Dog Appeasing Pheremone?

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Wilbur&Otis

Wilbur&Otis

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My boars are around 4.5 months old now and until recently have only displayed mild dominance behaviour (humping / hip swaying etc). The last couple of weeks I've noticed that their behaviour towards each other is getting worse, and am getting worried that they dont really like each other.

They have 'nose-offs' and i've seen them nip at each other when they get too close. (without injury). Their cage is as big as i have room for, they have 2 of everything and i've removed any closed end cosies so that they only have open ended tunnels / beds to be able to escape from each other. I get them out of their cage most nights for a run around and/or lap time but if anything this triggers their dominance behaviour when they get put back. When there is something scary around (like me) they seem to forget they dont like each other and will climb on top of one another for comfort. Should I avoid getting them out for a while and see if this helps?

Otis until now has been submissive to Wilbur (who is 100g heavier at the moment) but has started to grumble and be dominant back. I've been reading up on everything i can find about boar dominance but wondered if anyone used to dealing with adolescent boars could advise. I've read on a thread on here that 'Dog Appeasing Pheremone' can be used to calm them? Has anyone used this or know more about it and whether it is effective in this situation?

Thanks, Natalie x
 
Just bumping this up.

Also another related Q...
Does the dominant boar in a pair ever successfully switch during adolescence? Wilbur is the bigger one and currently boss but he's also the softer shy one who enjoys a cuddle. Otis, although currently 100g smaller is the noisy explorer who doesn't like to be touched - he is getting more confident and aggressive towards Wilbur and looks like he would be the dominant one if he catches Wilbur up in size.
 
I personally have never thought dominance was size related. As for thr D.A.P. Vedra from cambridge cavy trust swears by it but I and a few others I know including rescues have had no success. It might be worth trying it while they are in adolescence. It can't hurt.
 
Are they just having 'spats' or fully fledged fighting...?
How old are they...?
How big is the cage...?
I'm sorry I don't know anything about pheromones... But I have lots of boys... :))
x
 
Thanks both of you for your replies.

It's just spats at the moment but a couple of times this week i was worried they may fight - they raise their noses at each other and opened mouths until one runs off. The usually submissive one Otis has started standing up to Wilbur. Looking at their personalities you'd think Otis would be the boss so I wondered if the dominant pig ever changes within a pair or will a once dominant pig never back down and be submissive?

Their cage is 120 x 60 plus a platform - i dont have room for C+C unfortunately but they get out every day for a run round in their ball pit or the kitchen and seem to love their cage. They will be aggresive one minute but then sit quite happily in their beds right near each other - this gives me hope!

I will try the pheremone thing - from what i can see you can get it in a plug-in or a spray - worth a try. I'm also going to try them with Sergeant Ratty first (a stuffed toy that has been enlisted for duty - will do a thread about him in a sec :))) Would be interested to hear anyones experiences of the pheremone thing or any other advice on this would be appreciated.

Thanks x
 
The cage is big enough...
Marley and Jaffa two of my boys are constantly like this...
At the min Jaffa is more dominant but only 3 months ago Marley was boss...
These two boys have had one mega fight which ment marley lost practically all his ear... But have never attacked again... There more like tiffs then fights...

How old are they...?
Are they hormonal...? Because at there hormonal stage things tend to shift in there dynamics...

I've never used a toy to try and diffuse these situations so I cant give you any tips...
Boys are complex creatures... But you sound like your doing everything right...!

It may be worth thinking about giving them a bit more space if you can... Sometimes boys need more space...

x
 
Thanks Clare. Yes they're 4/5 months so pretty hormonal. I'm getting them out to run off all their excess energy as much as i can but dont have space to have a bigger cage - their current one seems mahoosive in my tiny flat. :)) will try a combination of sergeant ratty, the pheremone plug-in and lots of hay and open ended hideys. I've heard people say to bath them so will try this if it carries on (or may just rub them in each others poohs to neutralise their smell?! ha :x) Oohhhh boys!
 
Wilbur&Otis said:
Thanks Clare. Yes they're 4/5 months so pretty hormonal. I'm getting them out to run off all their excess energy as much as i can but dont have space to have a bigger cage - their current one seems mahoosive in my tiny flat. :)) will try a combination of sergeant ratty, the pheremone plug-in and lots of hay and open ended hideys. I've heard people say to bath them so will try this if it carries on (or may just rub them in each others poohs to neutralise their smell?! ha :x) Oohhhh boys!
Click to expand...

Yeh... Naughty randy boys... :)) hopefully it will pass in a few months... :)
There's bonding baths...
Constantly changing round their cage so there a bit distracted by investigating the cage...
Things to keep them busy... Stuff like a cardboard box stuffed with hay and a couple pieces of veggies in the middle... So they have to work to get at them...

I've never heard of this plug in thing... Would be interested to hear if it works...!
x
 
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