Yesterday, we went to petsmart to look at supplies. My mom had gone with me before, so i was going to show dad the stuff. So, I’m going to pay for everything with my own money, right? Well my parents want to control EVERYTHING I BUY! They act as if they’ve been doing research for these long months. They have no idea! They were saying "well its not that big" and then they’d tell me to get this tiny cage? I said it’s not big enough. They think i just want to spend money. That night, they showed me this cage on craiglist. It had a stand, a second level, and all that, but it was too small, and the second level was hazardous. I explained that to them, and they said, "well, it’s 120 buck at petsmart, and only 75 on here. They don’t seem to understand that i know what i’m doing, and that it’s my money. We went to pet extreme today, and my mom was doing the same thing all over. My dad said, "How about you get a fish instead". I don’t have the guts to say anything (it’s mainly my mom frustrating me) and my mom’s just going to get mad and find a way of getting out of the blame. But i’m about ready to burst! They haven’t done any research, and when i explain why the item they showed me won’t work, they just seem to ignore me and go off doing somemthing else. They’ll do anything to try to talk me out of this guinea pig thing. I knoww that getting a pet shouldn’t be this frustrating. I need help!
Thanks
They know i don’t want a hamster. I’d be to scared of that thing to bite me! I’ve thought about hamsters before. No thanks.
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Hi there. I am getting a guinea pig as well and my dad and mum are all un-knowing too. They got dead irritating when we where at pets at home last week (Just like you!) they said I should get this triangular run and I keep explaining stuff to them. I brought a guinea pig book that day and since then I let them borrow it. They seem to be more guinea pig intellegant and keep blasting ME with facts!
So try buying a book and getting them to read it! Or if they refuse put it by the loo… They won’t be able to resist reading on the toilet… nobody can!
Or if buying some sort of book isn’t a option (I would advise it though there are plenty of valuble information which the internet somtimes can’t provide). You could always get the webpage up where you found out what to get and what not to get. That way they will see they are wrong.
They went to the trouble of going on the internet and looking up a better deal, so that shows they are trying to help under the circumstances. So don’t get to flustered! They might have just said what they said from your ‘good-for-nothing’ reaction (no offence!!). So just say thanks for taking the time but that is clearly a health hazard because XYZ….
Next time you go to the pet store tell them what cage you have in mind if they don’t know they will start trying to help and you all get stressed. It sounds like you dad was trying to break the tention/ stress by making the ‘why don’t you just get a fish!’ remark.
Getting pets is dead stressy and never straight forward… Trust me I know! So just cool of take some gulps. ALso do some exercise or something relaxing before you go again. Go on the internet and find a picture of a cage you have in mind and tell your parents this is the kind of thing you are looking for. Put yourself in their shoes as well that is a big helper.
Okay I wrote loads, and as most people I reply to say, I wrote ‘wayyy to much’, sorry I just really want to help. Well hope I did. I am getting guinea pigs in two weeks (as well we are moving house which is even more stressful so I know exacly what you are talking about!).
try to get them to read on the internet about guinea pigs, or buy them a guinea pig book to read. maybe you should give them more time to think it through, its a big responsibility. if any of your friends know about guinea pigs then try to get them to talk to your parents you never know it could work.
Good Luck hope this helped.
well i know it is your money but they are the parents why don’t you start out with a hamster? their cages are smaller and it is a nice compromise. Although i do love my piggies so i know how it is but compromising now will show you are mature and willing to have rational discussions with them. Which in the long run will work well for you. Good Luck!
Show them research on how big the cage needs to be cuz its important to have a big cage for even one of them.
http://www.guineapigcages.com/index.htm
This link shows you how much sq ft you need for one and more than one.
Have your parents read these sites:
http://www.freewebs.com/aaguineapigs/Ramp_Etc.html
http://www.2ndchance.info/guineapigcare.htm
http://www.guineapiggalaxy.com/therightcages.htm
good luck!
guinea pigs are excellent pets and you’re parents will probably really love the one you pick:)