Developing a number of breeds of Guinea Pigs has been a hobby pursued in many countries over the years. Different Guinea Pig Breeds have been created as a result of these breeding efforts. The number of cross breeds and mixtures of Guinea Pigs that are now kept as pets all over the world are a result of successful breeding of the guinea pigs native to South America. Domesticated guinea pigs have been sold for many years.

Trend to breed guinea pigs

Today the trend is to breed guinea pigs in order to supply a growing need for pet owners of small apartments. You see, pet owners who live in apartments love guinea pigs. Not only are they small and cuddily but they also make perfect apartment pets. With this in mind, the breed of Guinea Pigs As Pets will continue to grow and grow.

Currently there are several organizations devoted to competitive breeding of guinea pigs that have come up worldwide. The objective of such groups is to give rise to superior breeds of guinea pigs i.e. animals with more desirable traits. The breeding of these guinea pigs has given rise to long haired, short haired and rough haired guinea pigs. Multicolored guinea pigs i.e. guinea pigs that are characterized by two or more colors being observable on their bodies are also result of these breeding efforts. According to researchers, temperaments vary according to breeds and individual characteristics.

Guinea pigs make great pets regardless of breed

In conclusion, one can say that although there are selected guinea pigs of different varieties that are available to be kept as pets, one should carefully choose which guinea pig they select. Although these incredible and lovable creatures can be bit noisy they are also playful and inquisitive and will never fail to draw attention and fill the hearts of their human family members.

After a lot of thought and research, you have decided to get a pet guinea pig. Now, all you need to know is how to select the right guinea pig for you and your family. Like most pets, just any old guinea pig won’t do. You also need to know <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.squidoo.com/UltimateGuideToGuineaPigs”>how to select a healthy guinea pig</a>.

The biggest problem that many people run into is not understanding how to determine the sex of a guinea pig. This can lead to problems, especially if you are getting more than one guinea pig, which is advised. The first thing to realize is that you are not alone, and you cannot depend on pet store staff members to know how to determine the sex of Guinea Pigs either.

In fact, if you’ve done enough research, you already know that you should avoid buying your guinea pig from a pet store altogether. Your best bet for getting a guinea pig is to work directly with a professional breeder, or with a Guinea Pig Rescue operation. In both cases, there will be someone who can properly sex Guinea Pigs, so that you end up with what you expected.

When you first arrive at the shelter or the breeders, the first thing you want to note is how well the guinea pigs have been cared for. Are the facilities clean? Are the males kept separate from the females? Guinea pigs are social creatures, but typically they will be shy at first. Therefore, you can’t judge how well a guinea pig has been handled by handling it yourself. Instead, you need to see the person that the guinea pig is used to handling it. Is it calm and happy with this person?

Next, you want to inspect the guinea pig. Does his coat look healthy? Look past his fur, to his skin and make sure that there are no sores, flaky skin, or fleas present. His body should feel sturdy and rounded. If it doesn’t, this could be a sign of illness. At the same time, you want to be sure that a female isn’t pregnant. A good breeder or someone knowledgeable about guinea pigs will be able to quickly determine this.

As with any other type of pet, the chances are good that you will be drawn to a particular guinea pig. You may be attracted by his coloring or the texture of his fur, but ideally, you will spend some time watching the guinea pigs, and choose one based on his behavior or attitude. In most cases, this is more important than his colorings, unless you plan to show the guinea pig.

As mentioned earlier, it is a good idea to get two guinea pigs of the same sex. Two females will get along famously, and be lifelong friends. Two males will also get along and be friends, but there tend to be more disagreements between males then there are between females.