A guinea pig owner will tell you how hectic it is to clean a cage for a newly introduced piggy. Cleaning the cage is inevitable for the wellbeing of your guinea pig. The work is time-consuming and unpleasant; you will get tired as the days go by. However, these animals can easily take some lessons, and potty training is one of the essential knowledge you can impart to your guinea pig.
Count yourself lucky if you read this article because I will take you through a simple guide on how to potty train a guinea pig. Training a guinea pig is not different from teaching other small pets like cats.
A complete guide on how to potty train a guinea pig
step 1: Buy a suitable litter tray
Under this step, your litter box should be sizeable, not too big nor too small. Your animal will be unable to sit and use the container. Unfortunately, most litter trays in local pet dealers are too small. Therefore, when purchasing a litter box for your little friend, go for the model with heavy materials to prevent it from slipping off and big enough to accommodate the piggy comfortably.
However, if your guinea pig cage is not spacious enough for a giant litter tray, I would advise using a tidily folded newspaper. You will be using this paper as the piggy’s litter zone.
step 2: Choose a litter tray lining
To differentiate between a litter zone and a standard café space, you will have to acquire a lining material and cover the litter box’s internal surface. For example, you can station newspapers at the one end of the litter tray; if you own a Middle Guinea Pig Run model. It has a fleece lining.
step 3: Creating a conducive bathroom environment
These animals are similar to human beings in that they can also enjoy their private time and quiet. Therefore, you should place a litter box where they will experience fewer interruptions. Sometimes you may have to cover the potty area with extra fleece or a towel to enhance the animal’s privacy.
However, some cages may come with ramps; they can make a right hiding place for your little friend. I would recommend using this if you don’t have hassles when developing a guide pig’s “bathroom.”
step 4: Teach your little friend to prevent messes
Teaching your guinea pig to jump over a litter tray is essential as it will reduce the messes that could arise when it knocks it over. You can trick it with some favorite fruit or hay. Hold it up, and you will see it jumping from the tray towards the food.
step 5: Place some hay to create interest
Guinea pigs are always mad when they see hay, so you can place the food near the box to attract it. It is possible that the animal spends a long time there and will keep on revisiting the place. The pet may eventually pee or poop around the area.
step 6: Place the poop in the litter box when the animal accidentally drops the urge outside
This art is challenging but simple. Placing the animal’s droppings back in the box is the trickiest part. The animal will learn that it should be using the litter box when urge calls. Don’t dispose of the poops before teaching the animal.
step 7: Scatter litter boxes to the pig’s favorite hotspots
These animals have a specific place for pooping. So, you need to place extra trays or more of the current litter box to their newly found location. Sometimes it is advisable to place the litter tray next to their feeding place or near the food. You are the one to decide where to put a litter box, but make sure the animals access the box quickly.
I would recommend you try to separate a litter box from a feeding area because guinea pigs are hygienic. They will not eat food contaminated with poops. Instead, station another litter tray next to their feeding area.
step 8: Reward your pet after using the litter box
Immediately give your piggy some special treat when it enters the box. When you get it utilizing potty for the toilet, reward the animal with some favorite fruit. Doing so will encourage your piggy to continue using the place when it feels like to poop or pee. Favorable treatment will make the animal realize the importance of a litter tray.
step 9: Remember to clean the litter box
Just the way you would not wish to use a dirty bathroom, your piggy won’t too. These animals feel safe and better when in hiding places, so they visit the areas to feel relaxed and calm. However, your guinea pig may accidentally full in the “bathroom,” so you should equip the section with some dry bedding like paper bedding to prevent the animal from sitting in a messy potty.
Frequently asked questions
Ques: What should I do to enhance the safety and privacy of my guinea pig “Bathroom”?
Ans: You should know that these animals are similar to human beings in that they can also enjoy their private time and quiet. So, it would be best if you placed a litter box where they will experience fewer interruptions. Sometimes you may have to cover the potty area with extra fleece or a towel to enhance the animal’s privacy.
Ques: Should I reward my piggy after correctly using the litter box?
Ans: Yes, when you find the animal using the potty for the toilet, reward it with some favorite fruit. Doing so will encourage your piggy to continue using the place when it feels like to poop or pee.
Conclusion
There you have a complete piggy potty training guide. From the above discussion, you can realize that these animals deserve some treatments to behave the way you wish. This comprehensive guide on potty training a guinea pig will help you train the animal poop or pee in the litter box. They behave just like human beings, and therefore, they can do and behave the way you wish; when you teach them.
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