We have kept rodents for the last few years. I'd love a dog or cat but work and allergies make these impossible.
Sadly we lost our last remaining gerbil today. Silver was an antisocial, grumpy sod from the off, he disliked other gerbils, people and was happiest climbing up and biting my ear and hair. He outlived all his little mates by 1 year, which was the happiest year of his life (Silver didn't do sharing!)
Now, we love having pets. They add so much to our family.
For the last couple of years I've been quite taken with having guinea pigs. DH isn't convinced. He thinks they will take to much care and suggested a house bunny (yeah, that'd be easier!)
Everything I've read about piggies makes them sound ideal. We love sociable pets and piggies are meant to be very sociable. We eat loads of fruit and veg so always have these in, live very close to a good pet shop so would be able to supply plenty of hay and piggy food and toys. There is also a really good vets in our village too.
Please help me sell getting a couple to DH, I'm hoping with your help that this time tomorrow we will have a couple of new additions to the family!
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Small pets
Help me convince DH we need some piggies
glenthebattleostrich · 05/03/2016 18:27
The feeling when they do their croissant on you with a little pink leg stretched out, it's just lovely....makes you go fuzzy and warm :) or when they feel they're being neglected, because you stop fussing them for a second, and they start paying you lots of attention, being all snuffly and licking and indignantly expectant of hurried readministering of strokes and ear scratchings
They are excellent lawnmowers. And they eat veg scraps.
Every book I've read with a guin on my lap has teeth marks on the bottom corners though. Ok so not such a positive perhaps. But they have Presence.
They tell you when they're going to pee, they're very good about that, either stampy dance or tugging at your sleeve (best to have a sleeve available).
My mum's current pig (I sadly haven't got one, bloody halls!) is a cheeky little chap and is starting to explore further and further into the house 
he was caught in the living room last time I heard, which is quite a trek for little legs. He's only supposed to explore the kitchen. My mum's trying ever so hard to train him and my dad's just undermining her & encouraging him all the way
I hope you get them! photos please 
see how bonkers both piggies and piggy owners are
very true, (I can't even claim to be offended)
You should be aware if there are allergies abound, it's one of the main causes of piggies needing rehomed (allergies and loss of childrens' interest)
My DD is fine with our smooths and Abbys but allergic to Rex (rough coated) and even more allergic to Teddy fur.
At the moment we have GP4/GP5/GP6 (a smooth, a crested smooth and a Teddy) . Cuddling the Teddy brings her out in a rash within a minute.
They are quite hard work I'd say. They are more vunerable than bigger animals like rabbits and being floor dwellers they are literally sitting in their own muck. I read about piggies cages being cleaned weekly, ours will saturate their bedding in a day.I have never met animals that pooh/pee so much for their bodyweight.
So we clean daily (at the moment indoor night/ Pighouse day)
That means hay/newspaper/ something absorbant like Megazorb, paper shreddings, wood litter.
They have their dietry needs. But I get admiring glances at my supermarket trolley and asked "How do you cook this"? when I bought Cavelo nero. I don't, I said, my guineas eat it raw. 'Oh'
I should've said ' Oh, smoothie. Yum'
Keeping them healthy and happy helps keep them away from the vet though .
Tonight DD and I cuddled the piggies while Ant & Dec were on.
Happiness is a piggie cuddled up in your cardi
Nothing brightens your day like a piggie wheek wheek wheeking when they hear you approach .. 
and they are sitting waiting for you!
My childhood g-pigs rarely ever went to the vets despite spending more time living outside than was appropriate (ignorance I'm afraid).
I would also get a very good outside run with weather proof super snug hutch/shelter so they can go outside during the day for a few hours - when you around if foxes are an issue. I think daily exercises even in the cooler months outside probably is good for them - no point when it's raining!!!
We used old towels folded up for them to sit on when they were on our laps or I've had friends more recently use a small pet bed. Helps catch the poops and is more secure for young children handling them.
I'm now very allergic to the hay so cuddling a g-pig will trigger my allergies but it's the hay 
You will need a big enough cage (and that means minimum 2'x4' for 2 piggies, if you are getting boars, bigger is better . There are 2'x5' cages or if you want bigger, C&C cages are good.
There are loads of GP Food Threads on here, there are some foods they cannot have. Some that you need to limit (I'll bump them for you)
Make sure you get a same sex pair (I've had the 'mistakes' in the past , resulting in piglets)
If you choose a pair today, maybe get the owner to seperate them from the group and let them have some quiet time together just the two of them (a cage in the back of the shop) while you get everything ready for them.
Cage
Outdoor run (for warmer weather)
Bowl
The same food as they are eating to continue (though you might want to change this . They need pellets not the muesli type)
Tons of newspaper
Hay to eat and bedding
Water bottle
Hidey space/igloo/box (cut 2 doors, no staples or tape)
I don't use sawdust or shavings. Indoors mine have a thick layer of wood pellets (rodent safe cat litter) , newspaper, a fleece or shredded loo roll tubes/card.
They don't smell, if they are kept clean. The hay does.
They are very shy to begin with then take their Brave Pills and go into full on chatter mode.
I had Mothers Day breakfast with 3 piggies today
Piglets are adorable though, my mummy pig was happy to let me handle her babies from being a few hours old I spent hours every day with my piggies!
Oh dear how thick am i ??? Until i read 70s mention of allergies i had not linked my being itchy when Mollie tries to snuggle into my neck with her thick fur 
no such problem with Sadie's soft fur - she just sheds white hairs everywhere
Mine lived outside all year around 
they had a home built custom built hutch tbf - draught free wind and weather proof they only came in overnight in the harsh bits of winter. Had free access to their run at all times - when it was wet they would pull their tummies up out of dampness way to shuttle over the grass to where they wanted to graze!
Lived to ripe ages all things considered!
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