Rats or Guinea Pigs? (PLEASE READ BEFORE ANSWERING!)?

Question

I posted before and now I'm narrowing down my choices. Please read below before answering.

I want a rodent for a pet and I have narrowed it down to either RATS or GUINEA PIGS.

I like them because they're not hellbound to escape like mice, hamsters, or chinchillas, and because they are social, calm, and like to cuddle in your lap and can form a close bond with humans.

IMPORTANT: However, I do have a dog. He gets along with small mammals- never bites them even if they bite him, and basically just ignores them once he is introduced to them. Because I have a dog, I want a rodent that will get along with the dog or at least be tolerant & calm. I don't want a rodent that will be too easily scared by him b/c I don't want it to get a heart attack and die out of fear. So please tell me from your experience how rats or GP get along with dogs.

If you have any other suggestions for rodent pets besides dogs please tell me! thank you!

Answer 1

deffinitly rats you're better off to get 2 because if you get one it will be lonely. they're really smart and you can teach them tricks and litter train them. i've had guinea pigs before and they bite when they get scared. i've had my 2 rats for almost a year now and neither one of them has ever bit me. also rats are very friendly and really really easy to tame.

Answer 2

I have a rat and a dog and i've had my rat since he was 5 weeks old so just since he was a baby and he used to be a bit timid around my dog but now he jumps off the bench and runs after my dog because he wants to play. i dont have any problems with them both only when my dog wants to play with my rat because hes bigger and accidentally sat on him once. but rats are extremely friendly and if you get them when they are young, they are easy to train and can be introduced into a routine so they are extremely friendly. when you are around the house you can just let them sit with you on your shoulder and i assure you, that is the best way to get a loyal, cuddly, EXTREMELY social rat that gets along with a dog=]

good luck!

Answer 3

Guinea Pigs are VERY easily frightened. They are shy animals by nature...your dog might seriously scare it. If you want a pet that won't be bothered by a dog then you'd be better off with a rat.They are very social and intelligent. They make great pets and are pretty fearless, not to mention very loving :)

Answer 4

I used to have a rat, but that would be the last one that I would ever get in my lifetime. I bought him over at Petsmart, and like any rodent pet, I let him acclimate into his awesome home.

I began the training process by feeding him by hand, and treats, and everything that I should be doing. I am a 6 year rodent pet owner, and I definitely know what I am doing! He bit me nonstop, and I didn't enjoy a moment of having him. Honestly, I've heard of people who love their rats. I never really liked them.

It's unfortunate you don't like hamsters. Syrian hamsters do not escape like dwarf hamsters do, -- just a thought.

Guinea Pigs would be my choice. They're extremely cute and relatively low maintenance.

I think they're a much better choice than rats!

Good luck!

Answer 5

TOATTLY A RAT !

they say rats get along with other animals!

Answer 6

I currently have 2 dogs, 10 rats and 4 guinea pigs...(and other stuff as well),  and as far as your dogs are concerned, I would definately consider the rats over the guinea pigs.  Guinea Pigs are very nervous creatures by nature, being natural prey to a lot of animals... and my dogs are very gentle with all of my animals, but the guineas are still scared all the time when the dogs are around, and I haved some which were born with the dogs around, and they are still nervous with them.  My rats on the other hand, are very curious about the dogs (as rats are about everything) and they will even come out of their cages and climb onto the dogs when I am holding them all together.  They get along fine together.  However you must remember that they must be supervised at all times.  Rats are much more active than guineas and a lot more intelligent, so they do require more stimulation in their cage to keep them entertained.  

Hope that helped you out some what... let me know if I can be of any more help.

Answer 7

i have a guinea pig and a dog. but i can't let my guinea pig free from her cage near my dog, because my dog is not very friendly towards other animals.

but i do have a friend that had a guinea pig and she said her guinea pig and dogs got along very well.

and rats. ehh. i wouldn't think rats would get along with dogs.

:))

Answer 8

I highly recommend a guinea pig they are really lovable and it will be a little scared of your dog at first if its like all over him/her but once you get your guinea pig and its cage you should buy another one of the same gender because they need a companion but you don't have to buy one right away but while they still young

i also recommend a female because they get along with other females and it is rare that they fight

hope i helped!

Answer 9

Guinea Pigs.

Answer 10

any rodent will at first be frightened of a dog, no matter how calm.  this is the predator/ prey type of instinct they have.  rodents instinctually will either freeze or run in fear from a possible predator, since they are considered prey.

if you slowly introduce them and always observe any interactions i think a guinea pig would be a better choice.  

i have 2 female guinea pigs and they get along fine and even will snuggle up with my dog.  but they are always under my close supervision when interacting.

but i would never leave them unattended or in a cage without a top.  any small rodent running through the house could trigger a prey response from any dog no matter how calm.

Answer 11

Rats are much more social. You can find jumbo rats with large ears, curly hair rats and naked rats.

They all pretty much have the same temperament, but they are so much fun.

Getting a couple to live in a multi level ferret cage would be ideal.

Answer 12

i have 2 GP and they are amazing. and i have only had them a few weeks

they talk to you also with theyre different squeaks

GPs can learn to do tricks and are great with dogs

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/148383... theres a picture with a dog and a piggie!

my dog sleeps in my room every night right by where i keep my piggies and my dog doesnt even look at them really!

guinea pigs are reallly cute,loving and playful! they earn your trust really fast and its really fun to even just watch them walk aroungd in their cage!

oh and guinea pigs do not bite if your a good owner and handle them well

Answer 13

yeah - guinea pig luva - i have a pig called elvis =D

i would have said guinea pigs  as they are nicer I think - but it depends where your dog lives/goes and if it would go near to the rodents or not. However my guinea pigs are scared of the dog next door but probably just as they have never gotten used to it. I dont know how rats are with dogs as I never had both at the same time.

Answer 14

I personally have 2 rats and think they are great.  They are smart and won't die of fear.  My advice though is to get a tall cage where they will have plenty of room to run in at night when they are active.  Do a google image search on rats cages to see what I am talking about.  If they do get scared, they just freeze.(thier natural instinct)  They won't want to be in your lap however, but will like to stay on your shoulders and in your hair if it is long.  You can feed them hamster food from walmart.  I would get 2 of them the same gender though.  They will get lonely and need a friend.  If they meet your dog, you shouldn't be scared of the dog scaring they, but them scaring the dog.

Answer 15

Guinea pigs if you aheva lawn they can chew on and a nice warm, dog proof cage. rats smell awful but even male guinea pigs dont smell much. My guinea pig stands up to the nieghbours cat and it's funny to watch. When I had mice (Mini rats) they used to bite and scare my cat lol. Just go for the guinea pig, more variety of colours and fur types and they don't require too much attention. Just remember to get 2 or more so they don't get lonely and die young

Answer 16

GUINEA PIG!!!!! Definitely a Guinea pig. We have both a rat and 2 Guinea pigs but the rat gets scared from the dog and the Cats. Willow (the rat) is lovely but she isn't a snuggly sort of rat. But Priscilla and Elvis (The Guinea pigs) love to be held and cuddled. The guinea pigs I say are the way to go..... GOOD LUCK! Hope I helped.