How to Teach a Guinea Pig to Run Around An Object
Circling around an object is easy to teach, and a great starting trick to add to your guinea pig's repertoire. This trick can also be made more challenging by teaching your piggy to circle around the object twice before coming back to you. You can also make the trick more interesting by using various different objects for the guinea pig to run around. For example, you might start by teaching them to go around a basic plastic cup, and then get creative by having your guinea pig run around a teddy bear, sign, or a holiday decorated object for a special occasion.
How to Teach a Guinea Pig to Circle Around An Object (Video Tutorial)
For this trick, you will need....
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Step 1
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Lure the guinea pig around the obstacle with a treat. Reward every time they go halfway around, and then give them another treat when they come the rest of the way around the cup. |
Step 2
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Lure the guinea pig all the way around the object and reward. Practice this several times until they are pretty comfortable following the lure around the cup. |
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Step 3
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Gradually start to fade out your hand lure by using it less and less each time until the guinea pig will go around the cup with less reliance on the lure. |
Step 4
Gradually increase the distance you send them to go around the obstacle. I usually teach them to go around from about a foot or two away.
Step 5
*Optional Extra Step*
Use your hand (as needed) to guide the guinea pig around the object a second time. Gradually use your hand less and less until the guinea pig can go around twice without any extra guidance.
Use your hand (as needed) to guide the guinea pig around the object a second time. Gradually use your hand less and less until the guinea pig can go around twice without any extra guidance.
Additional Tips For Teaching This Trick
- Once your guinea pig learns this trick, try switching up the items that they run around. Stuffed animals and decorated obstacles make an otherwise simple trick more fun and makes for cute photos/videos too.
