Bonding seniors

[Black piggies]

Is there any way to make bonding less strenuous for senior piggies? I have my existing 5ish year old girl and a pair of new ladies of similar age, living alongside for now.
My existing pig was always a dominant diva and there is a clear dominant female among the new pair.
I've done bonding before but with younger pigs.
Would bonding started early in the day be less strenuous? I'm wondering about getting vet checks before battle commences!
Or perhaps this configuration would be happier as live alongside..

 

[Wiebke]

Is there any way to make bonding less strenuous for senior piggies? I have my existing 5ish year old girl and a pair of new ladies of similar age, living alongside for now.
My existing pig was always a dominant diva and there is a clear dominant female among the new pair.
I've done bonding before but with younger pigs.
Would bonding started early in the day be less strenuous? I'm wondering about getting vet checks before battle commences!
Or perhaps this configuration would be happier as live alongside..

Hi!

Just follow the normal bonding protocol and don't be upset if the ladies agree to disagree as they often do at this age.

It is more your mindset you need to switch around. You are giving your single a chance to live in a group again but also the choice to live with next door company if she prefers that (which, to be honest, as a dominant older sow she very likely will). You are providing an option but NOT an obligation for your older lady.

Two older First Ladies will rarely come to an understanding about one of them having to step down in my own - rather ample in this respect - experience; and @VickiA can attest to that, too. Dominant sows at this age want to rather keep their hard fought for privileged status and their own territory with interaction and stimulation through the bars instead of bowing to another sow, having reached the pinnacle of a sow career.
Things can turn again later on in very old age when they become much frailer and will appreciate companionship over status.

There are no special extra rules apart from you being willing to abort the bonding as soon as you realise that things are not going to head in the right direction and not insisting on stressing them out any further once they have made up their mind that they don't suit or if they are going into the bonding not wanting to be part of that bond.

Please take the time to read my article about sow pairs: A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[Black piggies]

Thank you for all that information. That fits with my gut feeling! But yes, they can be offered the opportunity in time.

If future frailty led to preference for companionship over status, how would you know they're accepting the situation rather than too weak to express unhappiness? Or am I over thinking it..

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for all that information. That fits with my gut feeling! But yes, they can be offered the opportunity in time.

If future frailty led to preference for companionship over status, how would you know they're accepting the situation rather than too weak to express unhappiness? Or am I over thinking it..

You are overthinking it. Even in old age, they are still perfectly able to express their feelings and opinions and to signal very clearly whether they want to be together or not and reaffirm that commitment in between the rounds of working out the leader and all the dominance. They may be arthritic but they are not necessarily dying as you seem to imagine.

I have rebonded a number of 7 and even 8 years olds with both other oldies (often old companions or long term neighbours where I could feel a spark between them) or babies that could not challenge their authority even when they were already frail when there was a younger companion who needed their own long term interests taken care of themselves.
But if there is one thing that I have learned in terms of match-making, it is to not get my hopes up too high. Take it from the perspective that your piggy is in full control of how they want to live their life - that is a very precious gift you make them.

Younger piggies rely on companionship much more and no piggy is ever too old for companionship but that doesn't mean that all piggies want to give up their privilege and status - or are able to jump over their fear of others - for the sake of companionship. Piggies are every bit as complex has humans when it comes to relationships and when you really give them the freedom to express their own preferences. It can be frustrating for you as an owner when they refuse to nicely tick your boxes - but those boxes are, after all, still human boxes (even if of a better standard!)

Knowing that you are allowing your piggies the full freedom and control over their own life choices (even if they it doesn't make for a life of unblemished bliss) may be a somewhat thorny path but it does bring you ultimately a level of satisfaction that you can only reach when you take your pets totally seriously as full individual personalities, however small they are in body, and put their wishes before your own desire of a neat happy ending at all times.

 

[VickiA]

I’ve had plenty of failed bondings with older sows who have either taken an instant dislike to potential cage mates or have been unable or unwilling to compromise on status so the bonding has failed at a later stage. I have a real fondness for these older ladies. They can often live perfectly happily alongside other singles or groups and that is their choice. But if they do decide to accept a new companion they can do so quite harmoniously. It’s all about personality and temperament. And you just have to be able to accept that their decision is final.

 

[Black piggies]

I’ve had plenty of failed bondings with older sows who have either taken an instant dislike to potential cage mates or have been unable or unwilling to compromise on status so the bonding has failed at a later stage. I have a real fondness for these older ladies. They can often live perfectly happily alongside other singles or groups and that is their choice. But if they do decide to accept a new companion they can do so quite harmoniously. It’s all about personality and temperament. And you just have to be able to accept that their decision is final.

That's reassuring separating liking and dominance. There are plenty of signs they like or are at least interested in each other, mini popcorns and squeaks after contact. So even though I think likely neither Shadow nor new piggy would give up their reign, it should still be a win situation liking each other through the divider. Thanks.