My guinea pig looks sad with my dog. How can I introduce them?

It would probably be best and more successful if you slowly introduced the two guinea pigs to each other. I would start by placing them in separate cages but writhin view of each other. Then slowly move the cages closer together over a few days until they are next to each other. Once the guinea pigs do ok being in close proximity you can put them in the same cage for a short amount of time, under your supervision. Do this multiple times a day for a week or so and once they seem comfortable you can start keeping them in the same cage. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

You can get a young pig or one closer in age. Which ever you choose, have her examined by your veterinarian to confirm good health. Introduction should be gradual. Begin by having them in separate cages side by side. This way they can see, hear and smell one another but have no physical contact. Once they are acclimated, you can gradually introduce them for short periods of time under supervision. Clean and rearrange the cage you choose so it appears to be "neutral ground for both pigs. Rub some of the bedding from your first pig onto the new one before introduction. This scent transfer will help acclimation. Allow them to spend more and more time together while monitoring for signs of aggression. Provide extra food bowls, water bottles, etc to prevent resource protection or food aggression.

If Sid chases small animals, I would not get a guinea pig. Even though it will be in a cage, he may try to get to it, which will stress out the guinea pig a lot. I don't think it would be a good idea. I hope this helps!

The more you interact with your guinea pigs the more comfortable they will become with you. Start by leaving the cage door open (under your supervision of course) and leaving some treats outside the cage. Let them come out on their own so they don't feel threatened. Every time you open the cage or need to handle them give them a special treat, something they love and only get when you are with them. Hold off on doing any baths or anything like that if you can for now. Make every interaction with you a positive one for them. This is called positive reinforcement and they will respond to this tactic more quickly than anything else As you can tell, treats are a big part of training them. So reserve any special food items for when you are there. They will start to associate you with the treats and begins to start trusting you more and more. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hello, and thank you for your question. Guinea pigs can become very social and loving pets, but it will take some time. I would start by offering her treats from your hand. Speak softly to her while doing so, so she gets used to your voice. Eventually let her come to you for the treat. You can also try putting the treat further back on your hand to encourage her to put her front paws on you. Continue to offer her treats and allow her to put her paws on your hand, until she allows you to pet her gently. Eventually, she may accept holding as well, but start by holding her while you are sitting down on the floor, in case she spooks and tries to jump out. You can also try wrapping her loosely in a towel before holding her, which will provide extra support. Appropriate treats for guinea pigs include apples, pears, oranges, green peppers, lettuce, celery, or commercial guinea pig treats. If you continue to interact with her like this, she may become comfortable with you within a matter of a few weeks! I hope this helps! Enjoy your new pig!

Sounds like you are on the right track! I see that Sebastian is a male, and I assume that you are getting another male - I apologize if that is not correct, as that is what I will be speaking to. To introduce the boys, you can put their cages next to each other - they will have visual and auditory (hearing) contact, but no physical contact. If you don't see any signs of aggression, such as putting up their hair, chattering their teeth, or lunging at one another, then you can move towards supervised contact. I usually wait 4-5 days to do this - this will allow for your new guinea pig to get used to your house as well. During supervised contact, I will often feed the guinea pigs, as this will create positive experiences with one another. After a few days of putting the pigs together for sessions, then you can put them together. The part that worries me is that if both of your guinea pigs are intact males, that they may end up fighting in the future. I would recommend getting them castrated if there is a veterinarian in your area who is comfortable with performing the procedure. I hope that this helps!

Hello, and congratulations on your new guinea pigs! Guinea pigs can become very social with humans but it can take some time if they have not had much interactions with humans before. Try to very gradually get them used to you by offering them something tasty such as fresh vegetables, fruits, and commercial treats from your hand. Eventually, they will start to associate your presence with treats, and will be more willing to come out to play. While they are eating a treat from your hand, you can try to gently pet them on the top of their head. Talk to your guinea pigs regularly so they get used to your voice, and ideally put their cage in a room where you are often in, so they get used to your presence as well. They can also learn their names if you use them often enough! Don't try to pick up/hold your guinea pigs until they have some comfort with taking a treat from your hand and putting their front paws on your hand. When you do try to pick them up, hold them snug but not too tight, and always support their bum to avoid falling. I hope this helps! Enjoy your little guys. They are great pets!