keep them from getting bored. How to Host Floor Time for Your Guinea Pigs Required fields are marked *. If you have a new guinea pig, then you should start with, We recommend always keeping a towel, thick blanket, or a. Use your arrow keys to move the tiles. Slowly reach your hand into the cage while holding a treat. Alternatively, you could wait until the grass is completely dry before taking your guinea pig outside. 10. These are some guinea pig appropriate games But be sure the grass has no chemicals (such as weedkiller or fertilizer) in it, which can be poisonous to your pet. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. A playpen can be very useful to guinea pigs. They will also need a run where they can exercise more freely. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Guinea pigs enjoy their free time outside their cages. Your guinea pig will feel like something is wrong and may become afraid. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Guinea pigs require access to everything they require at all times. Obviously don’t sit too close to the TV and ensure your attention isn’t solely focused on your favourite show. Go online and show her an article that proves you're right, or even a few articles if that helps. As we all know, guinea pigs are active and intrusive little animals. This activity is a good way to keep your guinea pig exercising and alert! Create a “track” using playpen... 3. One day they may be happy to sit whilst other days they desperately want to go back inside their, With regards to frequency, We would advise that between once and twice a day is perfect for your guinea pig especially since they will also be enjoying, There are several ways to make lap time more enjoyable for your guinea pig, ensuring you are calm and relaxed helps them learn there is nothing to fear, along with using the same blanket or, What to do if your guinea pig doesn’t like lap time, This way you can let them run over your legs without you touching them. Hamsters are small and energetic and love to climb, burrow and can run safely in a plastic ball.. Like dogs and cats, guinea pigs also have a variety of breeds to choose from. If your guinea pigs like each other, they will also engage in other games such as running around the cage or playing with toys among each other. Some guinea pigs are happy to sit on their owner’s knees for a good hour before wishing to head home whilst others never really take to it and are fairly relieved to go back after ten minutes! All pets enjoy this human interaction and guinea pigs are no exception! Guinea pigs are fun pets that have a significantly longer lifespan than most household rodents. Guinea pigs love to chew on and play with them. Your email address will not be published. After that, put veggies in his cage. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Lap time (also known as playtime or cuddle time) should form part of your daily routine. They may still run for cover when you go into the room or near the hutch since that’s part of their “run from predators” nature however they will be eating out of your hand (literally) the more time you spend with them. To make guinea pigs like you, spend lots of time with them and be consistent. If you have a room you can close off safely, you can let yours loose to explore. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Since guinea pigs are herd animals, they are actually very social and require a lot of attention. Although that doesn’t mean you can’t play with them with something like the t.v on in the background, just use your best judgment. The last thing you want during lap time is to be uncomfortable or wet. You can even gather these from your yard as long as the wood is safe for your guinea pig to chew on. Thanks! Remember some piggies are more active during lap time than others as well! Guinea pig pregnancies can be dangerous to their health and lead to the death of the female cavy. Make sure that the ramps and stairs are solid. Take a paper towel roll and create small holes along the length. Plastic toys can go in the dishwasher. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 105,392 times. If you have a new guinea pig, then you should start with how to hold your guinea pig for the first time. What does it mean when a guinea pig squeaks or whines when you turn it on its back? Here are the best three ways to exercise a guinea pig: Exercise them in a large cage with toys Let them roam and play in a safe area in your home, Provide a … Nibblers and chew toys are usually made of a sturdy natural material, such as wood. Refrain from brushing your guinea pig during their first few outings. #5. Frequent handling each day is essential to your guinea pig's happiness. My guinea pig came from a place where he was poorly socialized, how can I help him trust me so I can pick him up? Make sure you are moving a bit faster than your guinea pig so they can chase after it. They also need regular opportunities to play with other guinea pigs or people. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. They actually listen too! They will learn that you are not so scary and you can slowly introduce stroking them. It would also be helpful to cover any accessible areas of furniture that your guinea pig chew on, such as the corners of couches, tables, or chairs. This includes open space, food, water, safe hiding places, toys, and companion guinea pigs. Set the area up before you bring your guinea pigs out, having their favourite. There are 21 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. They will hardly play dead if they see a predator approaching them because while doing so will make them an easy target to the predators. With regards to frequency, We would advise that between once and twice a day is perfect for your guinea pig especially since they will also be enjoying indoor playtime, again take the lead from your guinea pig. They are typically ideal for homes that have limited space for bigger pets (such as dogs or cats). Keeping your pet guinea pig busy and providing plenty of playtime will make them very happy. Try not to feel down heartened! They don't seem to play. That's why it's best to have some sort of enclosure when you let them out.. You can buy playpens for small pets, but a kiddie … Starting slowly with