Can a bonded guinea pig still love its owner.

Cavycuteness

Cavycuteness

New Born Pup
Joined
Feb 5, 2021
Messages
20
Reaction score
27
Points
90
Location
Uxbridge
Hi,

I know some animals cease to like their owners once they are bonded to another of their own species.

Do guinea pigs still love their owners if they are bonded to another guinea pig?

If course, even if it turns out they don't, I won't split them up.
I was just curious.
 
I think if a piggy has been by itself with the owner then it can...’project’ its behaviour and needs onto that human. So when said piggy gets a companion of their own kind, they will transfer their needs in terms of communication etc to the other. The relationship with the owner would then (I guess?) change to what it would be naturally...

I don’t know if they can love us in the true sense that we understand it. Which would make the question obsolete...

That’s just my thoughts, don’t take it as the general view 🤷🏾‍♀️
 
Does you piggy have a friend of it’s own currently? I’m lucky to have two piggies that love lap time and so spend individual time with them for 30 mins every evening until they tell me it’s time for a wee
 
Cavycuteness said:
Hi,

I know some animals cease to like their owners once they are bonded to another of their own species.

Do guinea pigs still love their owners if they are bonded to another guinea pig?

If course, even if it turns out they don't, I won't split them up.
I was just curious.
Click to expand...

The love itself doesn't change but what does change is the focus of the relationship as your piggy is turning their attention more towards their piggy companion; especially in the first excitement they will want to be rather with them and not you if they are happily bonded - which is as it should be. Delight in seeing them living a happ and fulfilled piggy life and not a human-centric pet life. That is the biggest gift you can make any piggy of yours.

However, you will see especially in a health crisis that the old bond with you is still there and will always remain so. ;)
 
Henry_Yandell said:
Does you piggy have a friend of it’s own currently? I’m lucky to have two piggies that love lap time and so spend individual time with them for 30 mins every evening until they tell me it’s time for a wee
Click to expand...
I do that too.I
But only one likes lap time.

I have two.
 
I've always had pigs in pairs, and they've always had a relationship with each other, as well as a relationship with all the people in the house. They clearly know who we are and can tell us all apart (they know that my husband isn't worth wheeking at because he isn't going to feed them, but they know that the kids, my son in particular, are always good for a treat and worth 'shouting' at!) They know the difference between the family and people who they don't see as regularly, like my parents, and clearly prefer the people they are used to. So I would say that having another pig as the primary companion is not going to change the bond that they also have with humans. I kind of think that although cagemate is their 'sibling,' we are all kind of part of the herd.
 
When I adopted my first guinea pig of adulthood so to speak he was a single pig as the girl I got him off kept him as a single pig. He absolutely loved me and stood on his back legs every time I went to see him so I could pick him up but I thought it was a loneliness thing. We were really close but I wasn't happy with him being alone so got him a little friend. He absolutely adored his friend but it completely changed our relationship and he was no longer bothered about me really. Selfishly I was a bit sad but understood that's the way it should be. My two adored each other for four years before the older one died. Our relationship was never the same but he loved his friend and his friend actually turned out to be my favourite ever guinea pig so I guess it worked out well for us both really! As you can tell from the photo they would never have been without each other!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20190922_215755.webp
    IMG_20190922_215755.webp
    67.9 KB · Views: 5
Piggies do very much need companionship of their own species, human companionship to them is probably like having a large pet who can open the fridge- we can no more fulfil all their social needs than an animal could fulfil all ours... if you flipped the question, how many humans would suggest not getting married or having any human friends in case it upset their bond with their rodent pet...? Both humans and piggies need meaningful interactions with their own species first and foremost- pets (and humans for piggies) are extra, and very different, relationships. If you have lots of piggies, sometimes their love for their pet hoomans can be adorably overwhelming, as a big group of eager furry noses, especially at mealtimes! :)
 
I think that the relationship a piggy has with it's owner is totally separate to the one it has with a companion of it's own species.
Having a piggy friend is the most important thing, but for example if I have a husband and a dog which relationship is more important?
I would personally say you can't really compare them, and I am able to love both my dog and my husband and both relationships offer me different things.

In the case of our piggies we offer them food!
 
Swissgreys said:
I think that the relationship a piggy has with it's owner is totally separate to the one it has with a companion of it's own species.
Having a piggy friend is the most important thing, but for example if I have a husband and a dog which relationship is more important?
I would personally say you can't really compare them, and I am able to love both my dog and my husband and both relationships offer me different things.

In the case of our piggies we offer them food!
Click to expand...
Very true, my pigs probably love us because we are attentive slaves who know how to open the fridge and get treats!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top