Complaining When Left Alone

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Penelopig

Penelopig

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi Everyone,

I haven't been on in a while as our little piggie has been doing well, growing fast and becoming so confident :)

Our only issue at the moment is that when we put her back in her cage or even walk past her cage she'll pipe up quite loudly. So initially we'd give her a small treat, but now it's more often. I'm thinking either she knows that we'll give her something if she whinges everytime or she's lonely? Help? Lol.
 
Is she a lone piggie? Guinea pigs are herd animals and must have a friend to stay healthy and happy. You may just have to try to not give her treats and wean her out of it. My piggie Gizi bites the bars when she wants vegetables or attention.
If you get her a friend she will most likely stop.
 
Hi Gizi,
Yes she is alone. We live in a small unit and she is mostly inside with us. We take turns holding & petting her daily and I was hoping that would enough, but I have read before that they need other guinea pig companionship and I think that's what she needs.

I was frustrated at the pet store though when I inquired about another piggie as they told me the size cage we had could accommodate for two. But looking at it feels like it would be animal cruelty so I'll have to look into a bigger cage first.

Thanks for your advice on the weaning also :)
 
She would likely be happier with a friend, since they are animals that naturally live in groups and are social. Even if you spend lots of time with her, you're not a guinea pig and thus don't speak her 'language' in the same way as another guinea pig would. However, that may not stop her wheeking when you go by, since with my pigs that's way more about food than company. It's basic behavior conditioning- if she knows that wheeking gets her treats at least some of the time, she will wheek in the hopes that it will pay off for her. My pigs wheek all the time when we go by, because sometimes either myself or the kids will give them a treat, so even when we don't it keeps them thinking, "Maybe THIS time is the treat. No? Okay. Ooooh- maybe THIS time!" I've read that intermittent conditioning (where you reward the behavior sometimes, but not every time) is actually the strongest method of conditioning a behavior, which probably explains why my pigs are so persistent!
 
Good! I'm glad your piggy is doing so well, I hope she continues to grow! :)
 
Unfortunately pet shop cages are not correct. One pig needs as much space as two. I find c&c cages are great, you can make them any size and shape. You will need correx and Seville storage cubes to make a c&c, it is cheaper to make your own rather than buy fully off a website.
I think your piggy wants a friend. A 2x4 is a nice size for two pigs, even bigger if you can.
 
Thank you @1GuineaPig1 :)

I agree @Chief Guinea Pig. I'm beginning to think that pet stores just try to sell you anything. They gave me the same advice for fighter fish in the past. Saying it'd be happy in a bowl the size of a cup... really? For its whole life? I think not.

I'd been looking at those types of cages, but we don't have much floor space. So now I'm looking at double story cages with a plank joining the two so the piggies can go up and down between cages freely.
 
Penelopig said:
Thank you @1GuineaPig1 :)

I agree @Chief Guinea Pig. I'm beginning to think that pet stores just try to sell you anything. They gave me the same advice for fighter fish in the past. Saying it'd be happy in a bowl the size of a cup... really? For its whole life? I think not.

I'd been looking at those types of cages, but we don't have much floor space. So now I'm looking at double story cages with a plank joining the two so the piggies can go up and down between cages freely.
Click to expand...
You are very right, they try to sell anything.
 
Here is our cage size guide: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/cage-size-guide.120795/
Even with a two story cage, you will need ideally at least 2x4 ft ground space as you lose quite a lot of space with the ramp. You also may want to research how to make the ramp safe (with a fabric tunnel or rails or something that provides good grip).
 
Just read the cage size guide now. I don't at all regret buying Penelope, we love her sooo much. But this is proof that you should research before you buy a pet. I'm so annoyed that pet stores sell us these tiny cages (ours is 100x50cm) and tell us they'll do :( Penelope is tiny compared to ours friend's guinea pigs, but still, she needs better.

Thanks heaps guys. I'll be on a mission now to upgrade for her.
 
If you can, please get her a bigger cage - and get her a same sex friend. Guinea pigs are wired to live in groups; they need company round the clock!
 
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