Why me? Daughter got a mouse for a pet.

[ClaraC]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Skeffington

I love it when guinea pigs "popcorn" (leap like bucking broncos). My oldest DD belonged to a 4-H "Guinea Pig Club". We had several over the years, but "Cream Puff" was her favorite, and she won many ribbons at shows.
The cutest thing is their babies. They are born with their eyes open...little puff balls with huge feet and ears. They run around hours after birth.

I agree. Amazing. They are born running around the cage, like tiny little adults. And the adults do "popcorn". We called the noise they make the "cocoanut noise". I'm sure you now what noise I'm referring to. ;D

[TrapperL]

My oldest girl was required to have a rat as a pet for a psychology class. While it seemed incredibly odd to me, we accepted Zeke into the house. Part of her class homework was to teach Zeke things. It takes a lot of patience to teach a rat anything. In retrospect, that was probably the target for the rat- learning patience. Zeke became part of the family and he learned to do all kinds of tricks. If it wasn't for his size, I'd say he was about as well trained as a good dog. He never made a mess, never got into things, and he was extremely loving. It was a sad day 3 years later when Zeke went to Rat Heaven. Hard to think anyone could really care about a rat, but he was something special.

[Mrs. Skeffington]

Originally Posted by Ralph_Kirk

Abys have attitude.

My daughter had one that took on the dog once.

She had Swee'pea sitting in a paper bag (lying sideways) on her bed. Our dog wandered in and poked his nose into the bag.

Swee'pea came up on her hind legs, clattering her teeth, bobbing and weaving. Then she rushed forward, clamped her forepaws around the dog's muzzle, and bit him several times on the nose.

Then she faded back again, clattering her teeth, bobbing and weaving.

He just sat down wondering, "What the hell just happened?"

One of our favorites was a large orange and white Aby (her name was "Sow"). We'd have her out on the porch on summer days, or let her waddle around the yard. My elderly grandmother used to talk "Pennsylvania Dutch" to her, and she'd whistle back. Grandma was the one who actually named her...she started calling her the "Guinea S-a-w" in her PA Dutch accent. So we just called her "Sow". Grandma had a neighbor friend who used to come over (another "Dutchie"), and they'd sit together on the porch, with the "Sow" waddling around whistling and squealing. The neighbor, Mrs. S, would say in her Dutchie accent, "Aye yii yii that thing is fat!"

[2mares]

Originally Posted by glass_of_merlot

LOL..I bet you are not living in an apartment..

Not for me. Green acres is the place to be.