Guinea Pig Communication & Training for Animal Assisted Play Therapy®

This comprehensive course on guinea pig communication and training is designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of guinea pigs, covering essential topics such as their history, instinctive prey behaviors, communication, care, and training tips. This course will do all of this in order to explore the value and role of partnering with guinea pigs in Animal Assisted Play Therapy® (AAPT). We will also delve into the guinea pigs' natural instincts, helping participants recognize and respond to their unique needs that can show up in play sessions. This course is recommended for anyone who is interested in learning more about guinea pigs.

Course Objectives: Participants in this course will learn to:

(1) Understand the history and origin of guinea pigs to aid in the development of empathy in play therapy sessions. (2) Describe the stages of a guinea pig's life cycle, and identify key milestones in development that contribute to risk management in Animal Assisted Play Therapy® (AAPT). (3) Examine the instinctive prey behaviors of guinea pigs and how these behaviors influence their interactions and relationships with play therapists/counselors. (4) Identify the essential components of a guinea pig’s diet, including the importance of hay, vegetables, and vitamin C. (5) Describe the ideal habitat requirements for guinea pigs, focusing on space, comfort, and environmental enrichment important to their work in play therapy. (6) Demonstrate the basics of clicker training and how to implement this technique to teach guinea pigs new behaviors and tricks to be used in play therapy. (7) Understand the various forms of body language and vocalizations used by guinea pigs to communicate with each other and people in play therapy. (8) Discuss the role of partnering with guinea pigs in AAPT as well as ethical guidelines and considerations.

CE Credits Available: 6

Required Text: Müller, I. (2018). Clicker Training for Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, and Other Small Pets. Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc. (Can be purchased on Amazon)

Required: Guinea Pig Body Language Chart (purchased at www.pawsforhealing.com under Store)

Instructor: Dr. Mary Rottier, LPC, RPT-S, CAAPT-S-I, CPDT

Link for Course:
https://www.pawsforhealing.com/challenge-page/e4d103d0-59f3-4ede-bb62-4ab2ef45e930