How to Keep Dogs Away From Guinea-Pig Cages

During exercise time out of the cage, the guinea pig should be enclosed in a safe area away from dogs.

Guinea pigs are considered prey animals and, according to the Guinea Pig Cages website, the only way they know how to protect themselves is to hide from other animals. Domesticated guinea pigs are basically defenseless against attack from other animals, even the family dog. Although most dogs are docile around these small mammals most of the time, their natural predatory instinct can kick into high gear at any time, which makes the correct placement of the cage essential to the safety of the small pet.

Things You'll Need

• Folding table
• Plastic storage bin
• Dog crate
• Dog biscuits

Instructions

1. Distract the dog from the smell of the guinea pig's food by storing it all in an airtight plastic container away from the guinea pig's cage. Feed your pets at the same time whenever possible, starting with the dog so that he will be too distracted by his own meal to realize that the other animal is also receiving tasty treats.

2. Keep the guinea pig's cage on a tall, folding table that is out of immediate reach of the dog. If you notice the dog approaching the table, command her to "leave it alone" and then reward with treats for good behavior. Repeat this command every time the dog shows an interest in the cage area to reinforce the behavior. Even the sturdiest table and cage won't be able to withstand the weight of an overly curious canine.

3. Place the guinea pig's cage in a room where it can still interact with the family, but where it can also be shut off from the rest of the household pets when you are not able to supervise interactions. According to the Humane Society of the United States, a family room or living room makes an ideal location, and you can block the room off from the dog with a sturdy pet gate or other stable obstacle.

4. Crate-train the dog from an early age and keep him in the crate whenever you are away from the home. Sometimes complete separation is the only way to squelch the dog's naturally inquisitive nature when it comes to a smaller pet like a guinea pig.

Tips & Warnings

• Certain breeds of dogs have strong predatory and retrieving instincts. If you have one of these breeds, you may want to avoid bringing a guinea pig into the house altogether to completely thwart a horrible outcome.

References

• Guinea Pig Cages: Cat, Dog, & Kid-Proofing Your Cage
• Humane Society of the United States: Guinea Pig Housing

Resources

• Jackie's Guinea Piggies: Before Adopting a Guinea Pig