Hello from Kentucky!

[FurballLove]

I don't have guinea pigs as of yet, I do plan on adopting a couple of the little darlings.
I know I could give them lots of attention and love!
I'm here just learning all I can about the species and their needs, This would be my first time with guinea pigs.
I currently have 4 cats and I do have experience with a ferret.

Please share all your experiences with your furballs, good and bad. I'd like to know all I can!

A couple of Questions...

When I walk up to guinea pigs; for example, in the Library or in a Pet Store they seem to scatter for their lives to find a hiding place,
I've read that guinea pigs love attention and affection.
My questions are..
Do guinea pigs like to be held and cuddled?
Or do they perfer to just be petted?

I'm thinking the temperment of a guinea depends on each individual, Though I would like to know are all guinea pretty much timid?

Do guineas need baths?
If so, Do they enjoy them?

Do guineas learn there names as cats and dogs do?
Examples: Turning their head when you call them, Or maybe walking over to you when you call them?


Please, Feel free to share all your experiences with your piggies, good and bad, I want to know all I can about the little creatures.

 

[artcgirl]

Guinea will tend to hide when you approach them because they are prey animals and you are so much bigger than they are. It doesn't mean that they don't like you. And as fare as being held some guinea pigs like being cuddled more than others, it just a personality thing.

Welcome to Cavy Cages by the way

 

[fairylover]

Hello from Virginia. I used to give mine baths, they don't especially like it, but I used to dry them with the hair dryer, and they loved that afterward! I read it's only neccesary if their fur is terribly matted. If you do give them a bath use very shallow water not even up to their bodies, use baby shampoo. I don't know if they make guinea pig shampoo? Be really careful with them.

 

[guineapigluver1]

No, you shouldn't use human shampoo (baby or otherwise). HyLyt is a good shampoo brand for using on guinea pigs as well as 4 Paws Bunny Shampoo. But they don't really need baths (it really dries their skin out, adn they just don't need them). If you do give them baths I wouldn't do it more then every 6 months. And they need to be like 99% dry. Using a towel first then a hair dryer on low setting, keeping your hand on the pig at all times to make sure it isn't to hot.

 

[starshine123102]

Welcome to GPC, I'm glad you decided to adopt your new piggie buddies!

You can find the answers to most of your questions in the stickies at the top of each forum. If you have a general question the fastest way to find it is to do a forum search from the search tool in the toolbar.

 

[tehdoc809]

When I walk up to guinea pigs; for example, in the Library or in a Pet Store they seem to scatter for their lives to find a hiding place,
I've read that guinea pigs love attention and affection.
My questions are..
Do guinea pigs like to be held and cuddled?
Or do they perfer to just be petted?

This very much depends on the cavy. All of mine (3) enjoy lap time, however Gertrude loves it when you scratch her on the chin no matter where she is.

I'm thinking the temperment of a guinea depends on each individual, Though I would like to know are all guinea pretty much timid?

Yes, guinea pigs are prey animals and as such their "flight" instinct tells them to hide when something big is approaching. Now after you've kept them for a while, say around 5-6 months this will have died down and they probably wont run away form you as much. I know my Heidi and Gertude we've only had for about 4 months now and they still run form us from time to time.

Do guineas need baths?
If so, Do they enjoy them?

Not so much and it depends. Guinea pigs, being prey animals, keep themselves very clean, as a defense so they don't look sickly. You can bath them though if they really look like they need it or its a very good method for introducing new cavies to each other. However, you shouldnt do this too often because they have sensative skin and you can damage it.

Do guineas learn there names as cats and dogs do?
Examples: Turning their head when you call them, Or maybe walking over to you when you call them?

In a way, yes. They are intelligent little creatures. Guinea pigs have very good hearing and can learn sounds very quickly. For example my piggies know what the refridgerator door sounds like and will start wheeking for food when they hear it. The same with any kind of plastic bag noise., because their pellet bag makes a similar noise. You can also train guinea pigs like you can dogs and cats. The two easiest being to stand and to turn around in a circle. So its possible to teach them to come when you call them, it just might take some time. I know that you can pretty much get them to do anything if you coax them with food

 

[fairylover]

Ok, I'll never give my new ones baths or use human shampoo again.

 

[FurballLove]

Guinea will tend to hide when you approach them because they are prey animals and you are so much bigger than they are. It doesn't mean that they don't like you. And as fare as being held some guinea pigs like being cuddled more than others, it just a personality thing.

Welcome to Cavy Cages by the way

Yes, That makes sense.
Now its just a matter of finding the right piggie personality for me.. Is there anyway of knowing her personality before you adopt?

Thank you for the welcome.

 

[FurballLove]

Welcome to GPC, I'm glad you decided to adopt your new piggie buddies!

You can find the answers to most of your questions in the stickies at the top of each forum. If you have a general question the fastest way to find it is to do a forum search from the search tool in the toolbar.

Alright, Thankyou for the welcome, and I will definetly be sure to read those stickys, Thanks for the tips,

 

[FurballLove]

This very much depends on the cavy. All of mine (3) enjoy lap time, however Gertrude loves it when you scratch her on the chin no matter where she is.



Yes, guinea pigs are prey animals and as such their "flight" instinct tells them to hide when something big is approaching. Now after you've kept them for a while, say around 5-6 months this will have died down and they probably wont run away form you as much. I know my Heidi and Gertude we've only had for about 4 months now and they still run form us from time to time.


Not so much and it depends. Guinea pigs, being prey animals, keep themselves very clean, as a defense so they don't look sickly. You can bath them though if they really look like they need it or its a very good method for introducing new cavies to each other. However, you shouldnt do this too often because they have sensative skin and you can damage it.



In a way, yes. They are intelligent little creatures. Guinea pigs have very good hearing and can learn sounds very quickly. For example my piggies know what the refridgerator door sounds like and will start wheeking for food when they hear it. The same with any kind of plastic bag noise., because their pellet bag makes a similar noise. You can also train guinea pigs like you can dogs and cats. The two easiest being to stand and to turn around in a circle. So its possible to teach them to come when you call them, it just might take some time. I know that you can pretty much get them to do anything if you coax them with food

Awh, How sweet!
All that info is great to know! It helps alot, Thankyou very much.

 

[artcgirl]

Yes, That makes sense.
Now its just a matter of finding the right piggie personality for me.. Is there anyway of knowing her personality before you adopt?

Thank you for the welcome.

You could always ask they people your adopting from of the volunteers about the personality and quirks of that particular piggie. Hope that helps