Guinea Pigs as Pets

People who live with guinea pigs know that dogs and cats have not cornered the market when it comes to love and affection. Guinea pigs can be very warm-hearted creatures. They adore being petted and love to fall asleep in the lap of a person they trust. Guinea pigs have a large capacity for affection and thrive when they receive love in return.

Guinea pigs are not always thought of as intelligent creatures, but in reality, they are a lot smarter than most people think. They are bright animals with complex social structures who develop relationships with individual people and even animals of other species.

In the wild, guinea pigs are food for predators, and this makes them suspicious by nature. How else would they survive? Because of this, they are often fearful and nervous. But once they learn that they are safe in their environment, the depth of their personality comes shining through.

In the world of pet ownership, there are few things more rewarding than knowing that a guinea pig loves you and trusts you. This trust is something you must earn. You can only establish this kind of rapport with your pet once you have spent time with him, showing him that you are worthy of his confidence.

Life with a guinea pig means staying on your toes. They are active and inquisitive and are always exploring their environment. Aside from being endearing, this kind of behavior can also get them into trouble. That’s why guinea pig owners need to be especially vigilant about their pets’ whereabouts at all times.

Many people find it surprising to know that guinea pigs can learn to recognize the sound of their favorite humans’ voices. They can also learn that the opening of the refrigerator means a treat and the crackling of a plastic bag means food is on its way. Many guinea pigs can also be trained to do a variety of simple tricks. Some talented guinea pigs can learn to use a litter box.

Like all animals, guinea pigs have body language that they use to communicate with members of their own species. Humans who learn to comprehend that language will better understand what their guinea pigs are telling them. Once there is this kind of understanding between human and guinea pig, the bond deepens.