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Are guinea pigs good with dogs?
In the case of a properly trained dog, there should be no problem keeping your guinea pigs with the dog; however, if your dog is not properly trained, he or she may attack your guinea pig and cause them serious injury.
Guinea pigs are not capable of harming your dog, but your dog is capable of harming your guinea pigs if you allow it to. Because of this, you must ensure that your dog is well-trained before leaving your guinea pigs with him or her.
Dogs have an innate desire to harm small rodents and other small animals. They can, on the other hand, be taught to coexist peacefully with other animals.
A breed of dog that is prepared to herd animals is one that you should consider keeping (if it has been properly trained).
You must teach your dogs how to coexist peacefully with other animals in order for them to be successful.
Guinea pigs, as prey animals, are unable to harm your dog, but your dogs can cause serious injury to your guinea pigs, even if they do so unintentionally, according to the ASPCA. As a result, it is recommended that you exercise extra caution whenever they are together.
Will dogs harm guinea pigs?
Yes, a guinea pig can be harmed by a dog. Except if your dog has been raised with your guinea pigs from a very young age, it will most likely regard them as prey and will be able to harm them at any time.
Fight Between a Brutal Dog and a Guinea Pig
If you want your dogs to get along with other animals, including your guinea pigs, you must train them from a young age and begin training them at a young age.
It is unlikely that your dog will ever get close to a guinea pig once it reaches adulthood. When possible, it is preferable to introduce them at a young age rather than later in life.
Because dogs are the driving force in this relationship, it is important to understand their behavior in order to learn how to get your dogs along with guinea pigs in the first place.
So, let’s start by getting a general understanding of the temperament of dogs to get things started.
Understanding dog’s temperament
The temperament of a dog is generally defined as the dog’s general behavior toward other humans and other animals. Different factors, such as the breed, the owner’s behavior, and other environmental factors, can influence the outcome of a test.
As you can see, according to the findings of the American Temperament Test Society, your dog’s breed is one of the most significant factors influencing his or her behavior.
While the Labrador retriever remains at the top of the list for having the best, calmest, and friendliest temperament, the Chihuahua was found to have the most aggressive temperament of all the dogs on the list.
As a result, selecting the appropriate breed of dog is critical, especially if you intend to keep them with other animals, such as guinea pigs.
Behavior and training of the owner is yet another important factor that influences the temperament of the guinea pigs in a positive or negative way.
According to research, dogs are similar to children in that they absorb information from their owners and their surroundings.
If you spend quality time with your dogs, provide them with excellent care, and teach them to leave peacefully and calmly, they will do as you instruct.
If, on the other hand, you do not properly care for your dogs, they will develop negative characteristics such as aggression and mischievousness.
So, now that you know that if you train your dog from a young age and in the proper manner, your guinea pigs and dogs will get along fine, you can put your fears to rest. Find out how to properly introduce our guinea pigs to their new dog in the following section.
How do you introduce a guinea pig to a dog?
Making the transition from guinea pigs to dogs can be a stressful experience for both you and your pets. If we don’t do it correctly the first time, we run the risk of ruining their relationship for a long period of time.
Introduce your dog(s) to your small animals in the following manner:
In order to ensure that your guinea pigs are properly introduced to the dogs, I would encourage everyone to continue reading and carefully follow the instructions.
Table of Contents
Early Introduction
If you intend to keep both dogs and guinea pigs in your home, you may need to make arrangements for them at an early stage in the process.
According to research, you should purchase a young puppy between the ages of 3 and 12 weeks and begin socializing it with your family members and other pets, including guinea pigs.
It is quite natural for a puppy of that age to get along with other people, and it is a wise decision to take advantage of that natural ability.
Your guinea pigs may be frightened, which is completely normal, so you must ensure that they are able to coexist peacefully and without undue stress by providing them with the appropriate environment.
Setting up a play area
Setting up a shared play area is extremely important for introducing your guinea pigs to their new environment as well as allowing them to spend some time on the floor.
