Dominating Behaviour Advice Please

[Ellieamery]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I took home two male ( brothers) last week. The larger one has displayed dominating behavior since day one. They dont sleep near each other. The more submissive one tries to avoid him.Today he kept attacking the smaller one even after the small one backed down, so they were both biting and teeth chattering. I have a nasty bite trying to separate them. After a few hours I put them together and the bad fighting continued, I tried numerous times to put them back together to no avail. Once separated the small one seemed happy, no noise, ate well, slept etc.. The bigger one was squeaking and looking for the smaller one. I'm too scared to put them back together. I'm not in a position to keep two separate cages. If I return the larger guinea pig to the farm I got him from he would be returned into the large herd and I imagine would be happy. If like to keep the smaller one. He would have lots of one to one human contact. A large two storey cage and a large out door run. Do you guys a think the small one will be happy enough to live alone? Right now he seems the most content he has been since being separated. But it's hard to know what to do. I don't have resources to castrate the dominating one or to house separately until I do so, also there is still a chance he will continue to hurt his brother. Advice appreciated thank you

 

[Jerrybelly]

Neutering a boar will not affect the way they behave with other boars, I'm afraid. A certain amount of dominating behaviour can be normal with boys, but any signs of one pig hurting the other cannot be tolerated for their own safety. I think you have done right by separating them at this stage, as it does sound like it was turning quite nasty.

It is difficult to know what to do next. It would not really be fair to keep the smaller boy on his own as piggies are herd animals and desire company.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Which country are you in? This may inform our advice on what to do next, as your options will differ depending on where you are located.

Of the fighting was that bad, then you have done the right thing to separate. Unfortunately, it is a breeders' myth that brothers will not fall out. The key to a successful boar bond (or any piggy bond at that) is character compatibility and not relationship. Brothers can clash equally as not related boars.

One question - how much space have they got and how old are your boys? Boars need lots of space and they also undergo a difficult hormonal teenage period between 4-14 months old before they settle down somewhat as mature adults. Boars always need to re-establish the hierarchy in any new territory; obviously in your case, the dominance has not worked out.

In the case of guinea pigs, neutering will not do the trick of curbing agressive behaviour; it only removes the ability to make babies and is only advised if you are considering to pair both boys up with a sow each for a stable cross gender pair in the long term. But for that, you need an experienced neutering vet and a 6 weeks post neutering wait until a boar is 100% safe to go with a sow.

 

[Ellieamery]

Neutering a boar will not affect the way they behave with other boars, I'm afraid. A certain amount of dominating behaviour can be normal with boys, but any signs of one pig hurting the other cannot be tolerated for their own safety. I think you have done right by separating them at this stage, as it does sound like it was turning quite nasty.

It is difficult to know what to do next. It would not really be fair to keep the smaller boy on his own as piggies are herd animals and desire company.

Hi! Which country are you in? This may inform our advice on what to do next, as your options will differ depending on where you are located.

Of the fighting was that bad, then you have done the right thing to separate. Unfortunately, it is a breeders' myth that brothers will not fall out. The key to a successful boar bond (or any piggy bond at that) is character compatibility and not relationship. Brothers can clash equally as not related boars.

One question - how much space have they got and how old are your boys? Boars need lots of space and they also undergo a difficult hormonal teenage period between 4-14 months old before they settle down somewhat as mature adults. Boars always need to re-establish the hierarchy in any new territory; obviously in your case, the dominance has not worked out.

In the case of guinea pigs, neutering will not do the trick of curbing agressive behaviour; it only removes the ability to make babies and is only advised if you are considering to pair both boys up with a sow each for a stable cross gender pair in the long term. But for that, you need an experienced neutering vet and a 6 weeks post neutering wait until a boar is 100% safe to go with a sow.

Hi, I am in the uk, the gps were born outdoors in farm settings and were in a huge grassed enclosure. My double hutch is much smaller by comparison, although I have purchased a huge secure run for the grass area, they still spend more time in my hutch. The big guy sleeps in the nice cosy bedded area and the little one likes to be far away from him. I'm not in a position to permanantly house them separately. I just don't know what to do best. Little guy seems a lot happier being in the hutch alone, obv has a lot of space to himself. Big guy has been brought indoors into a large make shift until I decide what to do next. If I return him to the farm I know he will be very well looked after, it's a great childrens farm. It's just the piggies happiness I don't know what is best. I would like to keep little man but everyone says he won't be happy alone, also is it cruel to keep him from his brother should. Should I castrate him and buy a female companion? But again obv can't be certain they will enjoy the same hutch. No matter how much interaction from humans a lone gp is a sad one? Little guy does seem more relaxed now he's alone. Sleeping and eating better, enjoying home cuddles etc. big guy seems to be stressed as I've separated him and sooner I get him back in an enclosure with other gps at the farm the better ? Many thanks for both responses, much appreciated, apologies for my ramblings!

 

[Cookie&Cream]

Castration is risky as I've read. One of my males I used to have was castrated before I had him and he was housed with a male then when that male passed away he was put with a female, he had such a lovely temperament but that just depends on the guinea pig not the castration.
If you do decide to keep them you could have them inside and have the cages close together so they can still see eachother, this may help the bigger one get less stressed and it will still keep the smaller one safe!

Dominance is a prolem unfortunately. I've been lucky with my boars as the worst they do is get in eachother's faces then one will squeak and they'll both back off

 

[coleygrant]

I have the same problem. My two boars had to be separated because they fight and have drawn blood, this happened as soon as I got them and bought them home so i was devastated and confused! They are in cages next to each other and they interact by squeaking etc, I keep trying to re-introduce them to no avail. I am hoping its just a seasonal or teenage phase, I'v now started swapping their cages over regularly so they get used to each others scent and will try again to re-introduce as i'm not giving up easily. If they still don't get along in a few months then I will have to try and bond them separately with new piggy mates (with the help of a gp sanctuary) - but it means I may have to re-home one of them as I only really have space for one pair. Re-homing one of them would really upset me but I think I would prefer them to have mates that they are bonded with than be alone for their whole lives. I'm just trying to think what will be best for them....will keep you updated!