Boar nipping!

[LisaA]

I have two boars named Gremlin and Domino. Gremlin has a habit of nipping when he doesn't want to be put back in his cage. He's a spoiled little cuddle bug and even though he's doing the potty dance shuffle he will protest being returned to his cage with nips to the shirt. He accidentally caught my 11 year old daughter's skin tonight and she dropped him a short distance on to the bed. He peed from being startled and she was mad at him for nipping, but I comforted them both and reminded her he's still little and didn't mean to hurt her. She knows better than to put him away with out a shirt on. Is there some way to train him not to nip? I think he's about 2-3 months old and in puberty. The two boars get along really well. No nipping or any real aggression. Just some mild rumble strutting, which is usually followed by a happy squeak, popcorning, and mad dashing around the pen. He doesn't chatter his teeth when he nips while being put back in his pen. (A large C&C cage I built myself with two of everything.)

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Sodapops]

One of my boys does this - i think it's because they are eager to go back to their cage - he's over 2yrs old now (we've had him since he was 5wks old) - so no chance of training him to stop - it's just one of his 'ways' that make up his personality. What you can do is ensure your daughter is wearing a t-shirt when holding him or putting him back and also try some distraction techniques like talking to him when putting him back or maybe even try giving him a piece of his favourite veg just as you are going to take him back.

One of my other boys nibbles my nose when taking him back

 

[LisaA]

Thanks for the advice Soda!

I told my 11 year old she's not to put him away any more. Gremlin could have been seriously hurt and we're very lucky he was only a few inches above the bed when she dropped him! She usually is very good with our animals which is why she was allowed to pick the pigs up and put them away, but I won't risk her dropping him again. If there's no training him not to nip, I think that's the safest thing to do.

I kind of think it's sweet. I'm around 99% sure the nips are in protest against being put back in the cage. He adores people and being pet! Once you catch him he will start purring, licking, and muttering happily. He will snuggle under my chin and nap. He's got me wrapped around his little paw!