The best course of action is to find a space in your home that is separate from the area where you typically keep your dogs and guinea pigs. Setting up the common play area in either your dog’s or guinea pig’s room may give them the impression that they are being intruded upon in their own territory.
It is still a good idea to set up a common play area where your dogs can enjoy some floortime while you keep an eye on them, even though pet dogs are not as territorial as wild dogs.
You can do this in your living room or in your dining room, depending on your preference. Make sure that wherever you set it up, you have made the room guinea pig proof and that you have included some hiding spaces for your guinea pigs in there so that they can hide if they are feeling stressed or anxious.
Hiding spaces also assist them in protecting themselves by providing an escape route in the event that something goes wrong in the heat of the moment.
Brief introduction to begin with
To begin with, you must keep the dog contained in some sort of cage or carrier while allowing the guinea pigs to roam free in their new environment, as described above.
This will ensure that they both become accustomed to each other’s presence and smell over time. After that, you can do the opposite and keep the guinea pigs in the cage while allowing the dog to explore.
At this point, you should pay close attention to the way your dog is treating your guinea pigs. What signs of anger, aggression, or other negative behavior does the dog exhibit?
You can proceed to the next step after you have ensured that they have both gotten used to being in the same room as one another.
Remember that if you notice that your guinea pigs are becoming stressed, it is best to move them somewhere else for a short period of time and then restart the experiment with fresh animals. Also, make sure you repeat these sessions for at least a week before proceeding to the next step.
Free play under the supervision
As soon as your guinea pigs and dogs have become acclimated to each other’s presence, you can release them into the common play area.
Make sure your guinea pigs are safe during those first few interactions with them by exercising extreme caution. You should separate your guinea pigs from the dog if you notice any unusual behavior, and then try again another time.
When it comes to the beginning of the process, it is possible that your guinea pigs will become scared. This is completely normal, and the hiding space we discussed earlier will come in handy during this phase.
They can always hide in there for a brief respite and emerge slowly as soon as they feel it is appropriate.
Please keep in mind that you should never leave your guinea pigs or dogs alone for even a brief moment during the first few days of their lives. Dogs’ instincts can change at any time, and they can be lethal to your guinea pigs if they are not properly trained. Consequently, make sure you are present to separate them if things go awry.
Top-Rated Guinea Pig Supplies: Our Top Picks! Recommended Guinea Pig Supplies: Our Top Picks!
Before you read on, here are some supplies for your guinea pigs that have been hand-picked by our experts and that you should add to your wish list right away:
How do I keep my dog away from my guinea pig?
In particular, when you have dogs in the house, it is critical that you keep your pet animals safe at all times.
Despite the fact that your dogs are not aggressive in nature, things could go wrong and cause harm to your piggies if you are not there to supervise them.
As a result, it is critical that you take precautions and keep your dogs away from your piggies, especially when you are not present.
Listed below are a few ninja techniques you can employ to keep your guinea pigs safe from your dogs’ attention.
Get a sturdy cage
In order to ensure that your guinea pigs are protected from your dogs, it is critical that you invest in a sturdy enclosure for them.
An effective guinea pig cage can fend off an attack by your dog on its own and protect your animals if, for whatever reason, it decides to attack them.
However, the majority of guinea pig cages available on the market are open-top, which may not be suitable in your situation.
You will need to purchase a fully secured pen that is enclosed on all sides and where the guinea dog will have no access to your guinea pigs’ cage.
Cages from Living World work well for guinea pigs that are only a pair, and the Closed top C&C DIY cage works well for guinea pigs that are more than a pair.
Learn how to make a C&C top cover that is functional!
In any case, make certain that you get this right the first time and that you purchase a sturdy and robust cage for your guinea pigs.
Place the cage above the ground
The location of the cage is extremely important, especially if you have a dog in your home. In this case, raising the cage by adding some grids to its bottom layer or placing it on top of a table is a wise decision to make.
