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02/11/2019 Taming a guinea pig is much easier than it seems from the outside. Rodents are easy to train and willingly make contact with a person who treats them well. Each animal has its own character and habits that need to be studied and respected. This will help mutual understanding between the pet and the owner.
Adaptation to a new place
They begin the taming process only after the animal gets used to its new housing.
In order for this period to pass favorably for the animal, it is necessary to provide suitable conditions for this:
- In the room where the animal's cage is located, you should not make loud, sharp sounds. It is not advisable to install the cage near sources of constant noise. Rodents have very sensitive hearing and a delicate nervous system.
- There should always be water in the drinking bowl, and the feeder should be filled with tasty food. The rodent must be sure that it can drink and eat at any time without being disturbed by anyone.
- A house is immediately installed in the cage, where the pig can hide from prying eyes, or you need to put a large pile of hay.
- Other pets that live in the house should not be introduced to the pig prematurely. They can scare her and it will not be easy to calm her down.
- When cleaning the cage or other manipulations related to keeping a rodent, everything must be done extremely carefully, without sudden movements.
- It’s too early to organize walks around the apartment. The pet does not yet know where the house is and will be scared when they start catching it. He will have the opportunity to begin exploring the surrounding area if there is an aviary next to the cage.
There is another rule that causes controversy among pig owners; it says that the rodent should not be picked up at first. Each pet already has previous experience interacting with people. If it was successful, the pig will want to feel the hands of the new owner. Cases are described when an animal becomes calmer in your arms. With such animals there will be no problems with training and taming in the future. You can pick up a guinea pig on the first day only if you are absolutely sure that it will not cause rejection.
Most often, at first, the guinea pig will avoid contact and look closely at everything that is happening around.
The pig needs to be provided with visibility and at the same time given the opportunity to hide. Under no circumstances should you insist on affection if she is panicking.
Tricks, tricks and fun
All of them are based on habits associated with treats. Choose your favorite treat, give the animal a short fasting break in food (7-10 hours) - and you can start.
- We push the ball. The reflex inherent in nature to push away interfering objects with your head, plus the desire to get to the coveted carrot - this, coupled with your patience, is quite enough for one of the simplest tricks. A light ball is placed on a piece of treat, the pig, having smelled the delicious aroma, eventually finds its source and tries to free it by pushing the ball away. Several such activities - and your pet will happily run to the ball to get his favorite food from under it. And when the trick is mastered and there is no longer any need to hide the carrot under the ball, don’t forget to reward the animal with the same piece of treat at the end of the game. You deserve it!
- Kisses. Focus is for the squeamish. The owner takes a piece of the tasty treat with his lips and brings the pet closer. The pig, smelling the smell, grabs the treat with its teeth.
- Hi! You can train the animal to greet its owner at the cage door by giving your pig a treat in this very place every time you come home from work or wake up in the morning.
- Dances. Raising the treat over the animal’s head, say the word “dance” or any other word. When the pig stands on its hind legs several times to reach the food, it receives a well-deserved trophy.
- On the shoulder. Moving the fragrant prize from the palm of your hand to your shoulder, you need to calmly and affectionately pronounce the command. If the animal reaches your shoulder, you can treat it. A few patient lessons - and at a familiar command, the pig will fly up onto its owner’s shoulder, knowing that a well-deserved reward awaits it there.
You can come up with a lot of tricks to turn an ordinary guinea pig into a little circus performer at home. The choice is up to your imagination.
Taming methods
When it becomes clear that the pet feels confident in a new environment, taming a guinea pig to its owner will not be difficult.
At first you need to talk to her kindly. As soon as it becomes clear that the animal trusts its owner, you can offer treats through the open cage door. At the same time, allow them to examine and smell their hands. Smells are very important to animals.
If the animal takes food from your hands without fear, you can begin to gently stroke it. The back of the body is left untouched so that the animal does not perceive these movements as an attack. First, the pig is petted, reinforcing good intentions with treats; gradually this can be done without food. While stroking, you need to try to understand what exactly the pet likes.
The next step is to take the animal in your arms. Making friends and accustoming him to a litter box will not be difficult if you treat your pet with care, do not cause pain, and understand what he likes.
When handing out a treat, you need to call the pig by name. Once she gets used to this situation, calling her over will be easy. All you have to do is sit down, extend your hand and say the guinea pig's name.
Features of care during the breeding season
During the breeding season, guinea pigs become especially active. Therefore, at this time you need to pay special attention to their nutrition, and the main focus should be on fresh grass, fruits and vegetables. During the breeding season, it is not recommended to bathe pets or subject them to other cosmetic procedures, and to disturb them by direct contact as little as possible. Otherwise, their care during this period is no different from the traditional one.
Find out also whether you can be allergic to a guinea pig.
What to do if your pig is afraid?
Young individuals purchased directly from breeders get used to their owners more easily. Animals from pet stores are usually distrustful and unsociable. Animal behavior depends on how store visitors, owners and sellers treated the animals.
