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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 19:20

Jellyrolly, that completely ignores the feedback and affection that you get from pet ownership.
Seriously, I have two piggies and I check their food and water a couple of times a day, use them to recycle veg bits at dinner time and play with them for about an hour on work days. More at the weekend and holidays.
Clean the hutch twice a week. They are lovely and worth the time.
But if the OP doesn't want her DD to have one, that's all that we need to know. She can have whatever pet she likes when she leaves home.
But OP, you need to talk to your DH because he sounds as if he's for the idea.

clippityclop · 21/12/2013 19:27

Do they really need to be in pairs? And do you keep them in a hutch outside or inside? How do they 'play'? Sorry to but in with questions but was just going to post about the fact my daughters are on a campaign for guinea pigs. My main defence is that we have a cat.

SilverApples · 21/12/2013 19:31

They are much happier in a pair, mine live in an outside hutch with a run in the summer and good weather. They are currently in the garage/workshop in a hutch and get the run of the conservatory in the evenings for a few hours.
They play by running around, through sections of drainpipes and boxes with holes cut in, tug of war with celery and by squeaking and playing hide and seek.
As a Star Trek fan, I always wanted a tribble, and now I have two.

hmc · 21/12/2013 19:32

Guinea pigs are incredibly easy undemanding pets. Just get her one (or preferably two)!

RandomMess · 21/12/2013 19:34

They are social animals so it's unkind to keep them as onlies.

It's too cold in the winter to leave them out and too damp as well. Best to have a weather proof outdoor hutch and a large indoor one as wel..

Scarletohello · 21/12/2013 19:47

Why not get a cat? Cute and stress relieving. Pretty undemanding too. Never seen the point of guinea pigs tbh...

insanityscatching · 21/12/2013 19:47

Dd wanted a hamster at about 8 and after checking that she understood that it would be a responsibility we bought her one. She loved Captain and took care of her religiously and spent time every day playing and talking to her as well as making sure she was clean and fed and watered.When she died we got Sophia and dd continues to care for her just as well.
I think having a pet not only brings a child a lot of fun and love but it also teaches them some important lessons about life too but ultimately the decision has to be the parent's as it is they who will have to take over if the child gets fed up or bored.

hmc · 22/12/2013 08:50

I agree about pets being good for children - I see ds showing tenderness and affection to our pets and that has to be a good thing.

snowed · 22/12/2013 10:42

Guinea pigs are unlike rats because they are placid, have no tail and aren't pests.

Original poster

LynetteScavo · 22/12/2013 11:09

hmc - I see DD dressing our blind & half deaf cat in dolls clothes and taking her for a ride in the pram, and don't see that as a good thing. Although the cat seems unbothered.

OP posts:

RandomMess · 22/12/2013 11:38

Lynette - one of our cats is quite happy to have that sort of thing done to him - he considers any attention worth having. He also goes to bed with dd, when she's running late he comes to find her and tells her off!!!

Perhaps offer a "kitten" when current cat passes away? An older rescue kitten is so much work.

UniS · 30/12/2013 09:09

D's thought he wanted Guinea pigs. so we offered to look after friends while they were on holiday. D's soon got bored of the daily duty... I looked after them for a week and Guinea pigs were returned to owners safe and well having had a restfull week. OP can you borrow GPs to try out DC with the responsibilities.

atthestrokeoftwelve · 30/12/2013 09:28

Guinea Pigs are wonderful pets- we have had many over the years.
Ours were always in pairs and always lived outside- even during really bad snow-as long as they had a sturdy dry warm hutch with loads of bedding an a tarpaulin for really bad nights- never any need to bring them inside.
We had a big moveable run too that the kids could sit in to play and interact with the animals- we even had a special lead with a harness so they could be taken on walks.
The run was kept on the lawn because guinea pigs love to graze.

Incredibly intelligent animals and very vocal- they would sing and chatter to me when I was hanging laundry.

One word though if kept as outdoor pets best to get them during summer months as pups do feel the cold more than adults- also easier to train and interact with them outside when the weather is nice.

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