If you raise the height of the pen a little bit, your dog will be unable to reach the cage immediately, increasing the level of security a little bit more.
If you want to put your guinea pigs cage in a busy area of the house, that is fine, but make sure your dog does not have unsupervised access to the room.
If this occurs, you may need to relocate your guinea pig to a different location. Perhaps in the privacy of your own bedroom.
Recommended reading: Can I keep guinea pigs in my bedroom?
Provide a lot of hiding spaces
A basic setup for your guinea pigs includes providing them with some hiding places in their cage. If you haven’t already, it might be a good idea to start adding some hiding spots to your home or business.
A plastic igloo, a fleece forest, or a fleece cuddle cup are all excellent options for this. Hiding spaces provide guinea pigs with a sense of security while also allowing them to get away from the stress of their environment for a short period of time.
Including a hiding area in your guinea pig’s cage is yet another layer of protection you can provide for them.
The fact is that a sturdy cage can hold dogs all on its own, but providing an escape route for your pets will help them feel more secure, especially in the event that their pet dog manages to sneak into their guinea pig’s room.
Keeping them in separate living spaces
A basic setup for your guinea pigs includes providing them with some hiding places in their cage. If you haven’t already, it might be a good idea to start adding some hiding spots to your home or business.
A plastic igloo, a fleece forest, or a fleece cuddle cup are all excellent options for this. Hiding spaces provide guinea pigs with a sense of security while also allowing them to get away from the stress of their environment for a short period of time.
Including a hiding area in your guinea pig’s cage is yet another layer of protection you can provide for them.
The fact is that a sturdy cage can hold dogs all on its own, but providing an escape route for your pets will help them feel more secure, especially in the event that their pet dog manages to sneak into their guinea pig’s room.
Securing the cage before leaving
Always make sure that the doors of your guinea pigs’ cage are securely closed and that the room where they are kept is properly secured before leaving your home.
Having your dogs sneak into your piggies’ room and scare the living daylights out of them when you aren’t there to supervise is something you should avoid at all costs.
Even if you make the mistake of leaving the doors open, the situation for your piggies can quickly deteriorate when you return, so make sure you get this fundamental step right the first time.
Before leaving your house, always check on your piggies to make sure they are safe.
Conclusion: Guinea pigs and dogs
So, is it possible to have a dog and guinea pigs in the same household? Do guinea pigs and dogs get along well together?
It is possible to get your guinea pigs to get along with your dogs, if you try hard enough. It will, however, necessitate some advanced planning on your part.
Maintain your caution at all times, as it is possible that your guinea pigs will never get along with your canines. Every guinea pig and dog has a distinct personality, and they are all distinct from one another in this regard.
As a result, never force or push them into forming a bond. If the relationship develops naturally, it is fine; otherwise, they should remain apart.
Keep in mind that if you follow the steps above and keep them apart, you can still have both cats and guinea pigs without putting their lives in danger.
When it comes to guinea pigs and dogs, however, extreme caution should be exercised.
Related questions:
Why does my dog eat guinea pig poop?
Despite the fact that it may sound disgusting, dogs coprophagia is a fairly common occurrence. In layman’s terms, dogs eat their own feces as well as the feces of other animals in order to absorb the nutrients that have not been absorbed by them.
It has no negative impact on your dogs. It is completely normal for your dogs to eat the poop from your guinea pig, and it will cause them no harm, so you can let them get on with their business.
Did you know that guinea pigs consume their own feces, which is beneficial to their health? You can find out more about it by reading our article!
Can dogs get sick from guinea pigs?
In most cases, your dogs will not become ill as a result of your guinea pigs. Guinea pigs do not, in general, carry bacteria that can be harmful to your dog, but it is a good idea to keep your guinea pigs away from dogs who are sick in order to protect them.
If your guinea pig is suffering from a skin disease such as mites or worms, it is possible that the disease will be transferred to your dogs.
You can learn more about guinea pig diseases from our guide:
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