Carrotyd
Junior Guinea Pig
Every so often Harry and Lloyd have to "endure" a visit from my nieces, who love the guys but (being three young girls under five) aren't exactly the calmest/quietest.
To minimise the stress a visit from them might induce in our lads, we take a number of precautions. For instance, we only let the girls in one at a time with a responsible adult (bit like the rule our local newsagent imposes in school kids) into the spare room where the piggies live, and - if we hold them - the girls are only allowed near them if my other half or I are holding them. And, once again, the girls are only allowed in to see them one at a time.
The visits are never that long - 30 minutes at most - and only ever few weeks or so, and we make a real effort to minimise any disturbances they get for the rest of the day after, but - despite our best efforts - always seem a bit more withdrawn after the little people have been and gone.
Is there anything else you guys think we should be doing to make visits like this easier for the guys?
On the other hand, we'd had to discourage visits completely, as I think it's important for kids to see/hear how much effort goes into looking after pets and to educate them about how to look after them well, but not at the expense of the frayed nerves of our special little guys, obviously.
To minimise the stress a visit from them might induce in our lads, we take a number of precautions. For instance, we only let the girls in one at a time with a responsible adult (bit like the rule our local newsagent imposes in school kids) into the spare room where the piggies live, and - if we hold them - the girls are only allowed near them if my other half or I are holding them. And, once again, the girls are only allowed in to see them one at a time.
The visits are never that long - 30 minutes at most - and only ever few weeks or so, and we make a real effort to minimise any disturbances they get for the rest of the day after, but - despite our best efforts - always seem a bit more withdrawn after the little people have been and gone.
Is there anything else you guys think we should be doing to make visits like this easier for the guys?
On the other hand, we'd had to discourage visits completely, as I think it's important for kids to see/hear how much effort goes into looking after pets and to educate them about how to look after them well, but not at the expense of the frayed nerves of our special little guys, obviously.