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 Guinea Pig Body Language
In addition to vocalisations, guinea pigs use many gestures, stances and movements to communicate their emotions and interact with other cavies. Many of these are subtle or hidden - often guinea pigs will do things without the notice of even the most observant owner. They also possess a strong ability to "read" the body language of other species, including people.
 Sitting upright with the legs under the body (sometimes toes poking out), with the head level with the neck,
indicates a calm but watchful guinea pig. Mostly, guinea pigs display this position in their cage when they are bored but not tired, or simply content to watch the world pass by. Rising from a lying or half-lying to a sitting position may indicate that the guinea pig has sensed a change, but is not overly concerned by it.
Pictured: Odd Sock sitting with toes visible
 Half-lying is when the guinea pig's front half is in the sitting position, with the paws upright and facing forward, but the back half is down, with one or both feet poking from under one side of the rump. This usually means that the guinea pig is feeling relaxed, tired or full of food, and may be seen when guinea pigs have had their fill in a grazing run!
Pictured: Mushroom half-lying (not an ideal angle but her back foot is clearly visible)
Lying down with the head on the ground can mean that a guinea pig is asleep. The eyes may be open or closed; it is believed that guinea pigs can sleep with their eyes open. This position indicates that the guinea pig is entirely relaxed and calm in her surrondings. If the guinea pig senses change or danger, she may rise to a half-lying or sitting position. Often, in a cagemate setting, one or more guinea pigs will lie down while another sits or half-lies, on guard. Prolonged or frequent lying down may indicate illness, particularly if the guinea pig does not move at the promise of food.
 Standing is when the guinea pig's stomach is raised off the ground (so if you looked underneath, you could see a gap under the guinea pig). This may precede running and be used when the guinea pig has been startled, or is excited. Sometimes it is just used when the guinea pig is not feeling restful but has no reason to move.
Pictured: Allopoka standing; note gap under belly
Rearing is rarely seen except when guinea pigs have human intervention. This is simply rising onto the hind legs, with the front paws off the ground, often placed against another object, such as a hayrack or the edge of the cage. Some guinea pigs have been trained to beg for treats by rearing. Others will use this position to reach the top hay in a hayrack, or against the side of the cage when they know vegetables are coming. This does not appear to be a stance that would be used in the wild, but some guinea pigs do it naturally.
Running/walking is when the guinea pig moves along the ground, with the stomach raised off the ground. This movement shows the full length of the guinea pigs legs. Pictured: Odd Sock, Mushroom and Allopoka running
 Background graphics by Jackie • All photographs by webmaster unless otherwise stated.
All information is unofficial, original experience. |
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