What Dogs Are Good With Guinea Pigs? [10 Excellent Ones]

Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.

Are you a dog owner who is considering adding a guinea pig to your family? If so, it’s important to take into account the other furry family members in your household.

Specifically, if you have a dog, you’ll need to do some research to determine which breeds are best suited to coexist peacefully with guinea pigs.

After all, guinea pigs are small and vulnerable animals, and not all dogs are gentle enough to be trusted around them.

So, what dogs are good with guinea pigs?

In this blog post, I want to share with you a list that will make excellent friends and offer some tips for introducing your new furry friends to each other.

List of 10 Dogs That Are Good With Guinea Pigs

If you’re looking for a dog that’s good with guinea pigs, here are some breeds to consider.

1. Bichon Frise

Bichon Frise is a good dog for people who want a companion to walk with and like playing games together. They are playful but not too challenging to take care of

They are affectionate and gentle, which makes them perfect companions to your pet guinea pig.

2. Cavalier King Charles spaniel

Cavs are always a happy, affectionate breed. They are great companions, so it’s no wonder they excel as therapy dogs!

They’re calm and friendly, making them easygoing with everyone in the family—including guinea pigs!

3. Maltese

Maltese is famous as “the little dog with the big heart” because of their gentle nature and loyalty. They can be energetic and are easy to train.

They are frequently used as companion dogs because of their history as favored by philosophers and royalty.

They are generally friendly and affectionate dogs that can be good with guinea pigs.

4. Poodle

Poodles are fun and easy to train. They need plenty of exercise for both mind and body and prefer to be with people most of the time.

They have a friendly and intelligent temperament that can be an advantage for guinea pigs.

5. Border collie

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Collies have the instinct to work and respond well to training and use as mountain rescue or sniffer dogs. They are energetic dogs and need daily exercise to burn excess energy.

They are loyal, responsive, and one of the most friendly dogs.

Being one of the smartest dogs in the world, they can be easily trained to get along with another animal just like a guinea pig.

If you have a guinea pig that gets scared, a border collie may be what you need!

Doggy says, consider reading this too: Malinois Border Collie mix

6. Labrador retriever

Labs are friendly, outgoing, and high-spirited companions, well known for their friendly nature and as great companions for children and adults. 

They are trainable and intelligent animals that excel in obedience, agility, and retrieving. The lab is a great choice that can get along with guinea pigs.

7. Golden retriever

Golden Retrievers are gentle and mild-mannered dogs with striking golden coats and because of that, they often compete in dog shows and obedience trials.

They are intelligent and trainable, which makes them ideal for search and rescue, therapy, and service work.

Golden retrievers are patient and easygoing—making them suitable for living with guinea pigs.

8. Shih Tzu

Shih Tzus are famous for their playful personality and calm and friendly temperament. Because of their independent nature, Shih Tzu can adapt well to different situations.

They are also loved for their small size and big personality, which makes them ideal for living with guinea pigs.

9. Cocker spaniel

Cocker spaniels are lively dogs and suit active families with plenty of playtimes.

As they are very clever dogs, they’re easy to train and are friendly.

Cocker spaniels also have sweet personalities and are loyal to their owners, allowing them to adapt quickly to new environments. 

This means that they will likely live in harmony with other pets like guinea pigs in your home.

10. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Corgis are affectionate and social dogs, often enjoying being around people or other pets. 

They have a high energy level and love to play, but they are also happy to spend quiet time with their owners.

Despite their short stature, they can do well in apartments or larger homes with outdoor space.

A Corgi is an excellent candidate for households with guinea pigs.

As a pet owner, you must know that your dog might not get along with a guinea pig due to personalities and instincts. 

The above list may help you decide, but ultimately, it depends on how they interact.

Be ready to accept this to make your pets’ lives the best they can be.

Doggy says, you might be keen to read this too: Small dogs that bite

Are All Dogs Good With Guinea Pigs?

Not all dogs are good with guinea pigs. Some breeds will be more suitable than others.  

Your pet’s size and temperament are also important factors in determining which dog is right for you and your little friend. 

