Can Dogs and guineas be friends?

[assumpta]

I just took my rescue dog into the garden for the first time to have a sniff around while hanging out the washing. Over the past two weeks she has watched the guinea pigs in the garden from the sitting room window, not that interested, just watching while lying in the sun. Of course she went biserk at them in their run. I should have had him on a lead, but didn't. I did eventually get him back to the side of the house by catching his collar and clipping on his lead and taking him away from the situation. Will I be able to get him used to them? He is a small shaggy terrier cross. I know that terriers were bred as ratters, so is there any hope? Or any ideas on how I could have them in the garden at the same time. He has no recall at the moment as I am waiting for training classes when his kennel cough has gone.

I do'nt know, but will watch with interest - we used to look after the school guineas every holiday, but since getting our rescue pup in September haven't dared! He (pup - ironically named Mouse) has turned out to be a total ratter, catching and killing rats on walks with alarming regularity. Even though he is 25% Goldie, and 25% Staffie, and only a little bit Ratting Terrier.....

I would keep them separate for now, unless someone comes along with good advice!

No, because dogs instinctively chase and kill small things. Some dogs are a bit lazy and well fed and can't be arsed in the main, but they'll still do it when your back is turned if the notion takes them.

Lots of people will probably pop up to say their dog is best friends with their guinea pig/rabbit/gerbil/whatever, but that's only because the dog hasn't bothered to eat said guinea/rabbit/gerbil/whatever.... yet

My GP's are in an open pen at the moment in the conservatory- still not put them outside for the summer !

My lab takes no notice .

A friends dog however - eyeing them up for lunch ready to pounce into the pen - needless to say doors were shut !

As children my brother and I kept GPs and we also had a Collie cross dog.
Dogs and guineas both do bottom sniffing and ours got on very well - think dog thought they were just little dogs.

Our big standard poodle loves the GP's we have four of them, she treats them like her puppies, licking, protecting etc but our smallest toy poodle would kill them if she could get at them. Because we know this she is never near them, she will work herself up into a frenzy and go crazy at them. So I would just each dog differently. We had one toy poodle was scared of them as they bit her lol.

I have a 5yo SBT bitch who thinks our new house rabbit is her pup Every morning when we get up she goes straight to the cage and they sniff noses through the bars and she is quite happy to let the rabbit come up to her and jump all over her. I obviously wouldn't trust her in a room alone with the rabbit though.

We have a greyhound and guinea pigs. I assumed from the off they wouldn't mix. When we introduced them, (in their hutch even) as soon as he even looked at them I sprayed him with the water sprayer. He doesn't pay them a jot of attention now. They just sit and stare at him, right up by the wire!

The children are not allowed to hold them or get them out when the dog is around.

Stella that is so, so cute!

Thank you everyone. The water sprayer is a good idea. I did think of putting some pebbles in a can and rattle it when he goes near the run, without the guineas in there, and see what happens, then treat when he comes away, but he seems so focused, that it may be a waste of time. He is just getting to know his name, but he did not even flinch when I was calling his name and trying to get his attention!

I could move the guineas pen and put it the other end of the garden, but I guess this would only work if I had him on a long lead so he could still wander and sniff. A friend said I could tether him with a long lead, but don't think this would be necessary/right, or I could let the dog in the garden in the morning or when it is too wet to put out the guineas, and let the guineas have the afternoon sun. He does not need the garden for exercise, as he gets lots, and he have a gated side entrance that he can have the run of whenever he wants. It would be lovely to have everyone in the garden at the same time, especially for barbecues etc., if it ever stops raining!