How to unspoil a pig

[The Dumpling]

I think I've been too indulgent with Dumpling. I think she's perpetually unhappy with me. Which begs the question - who owns who now?? =)

So last Saturday morning, she starts squeaking at 7:30am. After about 10 minutes, I eventually realized the squeaking wasn't part of my dream - it was actually Dumpling. My friend from out of town was staying at my place too, so Dumpling actually woke both us up. Later on, my friend and I were studying together - Dumpling kept squeaking for 5 hours nonstop, even after I'd given her muchos muchos vegetables! There were still vegetables in her cage - but she wanted tomatoes (which I wouldn't give her in large quantities). And everytime we rattled a plastic bag, or opened the fridge, she became extremely shrill (which really interrupted our studying, so I had to stop and give her something).

It's too bad she's so cute. I feel bad not giving her food, but the constant squeaking has got to stop! She sounds so pitiful, the little rascal. I'm sure a lot of people know this story with their own pigs. Suggestions? The problem is, my apt is really small (1 room), so there's no where for me to hide. She can see me whenever I'm home!

 

[ChadWPB]

Do you have only Dumpling? I don't think she is spoiled at all. She is lonely! Dumpling would benefit greatly from another sow as company. Please consider adopting a new sow (same sex) buddy for Dumpling.

I like to think I spoil my pigs rotten. And they don't seem to mind at all!

 

[The Dumpling]

I don't have room for 2 pigs at this point. My entire apartment is pretty small (under 400 sq feet, including my 1 closet, bathroom and kitchen). And my apt is narrow too - if I expand her cage, I wouldn't be able to walk around it. I'm not kidding when I say that Dumpling can see wherever I am in the apartment. So when I'm studying, my dining table/desk/computer stand is only a foot away from her cage (which is why she keeps squeaking because she sees me there). I think it's cute, but I do believe she's a bit too spoiled - even when I put her in my lap to try to calm her, she still squeaks (and I know it's because I won't give her the tomatoes). When I finally feed her the tomato piece, she's quiet for about 15 minutes, then continues squeaking for more. And no other vegetable appeases her.

 

[dandelion]

My one piggy Taz wakes me up every morning around 7am. Once he runs out of pellets and there is light outside he starts squealing for more pellets. I have to wake up, give him more or he won't be quite, then I go back to sleep. Its just the normal routine now. I've thought of giving him more pellets at night, but he would just eat them all up just as fast anyways! I don't know what you can do with Dumpling...if anybody suggests anything maybe it will help me too!

 

[aqh88]

Then get her out of the cage. She's not wheeking for food. She's wheeking for you. Orbit will wheek for hours if I don't get him out then he just lays next to me for 45mins or so before I put him back in the cage. He's happy for the rest of the day after that. She's lonely. You either need to get another pig which if you have a big enough cage for her you should be able to fit 2 females or play with her more. This is why everyone always says to get 2 guinea pigs. In my 11x11 room I have a 4ft fish tank, an 18sq ft Lshape cage, and a 2x4. I can easily get to anything in my room because I put everything around the walls. You can always find room and it sounds to me like your wheeker is telling you she's very unhappy. I also feed mine at specific times. They may start wheeking an hour early but they still don't get fed until then. They only wheek around feeding time otherwise I'd be deaf with 7 in here.

 

[pennick]

I only give my piggies treats and their veggies after I get home from work in the evening. I made the mistake of once giving them a treat in the morning before I went to work. The following morning at 6:00 they started wheeking. There are people still asleep in my apt at that time so this was not working out. I immediately stopped giving them veggies in the morning and their wheeking has now stopped. Its very easy to spoil your piggies which is okay as long as they dont make you a wreck. I also make sure there water bottle and food is filled at night so I dont have to bother with their cage in the morning. Sometimes I have to sneak out in the morning especially when they are scurrying around the 3rd floor looking for me.

I would be careful about too much veggies and treats. Too much is not good for them. Sometimes I just go over and give them a pat and that seems to calm them down.

 

[ChadWPB]

I don't have room for 2 pigs at this point. My entire apartment is pretty small (under 400 sq feet, including my 1 closet, bathroom and kitchen). And my apt is narrow too - if I expand her cage, I wouldn't be able to walk around it. I'm not kidding when I say that Dumpling can see wherever I am in the apartment. So when I'm studying, my dining table/desk/computer stand is only a foot away from her cage (which is why she keeps squeaking because she sees me there). I think it's cute, but I do believe she's a bit too spoiled - even when I put her in my lap to try to calm her, she still squeaks (and I know it's because I won't give her the tomatoes). When I finally feed her the tomato piece, she's quiet for about 15 minutes, then continues squeaking for more. And no other vegetable appeases her.

Then you should have thought about getting pigs in the first place. Guinea pigs are very social animals. Housing them alone makes for a mediocre existence for them at best and can be detrimental to the pig's health. I'm sure that somehow you can expand a 2x3 to a 2x4, even if you don't have a lot of room.

