Guinea Pig Care Sheets at Petco?

Question

I'm planning on getting 6 to 8 guinea pigs when I move out of my parents' apartment and when I went to Petco a few days ago I realized that they had care sheets for every animal that they have there. I was just wondering. Are Petco's guinea pig care sheets about the things that guinea pigs need or are they all a bunch of quacks? I also have some questions about guinea pigs and one of my questions is: Can guinea pigs go for walks with their owners? My second question is: Can guinea pigs live without a cage? My third question is: Can guinea pigs learn their name when they're being told something to do? And my final question is: How can guinea pigs tell us what they want at the right moments?

Answer 1

I wouldn't trust anything that comes out of a pet store. They usually have no idea what they're talking about. They're very uninformed of the needs of their exotic animals.
Compare the care sheet to this website. Guinealynx is the best care, medical, and emergency guide for guinea pigs. It has the best information.
http://www.guinealynx.com/healthycavy.html

No, they can't go for a walk like a dog would. They can play out in a supervised area of a back yard(be sure no animals do there buisness and no pesticides). Never use harnesses, they can seriously hurt and even cripple guinea pigs.
They are prey animals, and it will be their instinct to flee. If they are attatched to a harness, it will pull them back and their bone structure will move in ways it shouldn't.

They can sort of live with out a cage. They will need an enclosed enviornment, they can't run about the house freely 24/7. If you have a room, you could dedicate it to them. You'll still need litter bins, blankets, and hidey houses. I house my sows free range, they love it.
Theres another thing you may want to do. Commercial cages are abusively small, but the most popular alternative are C&C cages. You can make them as large as you want, and they are very inexpensive.
Here's the link to the website with how-tos. Theres also ideas on free range living, and a photogallery.
www.guineapigcages.com

They can sort of learn their name.. I think my herd understands voice tones more than their actual names. They don't learn commands the same way a dog would. They can learn complex paths to food, and to come and get snuggles by you making little clicking noises, but thats about it.

Guinea pigs are very vocal, they'll let you know when they're angry, happy, hungry, and sad.
This weblink has sound clips and descriptions, it'll give you a better idea.
http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/guineapigsounds.html

I hope I covered anything. You're really gonna love your many years of cavy slavedom!
I hope you adopt, this website will explain further on the over population of guinea pigs, and why it's important to adopt.
www.cavyspirit.com
Goodluck.

Answer 2

(Can guinea pigs go for walks with their owners?)
Only if you hold hem and he isn't going to like it.I have seen some go for walks but they had a lot of training and they couldn't go more then around the house.

(Can guinea pigs live without a cage?) Yes but they really do like there cages. They want a home. Even a box would work.

(Can guinea pigs learn their name when they're being told something to do?) You can call them but they will not learn buy name only by you voice. In most cases they will just run away from you.

(How can guinea pigs tell us what they want at the right moments?)
Not really. But you will learn what isn't normal that they are doing and you must find out why they're doing it.


If you get 6-8 of them they're going to care more about each other than they will about you.

IF i was you i would only get 1. I would get it from a breeder Not the pet store. Breeds animals are much nicer. I would go with a long hair as they're much sweeter and smarter breeds(few types of long hair Peruvian being my #1). It's allso great fun when you give them a hair cut :)

Over all kind of sounds like you might want to get a different animal Guinea pigs are good when you want something to play with a little and they're ok to be on there own. There not like a dog they will never ...umm how can you put it. ,,fall in love with you.. Oh ya they will almost never bite unlike most small animals.

Ever think about getting a bunny? The two largest bunnies
frenchlops and flemish giants are Very good pets. They will love you more and want to come over to your alot more than a guninea pig. If you get one make sure you get it as a baby. Also Don't go with the small breeds of rabbits they're no where close pet freindlyness of the two large breeds. Go with a guinea pig if you could only buy a mini breed of rabbit

Answer 3

I am a manager at petco and i can assure you that our care sheets are written by veterinarians, not petco staff. Guinea pigs are very shy and skitterish animals. They cannot be walked and they most likely will never learn their name. They also crap about 1000 times a day so unless you are prepared to clean up alot of poop i wouldn't leave them unattended in your house.

Answer 4

If you don't like scooping out poop every day, guinea pigs are not the pet for you :P Also, try feeding them veggies the same time everyday, so they know you're coming - they will start "wheeking" for your arrival =D

Answer 5

Sounds like you want a guinea pig sized dog.