Behavior My guinea pig is smarter than your honor roll student

[pinky]

I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience. I have 4 guinea pigs and was able to teach 3 of them how to spin in a clockwise circle for a treat which I did by luring them to do the circle with a carrot and repeating, "do your trick." Each of them took different amounts of time to figure it out and do it by verbal command only, the third one (Lamb Chop) taking a day. The fourth and youngest of the bunch is the most timid of the bunch and lives with another one who's pretty wild (Ditto) but was taught the trick before I got my fourth guinea pig (Fish Fry.) I've never been able to even attempt it with Fish Fry because she'd run when I'd reach in with the carrot but has slowly started coming to the side for her treat.

This weekend, I came in with snacks and told Ditto to do her trick (didn't use any hand commands) and to my surprise Ditto did her usual clockwise spin and Fish Fry did a counter clockwise spin simultaneously. I couldn't believe it and thought it was a fluke at first, but no, is wasn't. She did it again last night and this morning.... once again in a counter clockwise circle. She learned it by watching Ditto! I didn't realize they were that intelligent.

 

[lisanjake]

clever piggys! they are smarter then we think =D

 

[lunarminx]

I need to try this with my piggies too.

 

[Agrimony]

Thats so cool!

 

[joys_cavies]

That's so cool! Bailey currently knows 12+ tricks ( & counting ) and Matchi has learned "paw" from her (Matchi just started about a month ago so I haven't had much time to teach her yet)! I was like "I didn't even teach you that yet!" They really are quite intelligent. If you can try and get a video, I'd love to see the clockwise & counter clockwise spin yours do!!

 

[joys_cavies]

I love the tittle of this thread by the way

 

[pinky]

I don't know if this is going to work. I'm trying copy this from my FB page. I'll see if I can get Ditto and Fish Fry spinning together tomorrow when it's lighter out. Ditto does the counter clockwise and Fish Fry does clockwise. I had it backwards.

https://www.facebook.com/KavyKeeper/videos/459783097511708/?pnref=story

 

[pinky]

The link doesn't work for me, Pinky.

I'm not sure why. It works when I click on it. I will try and do one later today with both of them....

It's a sad day here. I'm taking my Wishbone in to be put to sleep in about an hour. She has a large, inoperable mass that was discovered about a month ago. My other vet didn't catch it when I had her in a few months ago for other issues. She's 7 years, two months old so she's had a very good life. The vet had given me pain meds for her and said to bring her in when she stops eating, which she has. I could hear her crying last night.

 

[joys_cavies]

Oh, Pinky......that's so heartbreaking! Good wishes and prayers go with you. Run free over the Rainbow Bridge, Wishbone.

Every week I think I'm going to have to let Chester go. In addition to the severe malocclusion issue, he also has a non-painful mass in his abdomen. Whatever the reason, for the mass, it can't be good. With all his other issues, it's just not reasonable to think he could survive a major surgery. He has been my miracle boy. For whatever reason, he hasn't stopped eating this morning which is terrific. I can only hope that he lives as long as Wishbone.

Very sorry for both of you...I send healing wishes your way[emoji173] [emoji173] [emoji173]

I'm not sure why. It works when I click on it. I will try and do one later today with both of them....

It's a sad day here. I'm taking my Wishbone in to be put to sleep in about an hour. She has a large, inoperable mass that was discovered about a month ago. My other vet didn't catch it when I had her in a few months ago for other issues. She's 7 years, two months old so she's had a very good life. The vet had given me pain meds for her and said to bring her in when she stops eating, which she has. I could hear her crying last night.

 

[pinky]

Oh, Pinky......that's so heartbreaking! Good wishes and prayers go with you. Run free over the Rainbow Bridge, Wishbone.

Every week I think I'm going to have to let Chester go. In addition to the severe malocclusion issue, he also has a non-painful mass in his abdomen. Whatever the reason, for the mass, it can't be good. With all his other issues, it's just not reasonable to think he could survive a major surgery. He has been my miracle boy. For whatever reason, he hasn't stopped eating this morning which is terrific. I can only hope that he lives as long as Wishbone.

@spydoc, thank you for the kind words. I especially appreciate the prayers. I can't help but believe that there's a place in heaven for our little ones. My 24 year old son went with me which was a godsend. I always cry when I lose one but it's so much worse when I have to put one to sleep. I asked the vet to put her to sleep after I left because I couldn't take it. She's the same vet that had been treating her so she knew her and promised me that they would do it painlessly and humanely.... I have 3 guinea pigs now. I haven't had that few in years but that's okay. Gives me more time to spend with each of them.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and Chester, as well. I know how bonded you are to your babies so I can feel your pain. All I can say is that your little ones are very lucky that you chose them to be a part of your life.

 

[pinky]

Very sorry for both of you...I send healing wishes your way[emoji173] [emoji173] [emoji173]

@joy_cavies, Thank you. This forum is a very nice place to go to when we need support....

 

[pinky]

I tried to videotape the two doing their tricks together but my son's phone was freaking them out. My son said he'll try it again with me tomorrow. They did it after he walked away so we need to figure out a way to do it without them seeing him holding the phone to take the video.

 

[pinky]

I've been working on the video for a good part of the day. My son videotaped it first but the file he sent was compressed and it didn't work. Then, I did a video but we couldn't get it to upload. My husband finally had to move it to a flash drive, reduce the size and email it back to me.

https://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx28/kavykeeper/20150920_170318_zpsugv2vkpn.mp4

 

[lisanjake]

oh my!!! unfortunately I couldn't hear it (at work at the moment) but very clever piggys!