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Getting along with others is a critical skill that all Pets need to learn. Your new Pet will need to learn how to properly greet new people and pets in multiple situations before it can be friends with them. Managing new relationships right from the start will help your Pet learn a critical life skill! How your Pet reacts to new Pets and people will help you determine if you will be able to introduce additional Pets into your household or have play dates with friends.
Meeting New People
We've all been here. Whether we are in our front yard, have a visitor at the door, or
have a handyman fixing the sink, our goal is to teach your Pet that new people are great to be around! Watch your Pet's body language carefully to determine if they are excited, happy, fearful, or aggressive.
Guinea pigs can be shy and skittish, or outgoing and friendly, it just depends on the guinea pig. Do not force your guinea pig upon someone new in the home. If your Pet runs and hides, do not attempt to pull
them out from their pen, scold, or punish. As your Pet becomes accustomed to seeing and hearing new people, curiosity typically takes over and your guinea pig will slowly venture out to see what is going on. Have new people sit quietly and offer your Pet a high valued treat. Encourage relaxed behavior of your guest and allow your guinea pig time to get used to them. Negative experiences with visitors can be extremely detrimental to the socialization of your Pet so be very careful
to make sure your guinea pig is never teased or mistreated.
Remember, be patient! Over time, interactions between your Pet and new People will help increase your guinea pig's comfort level and confidence leading to a social Pet.
Reward your Pet for no reaction with treats and praise. Carry treats with you and encourage good behavior. Remember, learning to trust others takes time so dozens of encounters may be needed over a period of weeks or months. Be Patient!
Increasing Valued Resources
 Your new Pet will quickly learn that you are the giver of all things good. Resources are defined as anything your guinea pig thinks is good or important. Treats, a soft bed, lavish praise, petting, toys, playtime, and going outside are all examples of resources which the leader (YOU!) controls.
Guinea pigs are easily bored so it is important to provide plenty of resources which are mentally stimulating. Interactive toys, food puzzles, chew posts, hiding places, and play time with you are all excellent ways to stimulate your Pet.
Defining Territory
While guinea pigs are usually social and adapt well to the arrival of a new pen mate, there are cases where guinea pigs can be territorial.
In general, intact males will become territorial if housed in the same cage and will fight leaving open the possibility of one becoming injured or killed. That being said, there are many times in which two males live peacefully for years in the same cage. Two littermates may never think twice about living in the same cage while introducing an older male guinea pig to a young male guinea pig may cause a territorial fight to occur. Be cognizant of odd behavior and make sure the food bowl and water bottle is always filled as resources can be a source of fighting.
Establishing Positive Interactions
Guinea pigs can become accepted members of an already established household with other pets but it takes time and careful supervision.
Begin by housing your new Pet in a separate room away from other household members. Place a t-shirt or other piece of fabric near the cage where they can't chew it but where the scent of your guinea pig can be picked up. Place another t-shirt or piece of fabric where your other Pet sleeps.
 Allow your established Pets to smell the fabric of your guinea pig. This will help them become accustomed to the smell of your new Pet. Do the same while holding your guinea pig and letting them sniff the fabric from your other pets.
Introductions must be made slowly and careful. Never allow a negative experience to occur between your guinea pigs and other family pets.
Guinea pigs are fragile and injury or even death can be caused inadvertently without constant supervision.
Never leave your guinea pig alone with any other household Pet. Even if you believe them to be trustworthy. Supervise! Supervise! Supervise!
Jolly Routine
The Jolly Routine is a method coined by the renowned behaviorist, William Campbell. The Jolly Routine means the Pet parent is happy, relaxed, or "jolly". The Jolly Routine can be used anytime your Pet encounters a tense situation. Thunderstorms, fireworks, a trip to the veterinarian, strangers, or other scary or anxiety inducing situations all call for a Jolly Routine. The goal is to show your Pet that you are happy and gleeful and not upset about what is going on around them. Your Pet will look to you for leadership and they can sense from you how they should be feeling.
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Helping All Pets become Happy, Lifetime Learners.