Soon to be dog owners, we hope - but what about the guinea pigs?

[traviata]

After many months of discussion, we have decided we'd like to adopt a rescue dog. Neither DH nor I have owned a dog before, but we're committed to doing lots of research, and to training and properly caring for any dog we get. DC are 11 and 13, DH is at home all day, etc.

However, we're not sure what to do regarding our 2 guinea pigs. DC say they would be very sad for them to be re-homed, but would accept it if we had a dog that couldn't live with them. We've only had the GPs a few months, so I can see that it looks as though we regard them as dispensable, but the truth is that we should have got a dog in the first place. DH was still prevaricating at the time, and for various reasons the guinea pigs (who we re-homed) seemed like a good choice. They are about 18 months old, so will probably live for several years. The DC have been excellent and reliable about caring for them, so this has helped us make our decision about getting a dog.

The GPs live in an indoor cage plus enclosed run during the winter, on the floor of our conservatory. For the summer, they have an outdoor hutch in the garden plus enclosed run. Both these areas would need to be accessed by a dog, we could not keep them apart. There is nowhere else for them to live.

I have read posts from others who have both GPs and a dog, but could it really work in practice? Even if we tried to train a dog to leave them alone, could this be done? And would the GPs just suffer continual stress and fear?

DH is particularly attracted to terriers, especially JRTs; I've read enough to say to him that they are often not recommended as first dogs anyway, but they seem especially unlikely to adapt well to leaving the GPs alone.

I like whippets and lurchers; could they co-exist better?

If we approached a rescue while we still had the GPs, but explained we would be willing to find a new home for them, how would that go down?

We are more than happy to provide the cage etc so they would have some familiarity in new surroundings.

(also posting in Small Animals)

I had guinea pigs in cages in the living room and had a dog and cat as well.

The dog found them mildly interesting, they weren't bothered by him at all.

The cat would have had them given a chance, even sticking her paws through the bars when she thought she could get away with it...for a few weeks they were a bit stressed by her, but they did get used to her and would just sit about a cm out of reach and eat (because that's what they did most of the time) and look at her like, yeah right, we know you can't reach us here.

I wouldn't trust the dog I have now an inch with guinea pigs, but there plenty of dogs in rescues that are absolutely fine with small furries.

thanks tabulah, I feel more optimistic now about making it work.

I had a free range rabbit and a Staffie. They used to sunbath together pets can coexist you just need to manage it carefully. My dog and rabbit did not live together unless I was there with them.

If we approached a rescue while we still had the GPs, but explained we would be willing to find a new home for them, how would that go down?

I think that would give a rescue an impression you wouldn't want them to have, to be honest.

Breeds such as JRTs, lurchers and whippets do sometimes have to be watched around small furries, but in my experience, most dogs get bored after an initial interest - as long as the GPs are kept completely safe at all times. My current dog walks around my GPs' outside run (it has no roof, just sides and tunnels), while they run around her. She sidesteps them when required but they don't avoid her.

Obviously I am very watchful and they are not ever left alone - disgustingly, her interest is entirely focussed on their poos; I really do not think she wants to eat the piggies themselves.

We have a small terrier cross dog and a hamster. The hamster has never shown the slightest interest, never mind fear, in the dog. The dog on the on the other hand is VERY concerned about the hamster.

I wouldn't necessarily rehome the GPs before getting the dog, but rather look for a dog that should be ok to live with them and see how it goes.

I have labradors and know they wouldn't be fussed at all.

The cat used to bring live moles in . I found Ddog1 on many occasions looking fascinated and confused by these small furry things scuffling about. Never hurt one tho, even tho he always found them before i did.

thanks, very good advice here.

I have a young Lab & guinea pigs and they are quite inquisitive about each other, putting their noses up to each other through the GP's cage. The guinea pigs are kept in the garden in an eglu which is a fox proof cage & run - they are expensive brand new but you can sometimes pick one up on Gumtree. www.omlet.co.uk/shop/guinea_pig_products/eglu_guinea_pig_house/.

I had a pet rabbit, I have an ex racing greyhound, my dog has high prey drive, if he spots an animal to chase in the distance he would (and has!) shoot off without a second thought. The rabbit spent her days either in her run or in her hutch (apart from when I was spending time with her of course) and the dog coexisted perfectly happily with my rabbit, even though he could walk right up to the hutch, he totally ignored her. Until the day she escaped. I let the dog out for the toilet without a clue the bunny was out. We haven't got a rabbit anymore

Honestly, it depends entirely on the individual dog. Some dogs would have fought their way inside the hutch to get at her (and I've known it happen with other peoples small furries and dogs), others, like mine, would ignore unless they were out, which clearly means that they are fair game. I don't think there's any way of knowing how the dog will react to the piggies until they see them.

My dog loves our guinea pigs if we are cuddling them, wants to lick them clean but never any more than that. She also queues up to get veg with the pigs, so along with the bowl we now have to cut 3 loose bits to hand feed 2 pigs and a dog.

Pigs aren't bothered by the dog, sometimes inquisitive, sometimes they hide if she smashed her waggy massive tail into their cage but don't think that's particualrly dog related, more the noise.

They co-exist quite happily really.

Most rescue centres will tell you whether the dog can live with other pets and children

We had guinea pigs with whippet crosses. One of them clearly thought they were puppies and tried to lick them and look after them.

The other whippet just wanted to eat them

Am I only one here really disgusted that you rescued guinea pigs then decided you wanted a dog instead so are willing to get rid of them?!
It's not the best message to give to your kids is it?

What if you decide you later want a cat, you going to just get rid of your dog?

As for how it would go down with a rescue, I think a rescue would only be interested in forever homes with responsible people ....

I understand your predicament. We came to dog ownership via fish, Guinea pigs and rabbits but over some years. The Guinea pig was from a pet shop, leftover because he had club feet and the rabbits were from a rescue who wouldn't let us have a dog!

With the right dog it should be possible. This thread is about someone being approved to foster greyhounds even though they have Guineapigs (indoor).

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/2306431-Home-check-tomorrow-night-Any-tips

fair comment, buttholelane

This doesn't sit well with me either. Kind of feels like you committed to the gps then want to trade up to a dog.
Personally I think your loyalty should lie with the animals you rescued first. Who knows they could have been dumped because the last owner wanted a dog instead.

If you don't think you can keep the gps safe if you have a dog, then you shouldn't be getting a dog until the pigs die in however many years they live for; getting rid of one pet to get another is crap and any decent rescue would hopefully send you packing if you came in with such an idea!