Dominance Behaviour

[katie-elizabeth]

Hi I have had a read through the dominance sticky thread, and my two boys are showing most signs of normal dominance, Joey is about 3 months old and Alfie is apparently 10 months old...Joey the youngest is humping Alfie alot and there's quite a few nose-offs, circling & chasing etc., I've had them for almost 3 weeks now, will this behaviour calm down eventually or does it usually go on for for some time? I'm just paranoid they will end up in a proper fight!

 

[Wiebke]

Some boar pairs are humpier than others. You will just have to see.

Lots of humping is very normal for the introduction/dominance phase, but it also sounds like Joey is starting to hit the teenage hormones relatively early. I wouldn't worry as long as everything is in the low to medium dominance stage.

The teenage hormones tend to strike in spikes; that is usually the time when things can iffy. You have the advantage that Alfie is nearly out of them and will be a hormonally settled adult soon - most likely by the time Joey is hitting his stride. That means that you have a much greater chance of making it than with two same age youngsters! Whether they will ultimately make it together is something that only time will tell. Your chances are however much, much more in favour than not!