Grooming my Sheltie

Question
I am a first time guinea pig owner and we made the mistake of buying long haired pigs.  I have talked with you before about their getting used to being handled.  They are a little better now, but really don't hesitate to bite.  I have a grooming comb that I have tried with them and they hate it and start chomping their teeth at me.  They are shedding pretty bad right now and I would really just like to learn how to cut their hair so that both of us are happier.  Could you give any direction or direct me to a site that gives specific tips on cutting/grooming long haired guinea pigs.  I am also going to look for a local groomer to see if they would even attempt this. Thanks for your help!!!  

Answer
Dana,

Long hair Guinea Pigs are a challenge to own. I also made the mistake of adopting 2 long haired Guinea Pigs the first time. So I know how difficult it is to care for them.

As with short-haired cavies, the long-haired varieties will need to be brushed with a stiff brush and inspected for lice. You also have to decide what to do about the length of their hair: you can opt to either trim the hair periodically, or groom to keep the hair in showable condition. The hair of a peruvian or a silky grows at the rate of about one inch per month. If you opt to trim, you will want to periodically cut to remove mats that have formed in the hair, usually about once every month or two, and keep it at a length short enough so that the guinea pig isn't stepping on its own hair, getting it caught in corners of the cage, or dragging it through urine-soaked litter. The coat of the Peruvian is long and silky, while the coat of the Sheltie is soft and dense. Both coats should be kept short, for hygiene reasons, unless the guinea pigs are used for showing. Long haired guinea pigs which are not being used as show animals should have the hair on their hindquarters trimmed to floor length in order to prevent them soaking up urine, and to make it easier to keep them clean. I use to trim up my girls hair to just a little above floor length to keep it from dragging in dirt an stuff. Plus Guinea Pigs prefer a stiff brush to a comb, I don't know why but they seem more relaxed and that makes it easier to groom them. Once they get use to grooming, then it becomes easy to trim the hair.  It is pretty easy to trim the hair once they are use to the grooming, all you have to do is lift the hair in little pieces and then cut the hair.

A little suggestion on their bitting as a side note, try some behavior training. When they bit you hard and not just a little nip, tap them on their nose and tell them in a firm voice no. Some books will say this is not a good idea as a Guinea Pig will not understand, but I find that to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Guinea Pigs are smart and are always willing to learn something new. It all depends on how the owner handles the training as to how the Guinea Pig will react. As long as after taping the noise and telling them no, the owner goes back to petting and talking normally to the Guinea Pig then the Guinea Pig is willing to learn it as this is a positive experience for the Guinea Pig.

I hope this helps you out.
   Good Luck,
      Take Care,
              Jules