Play My Chihuahua thinks the new guinea pigs are her puppies

[rosebie]

I am pretty new to the guinea pig life. I need suggestions on how to handle my Chihuahua's behavior. First of all, my new babies are use to cats because of the breeder that I got them from. For the time being I am keeping the chihuahua separated from the pigs because she scares them because she clauses at the cage barking. I won't let her around them because she paws at their backs and trys to bite their ears to get them to play. This is on top of also cleaning them like they are her babies. She knows where the guinea pigs are so she constantly running back and forth clawing and barking at the door to the room the pigs are in. I would like for her to calm down so she can enjoy the company of the guinea pigs and they won't be so scared of her. Any suggestions would be helpful

 

[4boipigs]

You listed plenty of reasons why you should keep the dog away. Dogs are dangerous and you should not trust any dog near gpigs. Clawing at their back or biting their ears can harm the pigs and scares them as you know. Put the pigs’ cage up on a table and out of reach of the dog. Train the dog to stop doing the undesirable behaviors. They do not need to be together and get no benefit from interacting with other species. It may be cute and fun to you, but the pigs would disagree. Their wellbeing needs to come first.

 

[ItsaZoo]

Please keep your dog and guinea pigs separated. Dogs carry Bordatella virus. Even healthy dogs who are vaccinated and have no symptoms are likely to be carriers, and this virus is deadly to guinea pigs. It causes upper respiratory infection which moves quickly, is difficult and expensive to treat, and has a high mortality rate.

Guinea pigs are very fragile and easily injured. They are prey animals with no defenses except to run and hide, which is not a quality life for them.

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

Agree with the previous posters. Keep the dog far, far away from the pigs. Keep it out of their room, and definitely don't let it bark around them. So many good reasons why to keep them separate, and no real good ones to have them interact.

 

[rosebie]

I am pretty new to the guinea pig life. I need suggestions on how to handle my Chihuahua's behavior. First of all, my new babies are use to cats because of the breeder that I got them from. For the time being I am keeping the chihuahua separated from the pigs because she scares them because she clauses at the cage barking. I won't let her around them because she paws at their backs and trys to bite their ears to get them to play. This is on top of also cleaning them like they are her babies. She knows where the guinea pigs are so she constantly running back and forth clawing and barking at the door to the room the pigs are in. I would like for her to calm down so she can enjoy the company of the guinea pigs and they won't be so scared of her. Any suggestions would be helpful

Thank for your guys advice. That is exactly what I have been doing keeping them apart. For those that did not comprehend the post. I have never said my dog's behavior was cute. I just want to reiterate that I have kept them separated and they definitely will stay that way now I that I know my dogs can get my guinea pigs sick. Thank you.