But the good news is, they can get along with careful planning.

How to Introduce Your Dog to a Guinea Pig?

If you plan to introduce your dog to a guinea pig, there are a few things to do before they can get along under the same roof.

Here’s how:

Prepare a safe space

Keep your guinea pig safe by providing a separate space to relax away from the dog. Guinea pigs are easily frightened by unfamiliar environments or animals.

And dogs and guinea pigs behave differently, so remember to introduce them by providing plenty of safe space to reduce tension.

Take it slowly and use common sense so that your pets get acquainted. As long as you watch them, you will likely introduce them together just fine.

Introduce scents

Introducing scents can be a good technique before they meet face-to-face. 

Guinea pigs easily get scared, especially the young ones, so having a smooth transition is a good place to start.

Here’s how to introduce scents:

• Rub a cloth on your guinea pig to pick up its smell.
• Place the fabric where your dog can smell it.
• Encourage your dog to smell the fabric, but be careful not to force them.
• Repeat the process until your dog gets comfortable with the scent.
• When you think it is time, allow your dog to sniff the guinea pig’s cage while it is safely inside.

Introduce from a distance

You can introduce them to a distance to make the transition more comfortable. Like us, we also need some time to warm up to strangers.

Allowing your pets to get used to each other will reduce their anxiety or aggression. And having a safety measure can help both to have a reasonable adjustment.

From a distance, try introducing them like this:

• Set up a safe, secure space for your guinea pig.
• Make your dog familiar with the new cage by sniffing around the area.
• Keep the guinea pig in its enclosure and place it far from your dog.
• Allow your dog to slowly approach the guinea pig’s enclosure, but do not make direct contact.
• Observe your dog for signs of anxiety or aggression.
• Over time, lessen the distance between the two while continuing to track the interaction.

Let them smell each other

When introducing your guinea pig and dog, let them smell each other.

Guinea pigs and dogs can smell each other from a distance, allowing them to get used to each other’s scent. Guinea pigs have a strong odor, but most dogs will get used to it quickly. 

Try letting them sniff at each other from a distance and slowly bring them closer.

Always be present

When introducing your dog to your guinea pig, always stay with them and never leave.

You’ll also likely to interact with a stranger if you have a common friend around, right? So be that common friend for you two pets.

Keep also in mind that your dog might eat your new guinea pig. To prevent this from happening, stay close to your guinea pig.

Always supervise them together and keep them in separate rooms when you aren’t around.

The priority is their safety and well-being, so take things slowly.

Reward dog for good behavior

A reward is helpful during the introduction.

Here are some rewards for your dog:

• Always have plenty of small, soft, and digestible treats during the introduction. This signal that your dog is doing right.
• Praise your dog when it is gentle and respectful toward your guinea pig.
• Avoid punishing your dog. Instead, focus on redirecting your dog’s attention toward more appropriate behaviors.

Considerations

Supervision

Supervision is critical. If you watch the two pets together, watch out if they’re playing roughly. 

You need to ensure they’ll get along with each other and not just in terms of personality!

Training

You must be patient and consistently train your dog to work with your guinea pig. Understand what’s acceptable behavior and what isn’t so neither feels threatened by the other’s presence.

Safety

Dogs and guinea pigs can be great together, but remember that dogs can be aggressive. And guinea pigs are not as well-equipped to handle dog bites. 

Safety should be the priority when introducing new pets, especially ones as vulnerable as guinea pigs.

FAQs

In Conclusion: Dogs That Are Good With Guinea Pigs

Owning both a dog and a guinea pig is definitely possible, but it does require some research and preparation.

Not all dog breeds are a good fit for guinea pig households, and even the most gentle and well-behaved dogs need to be supervised around their smaller, more fragile furry friends.

With the right breed selection and proper introductions, dogs and guinea pigs can 100% live happily and safely together!

Check out other articles about dog breeds here too:

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• American Eskimo vs Japanese Spitz differences
• List of Georgia dog breeds
• White Red Nose Pitbulls