Q: Guinea Pig Training?

Answered by Sharkz on 2/6/03, 12:53 pm

A: Guinea Pig Training?

Yes it is possible, but it takes a lot of patience and persistence. Attached you will find my FAQ on the subject and how to go about trying to trian your little Guinea Pig at using the litter box.....

Hope this helps and gets you started in the right direction...



From my Rodent FAQ:
Yes it is possible to have your Guinea Pigs using a litter pan, but you have to be very persistent and patient with the ''accidents'' that might occur.

If you want to litter train your Guinea Pig then here are a few tips to keep in mind..

Guinea Pigs like to use their house to deposit their pellets or a specific corner to use as their toilet. You can use this habit to train your Piggies and also when they are out of the cage.

Also the younger the easier to train, but don't get discouraged.

Now here is how you can go about getting your Guinea Pig trained....

---> When you let your Piggie out of the cage, set up a shallow pan with kitty liter or cage bedding and put a few pellets of feces in there. Place your Guinea Pig in the pan.

---> Keep putting the Piggie back into the plastic pan. But don't get angry if they hop out the first few times and relieves themselves else where in the room.

---> Do not yell at your Piggie, and don't hit it, no matter how gently. That would only upset the Piggie and make the housebreaking process more difficult.

---> Watch to see whether it has a favorite corner and set up a toilet pan there.

---> Everytime the Piggie uses its pan, reward it with a treat (something you usually do not give it ).

---> Messes on the floor or carpet can be cleaned with a solution of Vinegar and water. It will act as a disinfectant, and the smell is not pleasant to the sensitive nose of the Guinea PIg. Once feces pellets have dried they can be vacuumed up.

Also as an added note, if you give your Guinea Pig free run of the home, then you will need a litter pan in every room and block off access to under beds,cupboards,couches and any other furniture they can crawl under.

Some problems that can arise from housebreaking are as follows...

---> A Male that is constantly courting will always try and spray the Female with urine. If the Female is not in heat then she will defend herself with the same.

---> Also if several Males are out of the cage then they will mark the room by leaving many Pellets of Feces everywhere to mark their Territory.

---> Females are by far the cleanest and by all means try to toilet train them as it is easier than with Males..

Sorry that this was so long winded, but those would be the steps to take in order to '' TRY '' and housebreak your Guinea Pigs into using a litter pan. Not all Guinea Pigs will use a litter pan, but there is no harm in trying.

So just be Patient and Persistant and hopefully all will work out for you and your Guinea Pigs.

I hope that this helps and do not hesitate to ask any other questions.....