How to potty train??????

[Pumpkin_RIP]

I would really like to replace my pig's Carefresh bedding with a blanket, but I have no idea how to potty train, any help or advice from others who use a blanket?

Also, what is the best way to introduce a young cavy to a senior??? I'm worried the older one will be agressive and hurt the young one. Both are females but still....

[Pumpkin_RIP]

no one?! Ah well...I'll check back again later....

[mbyrne]

Hi There,

I am pretty new to all this, but from what I have read, and learned from personal experience, you can`t potty train a guinea pig. Some will use a litter box, and some will not. I read a lot of people put the litter box under a hay rack, or where the piggies sleep, under their hidies, as this is where they tend to go. If you are hoping to switch over to fleece bedding, the fleece wicks the wet away to the underlayer to keep the pigs dry, and you can vacuum or sweep up the poops once or twice per day. If you use fleece, you dont have to use a litter box if your pigs won`t use it. My pigs didn`t use theirs when I changed over, the only thing having the pan in he cage did was cause shavings to scatter across he fleece.
Sorry, I don`t know anything about introductions, but there are lots of posts on that subject.
Good luck, Monique

[Pumpkin_RIP]

Thanks for you help

[newpiggiemommy]

I have a fleece lined cage and I have a "kitchen" loft. All of the pigs food, water, and hay is up in the loft and that is where they do most of their bathroom things. They do also go in their hidey houses, but not that much. I have very little poop on my fleece. I don't know if you can "potty train" them, but you can cut down on the poop in the cage if you put all of their food, water, and hay in one area and put bedding under it!

As far as introduction, the only thing I know is to introduce them in a VERY neutral area! Sorry that is not much help!

[alerz]

I would really like to replace my pig's Carefresh bedding with a blanket, but I have no idea how to potty train, any help or advice from others who use a blanket?

Many people here, including myself, use fleece as bedding, to be more specific. Fleece is a nice option because it quickly "wicks" urine, meaning any moisture basically goes right through the fleece to whatever is used underneath. Several layers of towels or cotton mattress pads are the two most popular choices used for underneath the fleece. I personally think fleece is a really good option and if you switch to it, you will most likely fall in love. Weekly, all you do is shake out the fleece, throw it with the towels into the wash, and put it all back into the cage (or have another set ready so that you can immediately replace the bedding, which is what I do). Most guinea pigs cannot be potty trained completely. However, you can use Carefresh or some other type of shavings/rags/newspapers in the areas with the heaviest traffic. For example, I place wash rags underneath all the hidey houses/lofts where they spend a lot of time and I have newspaper in the box where the hay is kept. This minimizes the amount of urine and feces on the fleece. Again though, the urine will quickly wick through the fleece and be absorbed by the under layers if you have enough layers and you replace the bedding regularly. The poops can easily be picked up by a hand vac or a little broom and pan.

Also, what is the best way to introduce a young cavy to a senior??? I'm worried the older one will be agressive and hurt the young one. Both are females but still....

From what I know, it's actually best to pair up young cavies to seniors a lot of the time since one is laid back and not as "worried" about dominance issues. If anything, I think the younger one would be feistier, although eventually, the baby will realize the older pig is not as interested in running around and fighting. I know others here have experience with this so hopefully they can respond.

[Pumpkin_RIP]

ok, thanks! I think my pig would love fleece beding more, it's much softer.

[Cherish]

I've actually found it extremely easy to house-train all of my guinea pigs.

All of mine are mostly "free range"- when either me or my husband are home, they have the run of the flat. We get the occasional rogue poo, but in general they go into their cage to do their business.

If you want your pig to do his/her business in a designated area, say a litter tray, for example, you simply put a piece of their soiled bedding on it.
Then if they poop on the floor, you just place it onto the litter tray.
Eventually, they will get the idea.

After we potty-trained our first two guinea pigs, the babies we got later on both followed their example and went to the loo in the right area automatically.

[Cherish]

Sorry- I forgot to mention about introducing!

I myself have only ever introduced males (who are extremely territorial) but I don't think that introducing females would be much different.

I find that it is best to introduce them in a completely neutral area, that does not smell familiar to either pig, so your older pig is less likely to feel like the baby is trespassing on their territory. I usually introduce mine in the bathroom, as it is one of the few rooms they are not usually allowed access to.

Make sure the room is warm and comfortable, put some towels or blankets down if you have a tiled floor, and that there are no nooks and crannies to for them to get lost or stuck in (or just set up your run in there).

Is there a certain time of day that your guinea pigs seem the happiest? I always introduce mine in the early evening, as this happens to be the time that mine tend to be the most sociable, but it might be a different time of day for your pigs.

Then just sit on the floor with one of them on either side of you, and allow them to come to each other.
Then you just need to give them lots of time to get to know each other; it might look like they are attacking each other at first, but if no blood is drawn, it's best just to let them work it out.
Although with females, you've got a much better chance of it working out right away. They don't tend to be as aggressive as males.

Oh, and when you put them back in the cage, make sure you put them in at the same time, together, and make sure the cage has been thoroughly cleaned, and perhaps move some of the toys and food bowls around, so your older pig doesn't recognise it as her territory, and she will be much more likely to accept the baby.

(Sorry for the long, rambling post!)

[bamby71994]

I just got a litter tray today! Perhaps I could start that when exploring? Its a bit hard to keep up with him!

[Char-x]

Why is this in the "In The News" section =S rofl

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by Char-x

Why is this in the "In The News" section =S rofl

It's been moved to the correct forum section now.

[gpigluver14]

Guinea pigs pee and poo wherever they eat. So if you want to have less mess, just put a litter pan where their food and/or hay is. They should use it and become "litter-trained".