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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

8yo DD REAALLY wants a guineapig.

38 replies

LynetteScavo · 21/12/2013 17:42

Cue wailing and sobbing and beating her chest.

She has said if she buys the bowl, could we buy the guinepig and hutch for her for Christmas? "Pleeeease Because it's only fair!"

It's not happening. I can't stand guineapigs.

She phoned DH and wailed down the phone, and he suggested they go to Pets At Home tomorrow to see what owning one involves.

How long will this obsession last?

I repeat; I will not have one in the house.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SilverApples · 21/12/2013 17:45

Why do you dislike them?
Not a daft question, and they can live outside if you have a garden. But are you afraid of them?
Does your DH know how you feel?

SilverApples · 21/12/2013 17:45

My OH disliked cats, but learned to live with one because it mattered to DS so much.

Original poster

LynetteScavo · 21/12/2013 17:48

They are too rat like.

I couldn't leave them outside in the winter, because I'm soft. I would have to bring them inside and they would make me shudder.

One of the cats is on it's last legs, and I don't want to take on any more pets atm - or I might consider a rabbit. I don't think DH knows how I feel, although he was very firm about not getting DS1 a hamster a couple of years ago. (They are less rat like, IMO).

OP posts:

RandomMess · 21/12/2013 17:56

Rabbits are not as interactive and guinea-pigs and can live rather a long time!

If you want a break from pets just say no.

mercibucket · 21/12/2013 17:57

get a an abyssinian or peruvian - those don't look rat like imo. mind you, I don't think they look rat like anyway but the pets at home ones can look a bit 'pinched faced'

SilverApples · 21/12/2013 18:01

Rabbits are silent and can be very bad tempered and given to clawing.
There are many different breeds of piggie, Abyssinians are tufty and fluffy
www.warrenphotographic.co.uk/photography/bigs/15182-Red-Abyssinian-Guinea-pig-white-background.jpg
Peruvians look like Dougal
www.onlineguineapigcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Peruvian_cavy.jpg

They are gregarious and friendly and talkative, and at 8, your DD should be able to care for them completely by herself with your DH supervising.

Original poster

LynetteScavo · 21/12/2013 18:02

I have said no....hopefully she's got the hint, and will have forgotten she ever wanted one by tomorrow. (She only wants one because the friend she played with today has a couple.)

Meanwhile the drama is painful.

OP posts:

SilverApples · 21/12/2013 18:03

Problem solved then.

Original poster

LynetteScavo · 21/12/2013 18:04

Not yet, the pleading continues....

OP posts:

SilverApples · 21/12/2013 18:06

Earphones and an iPod.

Gileswithachainsaw · 21/12/2013 18:06

How are hamsters less rat like than guinea pigs? Guinea pigs are great. They are fab pets for kids.

Still if you don't want any more pets then you are right not to get them.

But maybe a trip to take a look (on your own) so you can see that they are actually really sweet?

RandomMess · 21/12/2013 18:07

"Pets are not for Christmas -ever" Hopefully by new year she will have forgotten?

It's a shame they are wonderful pets tbf.

Meglet · 21/12/2013 18:20

Don't get one from Pets at Home, nasty place , rescues are better. Other than that piggies are awesome pets, they might bankrupt you in parsley and celery though.

Rabbits are hard work like a cat or dog. Not a pet for a hutch in the garden, much better for them to be free range and house trained even if they do chew through everything and nick your biscuits.

sandiy · 21/12/2013 18:22

Is she my daughters last year,they nagged and pleaded.Eventually I gave in and bought them grudgingly I never thought I would like them but they are lovely,so much so that we are rehoming two more at ours tomorrow so we will have 5.
They are really really lovely such character great fun and very cuddly.

mercibucket · 21/12/2013 18:34

my gp looks like dougal

Gileswithachainsaw · 21/12/2013 18:37

Aw cute :)

minipie · 21/12/2013 18:51

I got a pair of guinea pigs at about this age. After a few months I was really bored of them and bored of the weekly cage cleaning and twice daily feeding in all weathers and had to be nagged a lot to do it.

Is there any way you could arrange to pet sit someone else's guinea pigs for a week or two, while they are on holiday? would give your dd a taste of it without the commitment. (probably not long enough to put her off the idea though).

if you don't want one just say no. my mum always made it quite clear that certain pets (hamsters, dogs) were off the agenda.

stubbs0412 · 21/12/2013 18:58

My 7 year old did this. We took her pets at home. She wanted to hold one and I'm glad she did, it bit (nipped) her hand and she never asked again.
I know this may sound mean to all you pet lovers, but IMO 7 is too young to care for a gp & if parent does embrace the care it needs then don't get one. They need constant handling to be tame and in the winter you mAy have to bring it in, it can get extremely cold. Do you want a gp inside, you will probably need another smaller hutch too as the wooden ones are big. Been there done that with rabbits, hamsters ....big mistake, they were too young to care for independently, be prepared to "muck in".

VampireRabbit · 21/12/2013 19:02

mercibucoet same! We called ours Dougal. A nightmare to groom tbf. His adoptive brother has the shortest hair imaginable and has ears like a rabbit. Guinea pigs are weird.

Gileswithachainsaw · 21/12/2013 19:02

No one gets a pet and expects a 7/8 year old to do all of it surely?

There's lots they can do but they will need help. You sound surprised you had to "muck in"

IamInvisible · 21/12/2013 19:09

I said exactly the same (too rat like) about Guinea pigs when our two wanted one and bought a rabbit. I loved our rabbit, she was beautiful but she wasn't easy to handle, she only liked DS1 and I, and she was lonely so the vet advised us to buy a Guinea pig.

We did, we bought a long haired one. She was so ugly that I felt sorry for her and thought no-one would buy her, but she grew into her face! She was the cutest little thing. They are so lovely in the way that they squeak when they hear you and come to you.

We have had two more since. They aren't like rats, really at all. I miss them like crazy now, but I can not look after anymore and the boys are too old so we aren't getting new ones.

I can see why she wants one, but can see you're going to be hard to crack!

jellyrolly · 21/12/2013 19:15

Get her to keep a Guinea Pig diary - you can google what care is needed. Write date, times, cleaning, feeding, handling, costs and say if she does it in real time EVERY DAY for a month you can talk again. It will bore her senseless and she won't want to take care of it.

SilverApples · 21/12/2013 19:15

As a Forces family, we weren't allowed a pet that had a lifespan of more than a couple of years. Mum said no.

jellyrolly · 21/12/2013 19:17

And don't forget to add "you can't [insert favourite activity or outing or holiday etc], what about the guinea pig"

Gileswithachainsaw · 21/12/2013 19:18

It will bore her senseless and she won't want to take care of it

I'm not sure what that would achieve. If the parents don't agree about getting one fine, then don't. But pet ownership can be a wonderful thing and teach children a lot when you feel it's the right time. Don't put them off looking after animaksvjust to stop you looking like the bad guy. You could seriously rob them of valuable experiences when they are older. It's not a bad life skill to learn. (When time is right obviously)

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