Exercise In Public

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guineapig-al

guineapig-al

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These are my recommendations
for taking piggies out to exercise, sunlight and fresh air in public places:
1. Make sure it's not a regular place for dog walking. "Scoop the poop" and leash regulated greens are best. Dog urinary and fecal waste are toxic to guinea pigs
2.Always keep an eye out for
loose animals, in spite of leash laws
3.Sudden noises, such as car horns, airplanes and human voices can startle the piggy and make him run. Never let the piggy stray too far
4. Bring toys and food, so he doesn't nibble on the grass. The objective is to keep him moving.
5.Play games with the piggy
6.Bring his water bottle. You can tie it with string to a sturdy board and stick it in the ground
7. Lift the piggy up to the sky from time to time, so he gets a different view of the world around him
I am curious for additional suggestions that can enlighten me
Thanks,
Alexis
 
I wouldn't take my pigs out in a a public place, there are too many predators and we don't know what the council spray on the grass. Mine are indoor pigs and have free run of the living room or their cages are big enough not to need floortime.
 
Hi, Helen. You're very knowledgeable about these things. What is your recommendation so that piggies get direct sunlight and fresh air? Have a good day.
Thanks,
Alexis
 
I use a secure run in the garden. I can understand wanting to take them out but I'd be very cautious in public and take a secure run for them to go in. I wouldn't bother lifting them up, they would probably just find it scary and have no appreciation of the view - they have somewhat limited vision in any case.
 
When you lift piggies off the ground or cage, and hold them securely, they enjoy the difference in sound and light, it's a different view. I don't know what your physical limitations are, but if you hold them securely, against your body, you will see that they respond to the change in visual and sonic stimulus. I think it's great you have an enclosed run, however, I wouldn't just get too comfortable in terms of their safety, keep an eye on them at all times, the neighbors cat might be around. Supervision is very important
 
For outdoors they are safest if in an enclosed run secure from predators such as cat, dogs, seagulls & birds of prey.

I'm a bit mystified about why you would exercise in open places. How do you keep control of it?
 
guineapig-al said:
Hi, Helen. You're very knowledgeable about these things. What is your recommendation so that piggies get direct sunlight and fresh air? Have a good day.
Thanks,
Alexis
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A secure run in a garden. I don't have a garden though so mine don't have exercise outside. I make sure they get some fresh air in the flat by leaving the windows open.
 
Thanks, Helen, you're an encyclopedia of piggy healthcare. Lets figure this one out together, shall we? What if someone in a flat wanted to give the little piggy a feel for the earth, for a natural environment, even for just a half hour per day, when it's warm?
 
They could maybe see if a family member had a garden they could use to set up a run as long as they did not use anything to treat their lawn. There are lots of people out there with no outside space though and their pigs remain indoors.
 
Excellent question, Stewybus, and very necessary. "Secure" runs are no substitute for direct supervision at all times. My thinking is that some of our members don't have a garden and their piggies don't have a place to get direct sunlight and fresh air, they spend maybe 22 hours in their pen, that might contribute to illness. I think that between you and other prominent members (me not included) can come up with a public piggy playground so that our members can take their piggies out in the sun with complete safety
 
guineapig-al said:
Excellent question, Stewybus, and very necessary. "Secure" runs are no substitute for direct supervision at all times. My thinking is that some of our members don't have a garden and their piggies don't have a place to get direct sunlight and fresh air, they spend maybe 22 hours in their pen, that might contribute to illness. I think that between you and other prominent members (me not included) can come up with a public piggy playground so that our members can take their piggies out in the sun with complete safety
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My piggies are healthy. Amelia Jane is six so not having access to outside is not essential.
 
As usual Helen, you're brilliant, not sure what this forum could do without you. Maybe I shouldn't tell you that I eat meat? No piggies, though.
 
Hi, Piggyfan, no doubt about it, I'm sure your piggies are wonderfully healthy and happy. My thinking is that conditions like arthritis and kidney stones are exacerbated with limited mobility. Limited or no exposure to sunlight has an impact on their contentment, same as humans. I'm trying to come up with ideas that will improve piggy health, happiness and bonding. Try a good roll around on the grass with your piggies and come back and tell me how good you feel afterwards.
 
guineapig-al said:
Hi, Piggyfan, no doubt about it, I'm sure your piggies are wonderfully healthy and happy. My thinking is that conditions like arthritis and kidney stones are exacerbated with limited mobility. Limited or no exposure to sunlight has an impact on their contentment, same as humans. I'm trying to come up with ideas that will improve piggy health, happiness and bonding. Try a good roll around on the grass with your piggies and come back and tell me how good you feel afterwards.
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My piggies have plenty of space as they have an 8 by 3 c and c cage. I must find some grass so we can all roll around together.
 
Hi, Stewybus, I forgot to answer your being mystified by how I kept control of Sunshine. I'm not sure either. I can tell you what I did, I always went to the same areas more or less, I would check for sharp objects, broken glass and grass that didn't look "right" then I would just stay very close to him, chase him around the bushes, I always had one of my hands close to him. I also
 
I do have to say both my boys seem to love being carried around on my shoulder. I put one hand under the bum & the other hand on the back while the head & front paws rest on my shoulder looking backwards from me. Just like you would hold a bubba over your shoulder to burp them. The piggies chortle in pleasure when we go walkies.like this.
 
Hi, Lilly, isn't that the good stuff? Little piggy on the shoulder purring, looking around. That's the way to go. When Sunshine was very little, I would wrap him in a towel, put him in a tote bag, with his head sticking out, and I would hang the bag from my neck, holding the bottom with one hand, because I was so afraid of dropping him. It's nice, isn't it, walking around with them, showing them what the world looks and sounds like.
 
guineapig-al said:
Hi, Lilly, isn't that the good stuff? Little piggy on the shoulder purring, looking around. That's the way to go. When Sunshine was very little, I would wrap him in a towel, put him in a tote bag, with his head sticking out, and I would hang the bag from my neck, holding the bottom with one hand, because I was so afraid of dropping him. It's nice, isn't it, walking around with them, showing them what the world looks and sounds like.
Click to expand...
I used to carry Hazelnut around in the same way whilst he was a singleton for his first 7 months! I did not want him to be too lonely while awaiting a friend, so would cart him around in a bag as I attended to various things. Amazing really how we've done some of the same things with our piggies.
 
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