Deron and I are both animal lovers and trainers. We own many types of animals. When I told Deron back in 2002 that I wanted to train a Pet Fancy Rat to run an Agility course, out came the pencil and paper so that we could figure out how small to make the equipment to be the correct size. He calculated and came up with what I think is adorable replicas of what one might use for Dog Agility. Shortly after that he was building me Rabbit Agility Equipment. I made my own Hamster, Gerbil and Mouse Equipment, but when I started the GPs, Deron was building again. He had already built my Dog Agility Equipment and since then Agility Equipment for our Goats (see our sister sites at the left under the Navigation).

Most Guinea Pigs, all that I have worked with, really enjoy the attention and treats that the Agility Course brings. I have had a few that would jump the jumps when they (GPs) were set on the table, before any cues were given. So I would venture to say that they also enjoy the fun that the Agility Equipment brings to their lives.

(And when did I start dressing my Guinea Pigs in Sweaters (sweater), Clothing (clothes), Outfits (outfit) and Costumes (costume)? Oh. About the time I starting making and selling the same for Pet Rats. We do make and sell the outfits in our online store. All of the outfits are our own design and patterns.)

It is not Rocket Science. For fun at home you already have items to use as Agility Equipment...an empty oatmeal box for an Open Tunnel, an embroidery hoop for teaching the Hoop and Tire Jump, or, cut away the inside of the plastic on the lid from the oatmeal box. You might use a large/thick hardback book for a Dog Walk, an over turned square shaped canned fruit jar for a Jump. You get the idea. I did set up a page about Getting Started with your Guinea Pig and Frequently Asked Questions also.

You might be the first one in your area to own a Guinea Pig trained to run an Agility Course, so you might have to "gather" your own competition and or start a club in your area.

I bet if there are other Guinea Pig owners in your area, they would be interested in learning more about Guinea Pig Agility. You might want to start a group. I did this in WI by just setting a date at a park and inviting friends that had rabbits and ratties to join me there for the fun. I took the Agility Equipment I had for each species and we had a ball. We met twice a month at a local park to work with our animals. We ate out, dutch treat, after the event. Some evenings we had as many as 14 people that participated.

Make or buy some equipment and find a folding table you can use to set up on. Set a date, time and place. Invite anyone you know that might be interested in coming with or without their pets. Put up fliers at pet stores, feed mills and maybe even take out an ad in a local paper. Be sure to make a list of what you want to take to the event and double check it. Ideas, equipment, animals, holding pens, something to wipe the equipment down with if soiled, pet snacks, information written out for folks about the next event.....

For the first few times at these training events you will need to "host" them. Welcome each person as they come, take notice of their animals, introduce people as they come, set up the table before others get there, be a host.

You might also want to invite people with other types of small pets to join you. When Deron and I set up the events at our local park, we invited folks with Rabbits first then added ratties. It was not long before the Rabbit owners, that did not already, bought and also trained ratties.

You might also contact your local Extensions, 4H and Rabbit Clubs. They might be excited to hear about this sport and you might find that they will know of people you can contact either with information on Guinea Pig Agility or people that would love to work with you to grow the sport in your area. They might also ask if you would put on a Guinea Pig Agility Demonstration at the next County Fair.

You do need the correct size Agility Equipment that has the stability to hold your Guinea Pig's body weight. And, no. They do not sell these items at your local Discount or Pet Store. There are some items you can use from around your home to get started training your Guinea Pig, check our Getting Started page here at this site. We are in the process of adding more items to our Guinea Pig Agility Equipment Pieces for sale here in our on line store. We have created our own Guinea Pig Agility Equipment first for our own Guinea Pigs then other's have asked us to make the items to sell, so we have/are. These pieces are hand crafted, from start to finish, in our NW SD USA home.

The photos below are some of the Guinea Pigs that we first worked with on Agility Equipment. This is also the reason I tell people over and over, get photos of your animals, take many, take photos of them doing their tricks and agility courses. Small animals live short lives, when they are gone so are the opportunities to take those photos you will adore later. I have too few photos of our animals. I certainly have too few, some never taken, of Guinea Pigs enjoying the little Agility Courses we had set up. I have this love/hate relationship with the camera. I love to see our animal's photos, my photos? Not so much. Let's face it, we do not usually dress up when working our animals. Our hair is not at it's best either. And why is it my rear end is always the focus of the camera when we get the best shot of the animal? But seriously, I have learned. Try, try and try again to get at least a few photos of the animals you own and love. Compared to our human longevity, their lives are very short. You will be so very sorry one day if you do not get at least one or two photos of your Guinea Pigs on the Agility Equipment, I speak from experiences of that disappointment.

This is Apple, a Teddy Coated Guinea Pig, coming through and Open Tunnel. This is an Open Tunnel I made to Cavy (Guinea Pigs other name) size. It is made so that it can be hand or machine washed, let stand to dry.

This is GI P Guinea on our low, wide and stable Tetter Totter. The Teeter should not be one of the first pieces taught. You should teach a low and stable Jump and a Tunnel or both the Open and Closed Tunnels first.

This cute little PVC Bar Jump is short and stable and I think adorable! My husband took my idea and made it cuter then I imagined!

To Get Started you can use items from around the house, again let me stress how important it is to use items that are low, wide and stable enough for the weight of your GP.

To get started just think of things around the house you can use for stable and low to the ground equipment that would be safe. Like a large hardback book set on top of a pencil for a starter Teeter Totter.

How about an empty oatmeal box with the bottom cut out and turned on its side for an Open Tunnel.

And for a Balance Beam....well, maybe a 2" x 4" laid on it's side.

Guinea Pig jumps should not have much jump to them. They should be more of a step over type of "jump". This is Apple, I am using a hoop from a yard game to teach her to jump through a hoop, and later this will have taught her to come through a Hoop Jump Agility Equipment Piece.

THESE ARE YAHOO LIST WE HOST THAT YOU MIGHT ENJOY JOINING. COME TELL US ABOUT YOUR GUINEA PIG AND OR ASK QUESTIONS OR JUST BRAG ON THEIR TRAINING. Many people that own GPs also own Rabbits, so included the rabbit lists we host also. We hope you will join us.