 

[The Dumpling]

Except that my 1 room contains all my furniture - bed, desk, bookshelf, wardrobe, TV stand, a couple chairs, halogen lamps, as well as a ton of boxes. I can't even buy the economy size detergent b/c it doesn't fit (unless I leave it on the floor). My kitchen isn't even a separate room - it's a part of the same room. So this room also has my fridge, sink, stove w/oven on top, and one cabinet for all my pots/pans/dishes. Not even counterspace - if I'm using the cutting board, I put it on the stove itself! Seriously, NYC studio apts are different from apts elsewhere.
And now that we all know the layout of my apt...
I agree with what you said regarding feeding her at specific times. I'll give that a try and see if I can train her that way. And now, it's not lap time or floor time that she's squeaking about - when I had put her in my lap or on the floor, she wouldn't stop squeaking either. I usually give her a few hours of outside-the-cage time when I get home from work.

 

[The Dumpling]

Thanks for your advice Pennick. Yeah, I'll try to minimize the amount of treats and vegetables - she's definitely gotten use to it.

 

[pennick]

If you wanted a 2nd piggy, I see nothing wrong with adding another one to a 2x3. Not so terrible. I also live in an apt., I was able to make a 2x4. I dont have another inch to add to mine either. I know where you are coming from Dumpling? No room means no room. I went up instead, added a 2nd level. So if you do want to add another piggy, a 2x3 is fine. Having a companion I feel is more important than having an extra 14" added to your cage. Its up to you, and if you don't, fine.

 

[ChadWPB]

Thanks for your advice Pennick. Yeah, I'll try to minimize the amount of treats and vegetables - she's definitely gotten use to it.

So instead of improving her existence, you're going to make it worse by reducing the amount of veggies you give her?

I am sorry you are forced to live in a cramped apartment, but you really should have considered this before you acquired any pigs. I used to live in NYC, so I can see where you're coming from. But space really is an issue with guinea pigs, as well as providing a second buddy pig for Dumpling.

You might have to sacrifice some human things to make room, but I really think with some effort on your part, you can open up an additional 14" x 28" space for the cage. As for the cage, how big is it? If it's a 2x4, you've already built enough room to support one more pig.

 

[citronsoul]

What about building up for another pig?

 

[ChadWPB]

What about building up for another pig?

Not the best idea, since pigs need flat-out running room but it works for folks low on room, especially if the upper floor is large, like a 2x2 loft and a 2x3 bottom floor.

 

[The Dumpling]

Relax Chad.

Thanks again for your advice Pennick. Her cage is 2x3. Yeah, I had been thinking about building up for a while but haven't figured out the safest way to do it.

 

[ChadWPB]

I am relaxed. However, I am providing an opinion that might be unpopular with you.

Do what's best for your pig. Humas are far more adaptable.

Don't EVER tell me what to do. Thank you.

 

[pennick]

I am sorry you are forced to live in a cramped apartment, but you really should have considered this before you acquired any pigs. I used to live in NYC, so I can see where you're coming from. But space really is an issue with guinea pigs, as well as providing a second buddy pig for Dumpling.

So let me see if I understand what you are saying. You should not adopt a piggy unless you can make a 2x4 or larger cage and can provide another piggy as a cage mate. Better to leave the piggy where they originally came from.

Is this your belief?

 

[dagwellismypigy]

I think you should get another pig, two pigs in a 2X3 is still WAY more room than they would get in petstore cages.

 

[Katie]

In my opinion, why not move some of your not so needed human things out, like a dresser, tv stand, desk or dining room table? I myself do not have a dresser, all of my clothes that can be are hung in my closet and I have rubbermaid drawers that fit in my closet for my socks etc... My TV, VCR and DVD player are on the floor, I don't have a dining room table, I eat with a coffee table, tv table or card table.

That being said, a 2x3 is fine for two pigs.

 

[ChadWPB]

So let me see if I understand what you are saying. You should not adopt a piggy unless you can make a 2x4 or larger cage and can provide another piggy as a cage mate. Better to leave the piggy where they originally came from.

Is this your belief?

Yes, because her existence isn't much better currently. The poor thing wheeks for attention for hours at a strech! My pigs (I have two trios) never wheek unless the veggie bag is rustled. Then its the usual happy, excited "wheek wheek wheek" as the veggies are brought to them.

Forgive me for believing in doing something, doing it right.

In my opinion, why not move some of your not so needed human things out, like a dresser, tv stand, desk or dining room table? I myself do not have a dresser, all of my clothes that can be are hung in my closet and I have rubbermaid drawers that fit in my closet for my socks etc... My TV, VCR and DVD player are on the floor, I don't have a dining room table, I eat with a coffee table, tv table or card table.

That's exactly what I meant by "human stuff".

That being said, a 2x3 is fine for two pigs.

Just barely, and only sows. Boars definitely need more space. Fortunately, Dumpling is a sow.

 

[The Dumpling]

No Chad, she only started squeaking like that recently. And that was my fault - I fed her every time she squeaked. Which is why she's squeaking the way she is now. Which is why I'm only going to feed her consistently from now on, at specific times, as others have suggested.