Incredipigs
Teenage Guinea Pig
Teaching guinea pigs to do tricks is not cruel if you do it the right way and think about your piggie. If you think your piggie is too scared or doesn't like being trained then please don't try to teach them tricks.
Guinea pigs are very clever animals. Teaching guinea pigs to do tricks is a fun and easy thing to do, although it may not be as easy as training a dog, guinea pigs can learn just as many tricks! The key is time, patience, repetition and obviously veggies! Guinea pigs will do anything for veggies, I often use a romaine or little gem lettuce when training my piggie, Darcy. When teaching your piggie to do tricks, repeat the command in the same voice each time so your piggie doesn't become confused. Once you have mastered some simple tricks with your piggie, you can begin to move onto the more advanced tricks. Make sure your piggie is tame before you teach them any tricks. Here are some few simple tricks that you can teach your guinea:
Come when called:
Teaching your piggie to come when called is a very simple, easy to learn trick. First you need to choose a word for your guinea pig to come to, it should only be one word so it is easy for your piggie to learn. This will most likely be your piggie's name. If you have multiple guinea pigs you can teach them all to come to one word such as "Piggies" the way to teach this trick is to say their name/ the word every time you give them veggies or treats. Eventually, your piggie will know that when you say the word it means they get food and they will come over to you.
Spin in a circle:
Another simple trick is to teach your piggie to spin around in a circle, this trick takes a bit of time and patience but eventually your piggie will master it. You will need a lot of veggies when teaching your piggie how to do this trick. First you need to place your piggie in front of you, I find it easiest to do it in the bath tub with a towel or blanket so your guinea doesn't slip and can't get distracted and run off. Once you have your piggie placed in front of you, hold out some lettuce or other veggies and lead them round in a circle, meanwhile, say the command "Circle" in a loud, clear voice. Repeat this step until your guinea pig learns it but do it in small sessions so your piggie doesn't get scared or bored. Do not shout or hit your piggie if they don't do it at first.
Once your guinea pig has learnt these simple tricks you can start moving on to more advanced tricks such as this:
Push a ball:
One of the more advanced tricks is teaching your piggie to push a ball. Firstly, you need a ball! I find a small sponge ball very easy to use as it is soft and lightweight. A plastic guinea pig ball should also be fine though. Next, you need to place a small piece of veggie underneath the ball and place your guinea pig next to it. If your piggie pushes the ball to get the veggie, give them a treat. Repeat this until you don't need to put the veggie under the ball anymore. Eventually your guinea pig should push the ball and know that you will give them a treat straight after.
I hope this helped anyone wanting to teach their piggies to do tricks. There are many more tricks guinea pigs can learn, these are just a few basics. Good luck if you're going to try to teach your piggies some tricks!
Guinea pigs are very clever animals. Teaching guinea pigs to do tricks is a fun and easy thing to do, although it may not be as easy as training a dog, guinea pigs can learn just as many tricks! The key is time, patience, repetition and obviously veggies! Guinea pigs will do anything for veggies, I often use a romaine or little gem lettuce when training my piggie, Darcy. When teaching your piggie to do tricks, repeat the command in the same voice each time so your piggie doesn't become confused. Once you have mastered some simple tricks with your piggie, you can begin to move onto the more advanced tricks. Make sure your piggie is tame before you teach them any tricks. Here are some few simple tricks that you can teach your guinea:
Come when called:
Teaching your piggie to come when called is a very simple, easy to learn trick. First you need to choose a word for your guinea pig to come to, it should only be one word so it is easy for your piggie to learn. This will most likely be your piggie's name. If you have multiple guinea pigs you can teach them all to come to one word such as "Piggies" the way to teach this trick is to say their name/ the word every time you give them veggies or treats. Eventually, your piggie will know that when you say the word it means they get food and they will come over to you.
Spin in a circle:
Another simple trick is to teach your piggie to spin around in a circle, this trick takes a bit of time and patience but eventually your piggie will master it. You will need a lot of veggies when teaching your piggie how to do this trick. First you need to place your piggie in front of you, I find it easiest to do it in the bath tub with a towel or blanket so your guinea doesn't slip and can't get distracted and run off. Once you have your piggie placed in front of you, hold out some lettuce or other veggies and lead them round in a circle, meanwhile, say the command "Circle" in a loud, clear voice. Repeat this step until your guinea pig learns it but do it in small sessions so your piggie doesn't get scared or bored. Do not shout or hit your piggie if they don't do it at first.
Once your guinea pig has learnt these simple tricks you can start moving on to more advanced tricks such as this:
Push a ball:
One of the more advanced tricks is teaching your piggie to push a ball. Firstly, you need a ball! I find a small sponge ball very easy to use as it is soft and lightweight. A plastic guinea pig ball should also be fine though. Next, you need to place a small piece of veggie underneath the ball and place your guinea pig next to it. If your piggie pushes the ball to get the veggie, give them a treat. Repeat this until you don't need to put the veggie under the ball anymore. Eventually your guinea pig should push the ball and know that you will give them a treat straight after.
I hope this helped anyone wanting to teach their piggies to do tricks. There are many more tricks guinea pigs can learn, these are just a few basics. Good luck if you're going to try to teach your piggies some tricks!
Guess now that my pigs will be called smart.
. We haven't quite succeeded yet but she is doing very well, especially with the push a ball and come when called trick! 
Xx
My piggies would never be able to do any of that stuff! 
