Caring For Your Baby Guinea Pigs

Adjustment Period

The first 3-4 days you bring your guinea pig home, it can be very tempting to pick them up and cuddle with them. However, they're in a new area - and very scary area - and they need time to get used to that.

It will take awhile for them to get used to you and your home, so do not shock your new baby with frightening sounds. Keep them in a safe and quiet area.

Note:

Whenever you are bringing a new guinea pig home, always make sure you don't let him stay with all the others in a cramped space. They are very conscious about protecting their own territory. So make sure they will have a space of their own.

Hover Not

Avoid acting like a mother and hovering over your baby guinea pig. It will only terrify him.

Seeing your figure floating above him will make him think you are planning to assault him. Literally get down to his level by kneeling or lying down on the floor so that you can look at him face to face. This is a friendlier approach.

Bribe and Jive

If you want to get closer to your guinea pig, you have to bring out the gifts. It may seem evil, but it does work.

Bring food. Guinea pigs will love this because they eat anything.

How To Do It

Ready to bribe your new pet right into your open arms? Good!

You've gotta bait him first then reel him in. What you do is put the food by the cage door (which should be open) and position yourself by the door as well.

If he snubs you at first, repeat the process of laying down the food on the cage door. If he still refuses to acknowledge the gift, go right ahead and take the food away from the cage and leave. You have to condition him into learning that the food will not just be given to him.

After a while he will get the drill. So now you can get to know him a little more. You can get physically nearer to him this time.

After a while, he's going to be timid, but take the treat from your hand. If you give it enough time and patience, he's going to even welcome taking the treat from you, and won't be afraid to run and jump in excitement when he sees you coming.

Exception

If you want to create a genuine bond with your guinea pig, don't use bribery when you want to carry and play with him.

Instead, build trust by petting and loving your guinea pig, and showing him that you're not a scary predator, but instead a loving friend. Remember that in the wild, people like you would eat this poor little critter!

Handle With Care

Because of their bone structure, you have to handle guinea pigs the proper way. Not doing so will risk serious lung injury on their part.

Gently cup the torso of your guinea pig, and support the rear as you lift up. Don't hold them too hard, and instead carry them gently, ensuring that you're supporting their entire body well.

Avoid letting your young kids pick the guinea pigs up, especially when there is the risk that they can drop them. Guinea pigs are really delicate and are hurt easily.

Hanging Out

A guinea pig will not take to laying on your lap the way puppies do. But if you train them well, they may start to like it.

When you first handle your guinea pig, do so in a quiet room, and make sure that nothing is going on. Have a treat ready, and see if you can get him to eat it on your lap.

This will get him to like hanging out with you and actually look forward to it in the future.

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