Guinea Pig Tricks
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Taming & Bonding
  • Starting Tricks
    • Touch a Target >
      • Nose Target
      • Paw Target
    • Paws Up
    • Go To Platform
    • Come When Called
    • Circle
    • Stand Up
    • Jump Through a Hoop
    • Push a Ball Around
    • Circle Around An Object
  • More Tricks
    • Basketball
    • Fetch
    • Wave
    • Weave Walk
    • Follow Me
    • Give Paw
    • 7 Bonus Trick Tutorials
  • Agility
    • Agility Equipment
    • Agility Courses
    • How to Teach Obstacles >
      • Jumps
      • Tunnels
      • Weave Poles
    • DIY Projects >
      • Target Stick
      • Simple Handheld Hoop
      • Cardboard Guinea Pig Jumps
      • Agility Hoop Jump
      • Guinea Pig Skateboard
  • Blog
  • Litter Training
  • Etsy Shop
  • Guinea Pig Training Treats
  • Guinea Pig Tricks List
  • Favorite Piggy Items & Toys
  • Meet the Guinea Pigs
  • Guinea Pig Enrichment Ideas
  • Guinea Pig Floor Time
  • Ace's Adventures Blog
  • Guinea Pig Name Ideas
  • Toys for Guinea Pigs
  • Guinea Pig Cages
  • Guinea Pig Trick Videos
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

How to Teach a Guinea Pig to Circle

Circle is a great beginner friendly trick that is easy to teach, yet fun and entertaining. It is one of the most common tricks you will see if you search up videos of guinea pig tricks, because it is such an interesting and entertaining trick that is easily taught to guinea pigs. Once they learn it, circle often becomes a favorite default behavior for guinea pigs (they love to run in circles to get attention and beg for food.)

How to Teach a Guinea Pig to Circle (Video Tutorial)

For this trick, you will need....

  • Your guinea pig
  • Your piggy's favorite veggie treats
  • A safe enclosed space with few distractions
Picture

Step 1

Picture

Lure your guinea pig in a circle with a treat and reward upon completion of the circle. If the guinea pig is hesitant to follow all the way around in a complete circle at first, reward half way around the circle as well as at the end for the first few times.

Repeat until the guinea pig is confidently following your hand around in a circle.

Step 2



Once the guinea pig is reliably following the lure around in a circle, you can start to fade out the lure. To do this, gradually speed up the pace that you move your hand each time until the guinea pig will circle with just a flick of your wrist. It will likely take several repetitions before you can gradually fade out the lure.
Picture

Step 3

Choose a cue. This can be a word like "circle" or "spin" or a nonverbal cue such as pointing or flicking your finger in the direction you want them to circle. Use the cue every time the guinea pig runs in a circle, using the lure only as a reminder when needed. Practice this several times until the guinea pig will respond to the cue alone, without relying on a lure.

Step 4

Picture

*Optional*

Once the guinea pig fully understands how to circle on cue in the first direction, follow the same steps to teach them to circle the other way.

Make sure you use a different cue for the new direction.

Additional Tips For Teaching This Trick

  • At the beginning, choose one direction for your guinea pig to circle and be consistent. Switching directions will confuse the guinea pig. If you want to teach your guinea pig to circle both directions, each direction should be taught separately and with different cues.

  • When adding a verbal cue, make sure you use the same word every time to avoid confusion for the guinea pig.
Subscribe below to get access to 7 email exclusive trick tutorials including pick a card, high five, untie your shoelaces, and more!

Join the 7 Day Guinea Pig Training Email Course!

* indicates required
Find us on Etsy at www.coolpetcreations.com!
Picture

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
© 2014 - 2020 Guinea Pig Tricks.