7 Fun Tricks You Can Train Your Guinea Pig

Did you know you can train your guinea pigs to respond when you call out its name? That is not all! It can also learn to play a ball, move in circles, stand on its back legs, and do other fun tricks.

Your bond with guinea pigs becomes strong if you have something to do in common or just spend time together. That is the opportunity to teach it a few fun tricks.

We will discuss a few fun tricks you can train your guinea pig and some tips to make it a success. Read for details!

Are Guinea Pigs Easy to Train?

Yes. Just like dogs and other pets, guinea pigs are also intelligent enough to be trained to do a few things. However, the training sessions should be shorter and only be done after the guinea pig has settled.

If the pet is new in your home, you may need to give it a few days to get used to you and the surroundings. You can then start training sessions after building that trust between you and the pet.

Make each lesion no more than 15 minutes. Guinea pigs have a short concentration ability.

7 Fun Tricks You Can Train Your Guinea Pig

You can teach your guinea pigs a few fun tricks to strengthen the bond between you and the pet. Think of giving it a name and training it to respond when called or training the pet to go round in circles. These are just a few examples, but your piggies can learn quite a lot more.

Come When They Are Called

As with other pets, give your newly acquired guinea pig a name. But how does it respond to that name when called? This is one of the easiest tricks that will take you just a few days to teach your pet.

First, start by giving the guinea pig a name. The next step is to look for its favorite snack and use that to attract the pet to you. Hold the snack in your hand.

Call the guinea pig by its name as you show it the food in your hand. Start by a short distance between you and the guinea pig and then increase it slowly.

You need to repeat these steps several times for a few more days. Monitor the progress of your guinea pig and stop the training when the skill is fully mastered.

Guinea Pig to Turn Circles

Since this technique requires space, take the guinea pig out of its cage if possible. You will have much more room on the floor or lawn.

But before training, make sure your guinea pig is comfortable in the outside environment. You may need to take it out of the cage several times.

After completing the pre-training, get to the bolts and nuts of this trick by following these steps:

Hold the snack in your hand where the guinea pig can see it. As it comes towards you to snatch it, rotate the hand holding the snack in circles while saying the word “circle.” Repeat it many times before finally rewarding the guinea pig with the snack.

You need to repeat the procedure daily for a couple of days for the pet to learn it. This method is equally easy, but it will take the guinea pig some time to master it.

Push A Ball

Playing a ball with your guinea pig is the best exercise it desperately needs. After the training, you will have a playmate to keep you busy on weekends or evenings after work. As part of pre-training, your guinea pig should get used to the environment outside the cage.

A tennis ball is the most recommended for this trick because of its appropriate size. Place the snack below the ball. Do that as the guinea pigs watch or find a way of making it aware. As the pet moves towards the ball, say “push the ball.” That has to be audible.

Like all other tricks, you need to repeat this for a couple of days until the skill is mastered.

Stands on Back Legs

This pet skill is fun and can make you have the best moments with your pet. What you need for this trick to work is just a real connection between you and your pet. Also, look for its favorite snack.

Hold the snack with your hand just above the head of your guinea pig. Let it know that the food is there and then say “stand up.” You may need to help the pet stand on its back legs as you give it the snack. Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the results.

This method is one of the most challenging and can take up to months before your guinea pig perfects it. With regular training, your piggy friend should stand up when you say so without the snack.

Teach Your Pet To Jump Through A Hoop

You will need a hoop of about 6-10 inches in diameter. It should have a smooth loop or be free from sharp edges.

Put the hoop between the pet and snack and call out its name to see the snack. As the guinea pig begins to move, say “through the loop.” When it is through to the other side, give the snack as a reward.

This is one of the most challenging tricks to teach your guinea pig. You may need more patience for it to learn.

Return to Their Cage

Returning to the cage or home trick only requires a favorite snack. Before training, ensure the guinea pig cage is safe and comfortable, and the pet is always willing to go back in there.

Toss the favorite snack in the cage and let the pet see it. As it begins to move, say “go home.” Repeat the steps for many more days until your pet is ready to return to the cage on command.

This is also an equally easy trick for your guinea pig. Just ensure the cage deserves to be called home. It will save you the time of running around to catch the pet and return it home.

Consider Training Them to Use A Litter Box

This is the last trick and the most challenging to many pet owners, especially guinea pig trainers. The pet will poop on the wrong spots many times. As a pet trainer, your patience will be tested here. Guinea pigs will get it wrong more often than not.

• Look for a sizable litter box and hold a delicious snack close to it.
• Point out the specific spot in the cage where the guinea pig usually poops.
• Cover that spot with some hay.
• You can sit back and wait for your guinea pig to use the litter box as a toilet. If it does, give it the snack to appreciate its efforts. Continue rewarding your furry friend until using a litter box toilet becomes a habit.

There are quite a few articles about this trick. We basically see it might not seem possible. The reason is that the guinea pig’s behavior is to poop a lot.

So, I really don’t think it’s good for him if he learns to poop in a litter box. Poor them. They poop more than 100 droppings per day! Instead of spending time and effort on this trick, be diligent in clearing the substrate for it.

Oncpcare Guinea Pig Litter Pan with Grate

6 Tips To Train Guinea Pigs

Training a guinea pig different tricks requires the best approach. How do you ensure your pet becomes that first learner to save you time? Also, you need the skill to be mastered well. How do you do that? Your success depends on a few tips, including the following:

Make Sure He Is Settled Into His Home

Consider how you usually behave when you go to a new place with new people. You stay quiet and quite reluctant to do some things.

The same thing happens with guinea pigs. It will not be easy for them to interact with you in the training when they have just come to their new home.

Give new guinea pigs some time to get used to the environment and develop strong bonds with you. Also, sick ones should be given medication and only trained after recovery. A comfortable and healthy guinea pig will save you time and reward your effort because they learn faster.

Comfortable With You: Bond first, Train later

Spend considerable time with your guinea pig before you start training it. Use that chance to develop attachment and connection. Your bonds matter and should be a priority. Don’t start training your pet if it does not trust you or still fear interacting with you.

Immediately Stop All Activities If There Are Any Signs Of Stress Or Discomfort

Suspend all training sessions if your guinea pig shows some signs of discomfort. No one can learn if they don’t feel up to it, and pets are not different. Attend to the matter first and ensure you only return to training when the guinea pig feels easy and comfortable again.

Repetition Is Key

Unlike human beings, pets cannot just grab a concept once. Regardless of the trick you want the pet to master, you should repeat it severally until you are satisfied with the result.

HAYPIGS 3-in-1 Circus Themed Guinea Pig Treat Ball

Patience for Success

It will take time for a guinea pig to learn a trick as simple as responding when called. If you are impatient, you can never be the best trainer your pet had hoped for.

Also, never force your guinea pig to learn using threats. It will only get scared and will avoid you. Instead, reward it at every milestone by giving it a favorite treat.

Only Reward After A Successful Trick

Who rewards a failure? Give your guinea pet a treat only when they get it right. This encourages and helps them to see the difference. Consider pellets and fresh vegetables and fruits for every training session.

Last Sentences

Guinea pigs are equally intelligent. They can learn a few tricks such as moving in circles, returning to their cages on command, high-five, tossing a ball, among others.

Learning, however, takes time. The trainer has to be very patient and always reward the pet with a treat whenever it gets a trick right.

We appreciate your time reading this article at the Petsive. Thank you! You may also view previous posts on related topics to gain knowledge on keeping and handling guinea pigs.