just a two minute lap time and building up can work wonders as can combining lap time and indoor play. Switch out those toys when you clean their cage so that they have a new set of toys to play with. It’s always best to start slowly when introducing lap time to guinea pigs, so don’t expect them to sit for hours and be happy with it. They can become withdrawn or depressed, maybe even unfriendly, if left alone for a long time. Allowing your guinea pig outside is good for his health and well-being.Guinea pig runs are popular enclosures that will allow your guinea pig to play safely outdoors. We would love to hear from you! They will associate it with lap time. Three Fun Games to Play With Your Guinea Pig 1. If he has bathroom issues, then put down a beach towel or blanket ad let him run around! All guinea pigs are different and some guinea pigs love lap time, others will get used to it with time whilst a few hate it always and forever! She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Guinea pigs are wonderful little animals to keep as pets. Guinea pig games will feature less bombastic noise and tail-wagging than a game with a pet dog would. They will feel comfortable in their environment and will love exploring when it comes to indoor play! Make their space entertaining I know- you’re wondering about the ways on how to make a guinea pig playpen. We’ve found that a great number of pet shops undersell the amount of attention and companionship that guinea pigs need. Tie the other end to the top of the guinea pig’s cage. Female guinea pigs will have what looks like a tiny grain of rice. Make the room safe. They are most active during early morning and evening hours, so it would be ideal to let them play at that time. Well, I am laying in bed with Pinky the G-pig laying in my lap snuggling as we do every morning. Guinea pigs are sociable and intelligent. Tie a string around the middle of the piece of fruit. important for both you and your guinea pig friends. Guinea pigs are social and love the attention from humans as well as their own kind. If you want to give them more of a challenge, you can hide the treats inside tunnels, behind other objects, or even tie them to the cage! But there are plenty of fun, adorable and relatively simple ways to exercise and also play with your guinea pigs that you may not have thought of. I often find myself just chatting away to our little piggies. Guinea pigs are fun pets that have a significantly longer lifespan than most household rodents. Another question we get asked a lot! Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1 Could you make an inside outside with fake grass, or is it deadly for Guinea pigs? ", "I was so scared I wasn't going to be a good Ginny mom. Their adrenaline gets activated when they find themselves in a tense situation. ", "This article helped me a lot. Also, keep any other pets, such as dogs or cats,... 3. The 12 DIY chew toys we’ll be talking about are: In fact, guinea pigs are so social that they are perfectly capable of bonding with their cage mates AND with you as well. They are social animals and need company, or they will feel depressed. Let your guinea pig enjoy eating and playing with the food at the same time. There are several ways to make lap time more enjoyable for your guinea pig, ensuring you are calm and relaxed helps them learn there is nothing to fear, along with using the same blanket or fleece each time you hold them. I often find myself just chatting away to our little piggies. Treats are a great way to play with your pet. By using our site, you agree to our. If … wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If there are no rooms available, set up a playpen, provided that your guinea pig can’t chew through the mesh. Chocolate, in particular, will just lie down and listen to me whilst Orange climbs right up to my face! Hide n' Seek Guinea pigs can be very curious little critters. Here are 4 tips on how you can build a stronger relationship and make your guinea pigs like you. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. "My husband came home with a guinea pig 2 weeks ago as a surprise for me! If guinea pigs are happy with each other they will whistle, purr, among other vocal and body language demonstrations. Male guinea pigs will appear to have a white ring in their genital area. Interact and bond with your guinea pigs several times daily. ", https://www.texvetpets.org/article/owning-guinea-pigs/, http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advice/how-to-keep-your-guinea-pig-entertained.html, http://abyssinianguineapigtips.com/outdoor-guinea-pig-run-ideas/, http://littlestrescue.org/guinea-pig-care/, http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18+1800&aid=3411, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Do not force them into lap time though, if it causes them distress to have lap time, increase indoor play, and spend your time sitting next to their cage and talking to them instead. comment below! Ensure you have somewhere not too far away from their. How to Host Floor Time for Your Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs do sleep, but they need a whole lot less sleep than humans and are actually capable of sleeping with their eyes open! A downside of owning such a small and adorable pet is that they get bored just like any other animal and risk getting fat. ", "I am a new mom to my guinea pig, and learned how to make toys for him to play with. Make sure that you place plenty of water and good-quality hay in the run as well. Guinea pigs need safe toys to play with and chew. From the moment you bring your guinea pig home, the bonding process begins. This article has been viewed 105,392 times. Should I worry? How long should you play with your guinea pig? Find out here which runs we recommend. Remove any weeds, and debris from inside the enclosure area. On your way to your veterinarian’s office, keep your guinea pig on a cool, wet towel. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0c\/Play-with-a-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Play-with-a-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0c\/Play-with-a-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1690378-v4-728px-Play-with-a-Guinea-Pig-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"