Controlling Guinea Pig Dominance

[Cherry Berry]

Hi awesome Guinea Pig Parents,

Hope you are doing well and so are your little pigs.

My guinea pig boys, Cherry and Berry are doing well and they are now about four to five months old.
I am expecting their first hormonal spike soon. Given that the weather is getting warmer too I assume things will get a bit more intense than usual.
As of now they both like each other and want to be together. I have read the forum guides sent to me last time and I am following them as well as keeping an eye on them.

However, someone suggested that their dominance can be controlled by scaring them with a loud noise or shouting at them during chasing.

I don't think this would work and it will make the situation worst as guinea pigs are prey animals and stress can lead to a lot of mental as well as physical illness. I don't think their natural behaviour can be stopped or they can be trained to be lovey-dovey always.

I was watching some videos and also the forum guides suggests to distract them if they show warning signs.
I think a good distraction would be some food like cucumber, etc or hay.

What's your opinion on this?

Best Wishes xx

 

[Wiebke]

Hi awesome Guinea Pig Parents,

Hope you are doing well and so are your little pigs.

My guinea pig boys, Cherry and Berry are doing well and they are now about four to five months old.
I am expecting their first hormonal spike soon. Given that the weather is getting warmer too I assume things will get a bit more intense than usual.
As of now they both like each other and want to be together. I have read the forum guides sent to me last time and I am following them as well as keeping an eye on them.

However, someone suggested that their dominance can be controlled by scaring them with a loud noise or shouting at them during chasing.

I don't think this would work and it will make the situation worst as guinea pigs are prey animals and stress can lead to a lot of mental as well as physical illness. I don't think their natural behaviour can be stopped or they can be trained to be lovey-dovey always.

I was watching some videos and also the forum guides suggests to distract them if they show warning signs.
I think a good distraction would be some food like cucumber, etc or hay.

What's your opinion on this?

Best Wishes xx

Hi

Please never scare piggies; it just puts them on edge and makes the situation worse in the medium run.
Also be aware that any distraction only works in a very limited way and can turn counterproductive, too.

Please take the time to read our very comprehensive teenage and boar guides; they range from what you can to stabilise a bond to things you should not do with boars; what you can do if things get out of hand during a spike and how to test whether a relationship is functional or not.
127295/https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/a-comprehensive-guide-to-guinea-pig-boars.169861/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-teenage-bullying-fighting-fall-outs-and-what-next.

You have to accept that it all comes down to whether your boys are character compatible or not in the end. There is nothing you can do to change that; any tricks (the really bad as well as the no-so-bad) will only work for a very short time but cannot address the underlying problem itself.

 

[Cherry Berry]

Hi

Please never scare piggies; it just puts them on edge and makes the situation worse in the medium run.
Also be aware that any distraction only works in a very limited way and can turn counterproductive, too.

Please take the time to read our very comprehensive teenage and boar guides; they range from what you can to stabilise a bond to things you should not do with boars; what you can do if things get out of hand during a spike and how to test whether a relationship is functional or not.
127295/https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/a-comprehensive-guide-to-guinea-pig-boars.169861/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-teenage-bullying-fighting-fall-outs-and-what-next.

You have to accept that it all comes down to whether your boys are character compatible or not in the end. There is nothing you can do to change that; any tricks (the really bad as well as the no-so-bad) will only work for a very short time but cannot address the underlying problem itself.

Hi Wiebke,

Thanks for your response. xx
Yeah, I have never tried scaring them and won't do either.
I have read the guide. I will have a look at it once again.
Cherry and Berry love each other. Although there are two food bowls. They always eat from the same bowl and then go to the next.
They starting screaming loud if one of them is taken out just for a health check.
But there is one question I have, what happens if the submissive pig is having a hormonal spike? How does the dominant react to this?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi Wiebke,

Thanks for your response. xx
Yeah, I have never tried scaring them and won't do either.
I have read the guide. I will have a look at it once again.
Cherry and Berry love each other. Although there are two food bowls. They always eat from the same bowl and then go to the next.
They starting screaming loud if one of them is taken out just for a health check.
But there is one question I have, what happens if the submissive pig is having a hormonal spike? How does the dominant react to this?

That is something you have to play by ear. Each personality is unique, and so are the dynamics between different personalities.
Keep in mind that the majority of pairs actually make it through teenage together.

 

[Cherry Berry]

That is something you have to play by ear. Each personality is unique, and so are the dynamics between different personalities.
Keep in mind that the majority of pairs actually make it through teenage together.

Sure, I will keep an eye. Thanks for the help.

 

[Swissgreys]

I just wanted to say how lovely it is to read your posts about your boys.
It is clear you love them very much and are a very caring owner.

 

[Cherry Berry]

I just wanted to say how lovely it is to read your posts about your boys.
It is clear you love them very much and are a very caring owner.

Aww, thanks. Yes, I love them a lot. They are my first pets after waiting for years. Sometimes I start panicking a lot as it is my first time with guinea pigs. But thanks to you all lovely Guinea Pig parents that I feel I am on the right track doing the best for Cherry and Berry.