To quickly “melt the heart” of a pet who is afraid of people, you need to hand feed it more often. It is recommended to constantly talk to him. The cage can be temporarily moved closer to the owners. If the pet watches people, over time it will understand that nothing threatens it.
Fear is not always the reason why a pig doesn't want to be held. She may have an independent character or be planning to do something else and is not in the mood for tenderness. Anything is important: clean the paws, drink water, examine the toy. When a pet pulls at its owner's clothes or grabs the skin with its teeth, it doesn't like something. He needs to be released.
It is necessary to distinguish whether the animal is afraid or feels unwell. He runs briskly into the far corner or buries himself in the hay - he’s scared. He sits unkempt and squeaks desperately when someone wants to pick him up - you need to consult a veterinarian.
If a pet spends a long time in its house and does not gain experience interacting with people, it is difficult to imagine that it will quickly get used to its owner. The animal needs to be lured out more often.
Sometimes they practice not installing a house in the cage and make do with hay. But this is cruel to the animal. Every animal should have a private zone.
How to tame a guinea pig and make friends with it
The guinea pig is a friendly and trusting animal. Taming is usually easy if the owner does not make serious mistakes. How long it takes for the animal to get used to the owner depends on the nature of the pet, the time devoted to it and the actions of the owner.
On average, within 3-7 days a guinea pig will get used to the presence of a person. This is noticeable in its behavior: the animal stops running and hiding. It will take from a week to a month for the pet to begin to show interest and initiative in communication. In difficult cases, domestication may take 5-6 months.
Favorite caresses
If you carefully observe your pet's reaction, you can quickly determine whether you like it or not.
Most pigs enjoy being petted and scratched in the following places:
- at the bridge of the nose;
- near the ears;
- On the sides;
- under the neck.
When she pushes her hand away with her head, it means there is no need to continue. When stroking, you need to be careful not to block your view.
If an animal raises its head when you start stroking it, it means it wants its neck to be scratched.
Important nuances
Before taming a guinea pig, carefully study its behavior and mental characteristics. Undoubtedly, animals love:
- Peace and quiet. In a noisy environment, animals become restless, irritable and even aggressive. Working with an animal in such conditions is completely useless.
- The presence of a large amount of hay in the cage. Guinea pigs just love to burrow into the grass.
- Juicy vegetables and fruits, as well as a variety of greens, contain useful microelements that strengthen the immune system.
Some breeds of pigs are very picky about the temperature conditions in the room, they get cold and often catch colds. And when the pet feels any discomfort, taming classes are out of the question. You should never start playing with your guinea pig until it is accustomed to its new environment.
But when the animal’s adaptation is successful, when it is possible to tame the pet, the owner will find a faithful friend who will delight the owner and family members with games and tricks for many years.
Source
How to hold in your hands correctly?
In the process of taming a pet, you need to learn how to hold it in your arms correctly. Holding a heavy animal suspended is not an option; it will hurt. The pig will remember this condition and next time it will not be handled.
The animal is held so that it can lean on the owner - firmly enough, without squeezing, so as not to damage the internal organs. The rodent's physique appears to be strong, but in fact, impacts and falls even from a small height lead to serious injuries and death.
When a completely trusting relationship develops between the pet and the owner, you can begin playing and training together.
Other hygiene procedures
During bathing, it is recommended to empty the pig's anal pocket of accumulated feces. This is especially true for older individuals. The pocket is located in the anus area. The procedure is carried out by pressing on this area from both sides.
Villi and particles of hay often accumulate in the genital area of rodents. The area of contamination should be carefully cleaned of accumulated debris as necessary.
Important points
It is much easier to find a “common language” with a pig if you know its preferences:
- Noises or loud noises disturb the animal and make it nervous and unpredictable.
- Dry grass or litter should always be clean and fresh in the cage, as the pig loves to burrow into it.
- The diet must include fresh vegetables and fruits, greens; these are not only vitamins, but also support the digestion process.
- The room should be comfortably warm; pigs do not like drafts.
- It is necessary to accustom your guinea pig to the toilet in one place if it does not immediately find its way.
It takes a very long time for a pig to get used to eccentric people with a loud voice and lively gestures. She is afraid of this behavior because she sees it as a threat.
Guinea pigs are not suitable for families where there is constant noise, with the TV or music turned up at full volume. This must be remembered when choosing this rodent as a pet.
Bathing
As the pig's coat becomes dirty, it is necessary to bathe it. To do this, use a basin or wash your pet directly in the sink. The water level in the basin should not exceed 3 cm. Wash the pig carefully, without sudden movements. For washing, it is better to use a special shampoo for rodents, which is thoroughly washed off at the end of the procedure. You can dry the animal with a hairdryer, but only at the lowest temperature. After swimming, drafts should be avoided.
Some pigs love to swim
