How can I train my guinea pig if he isn’t willing to try any new tricks?

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Launey

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I have watched videos on how to train guinea pigs to do small tricks and mine won’t try them they just want the treats, or they just sit there confused, I have tried to train them to grab a small cat toy thing that had a bell in it (I removed the bell) but i try to get them to pick it up and drop it so I can eventually move my hand over and catch it and then they will hopefully eventually drop it into my hand, also if they ever did any steps towards doing the trick they would get a treat, are there easier tricks to train them to do or should I try again in a few weeks on mine or just leave them alone with the tricks?
 
Clicker training might work. I know people use it for dogs, but I haven't heard of anyone doing it either guinea pigs. Zoos use clicker training to help them with their large animals, big cats, elephants etc. Good luck!
 
The only thing with piggies is that using lots of treats might give them bloat, so might need care.
 
I think also being aware that what you see on YouTube is not necessarily common/normal piggy behaviour.

Personally, I would not do training for tricks. Training (although its more rather encouragement than training) to walk into a box or carrier for the health/weight checks is as far as I would personally go.
 
I trained Amber to spin before she gets her meds, because she was so eager for it she was trying to launch herself over the side of the cage which was becoming dangerous, so I needed to slow her down a bit 😅 its just patience and repetition, and a willing participant. Very quickly after that, Oliver and Pippin who also get meds in the same cage copied of their own accord, so now I've got a trio of spinning pigs every morning and evening 🤣 Olivers sister Fern however has no interest in copying or being taught tricks, so I've not bothered, I'm just glad she's willingly taking her meds 😅

But yeah, patience, small steps and repetition are the biggest things when teaching animals, however you'll always find the odd individual who just isn't interested in learning.

Just be aware of your piggies health, age etc when thinking of tricks as encouraging unnatural movements can exacerbate or lead to age related issues such as arthritis. Sorry that wasn't much help, mine trained themselves for the most part 😅
 
I train my piggies to walk up my arm to be picked up by following a treat. I think this is important because it helps make being picked up less scary and makes them less afraid of people making health checks etc easier and would help them get rehomed easier if anything was to happen to me.

I would really consider why you want to "train" your piggies. Is it something you want to try because you have a particularly motivated or active piggie or is it something you want for your own entertainment or to mimic something you've seen on social media.

If you really wanted to train them maybe start with turning around as you can just get them to walk in a circle following a treat then slowly move the treat higher over time until simply lifting a treat up will cause this response.

If you really wanted to do the ball trick I'd start by holding a treat behind the ball (holding the ball still) in a way that they have to touch/climb on/interact with the ball to reach the treat. Consider any interaction with the ball a big win at this stage. Once that is secure place the ball in their way possibly ontop of a treat in your hand so they toss it then reward instantly with a treat. Eventually add in the placing it in your had element but only once that is secure. Its all about those tiny baby steps.

Consistency is key and at the same time you don't want to overdo it with treats. We do a couple of tricks each morning to get pellets before they get their breakfast scoop of pellets and then in the afternoon a couple of pea flakes are handed out in exchange for them doing tricks (tricks for us just means putting their front paws on my hand or crawling up my arm).

The noise from a clicker may startle some piggies we just use the phrase "well done" in its place and the boys know well done = treat
 
Truffolo said:
Clicker training might work. I know people use it for dogs, but I haven't heard of anyone doing it either guinea pigs. Zoos use clicker training to help them with their large animals, big cats, elephants etc. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thank you, I might try that
 
fluffysal said:
Master Boris climbs up us and gives kisses for pea flakes (and to say thank you!) But he taught himself and chooses to do it, so it's more like training us to hand over the pea flakes.
He's a very licky boy anyway.
Click to expand...
I guess I could give mine treats for things like that because they do lick me and climb up on me a lot, mostly Sir Boris GusGus (aka GusGus)
 
Sweet Potato said:
I train my piggies to walk up my arm to be picked up by following a treat. I think this is important because it helps make being picked up less scary and makes them less afraid of people making health checks etc easier and would help them get rehomed easier if anything was to happen to me.

I would really consider why you want to "train" your piggies. Is it something you want to try because you have a particularly motivated or active piggie or is it something you want for your own entertainment or to mimic something you've seen on social media.

If you really wanted to train them maybe start with turning around as you can just get them to walk in a circle following a treat then slowly move the treat higher over time until simply lifting a treat up will cause this response.

If you really wanted to do the ball trick I'd start by holding a treat behind the ball (holding the ball still) in a way that they have to touch/climb on/interact with the ball to reach the treat. Consider any interaction with the ball a big win at this stage. Once that is secure place the ball in their way possibly ontop of a treat in your hand so they toss it then reward instantly with a treat. Eventually add in the placing it in your had element but only once that is secure. Its all about those tiny baby steps.

Consistency is key and at the same time you don't want to overdo it with treats. We do a couple of tricks each morning to get pellets before they get their breakfast scoop of pellets and then in the afternoon a couple of pea flakes are handed out in exchange for them doing tricks (tricks for us just means putting their front paws on my hand or crawling up my arm).

The noise from a clicker may startle some piggies we just use the phrase "well done" in its place and the boys know well done = treat
Click to expand...
Honestly I mostly want to train them to do treats because that would maybe be something more engaging for them because they would have to put it together to repeat the behavior for treats and one of mine weighs more than the other so I want to keep him more busy
 
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