Floor time? Can they enjoy it together?

[Lil_Piggles]

Hi, so I have taken everyones advice of getting the boys out one at a time for cuddles. They still pee all over me and get fidgty within about 5 minutes but at least I don't have to cope with the mounting and constant smearing each other with their bums.

Now I'm not sure what to do about 'floor time'. The guineapigs are comfortable with me and are really ready for some regular exercise time but every time I get them out either in the bath on a towel, or on the floor they cannot enjoy it -- they will literally excessively mount and smear each other, getting under each others bums and letting off some terrible smells! They can't eat or run around because they are too busy doing their little macho dances.rolleyesmalletheadmallethead

Will this always happen? How will they go in a run in summer and enjoy the freedom if they always obsses about who is who. I'm really worried this is impeding on their ability to relax and enjoy life. Does anyone know if theres something I can do to help them enjoy time outside of their hutch? If I get one out at a time they feel vunerable and don't display normal behaviours like splaying out on the floor, running in a piggy train or popcorning but then when I get them out together if one starts to relax the other sets him off and off they go again and will go on for ages. I'm a bit unsure what I'm supposed to do for the best? ?/@)

 

[Stacey]

Do they live together or apart?

Mine all get floor time on their own as they live alone. At first they were a bit cautious apart from 1 whos a bit nuts anyway. The more they got use to being out the more they relaxed and started coming out of their shell. My very shy boy Dexter now runs around and popcorns. It took him a good few weeks to relax.

If they live alone but get playtime together, they will need to establish who is the boss and until they have decided the behaviour of mounting etc will probably continue.

Its up to you how you want to let them have floor time. If they arent fighting then you could stick with them both out and see how it goes, but obviously keep an eye on them. They may eventually settle and enjoy it.
If you want them to have floortime themselfs just give them time to get use to it. Put toys out on the floor and let them explore. They will eventually come out of their shells. It just takes time for them to become trusting of their surroundings

let me know how it goes
All the best

 

[Lil_Piggles]

They live together and seem fine inside the hutch but the minute I put them on the floor they start with the manic rumbling, bum rubbing, mounting and chasing. I feel like I'm disturbing the peace by removing them from their familiar surroundings. They are not scared of me or coming out, they just can't seem to take a break from winding each other up.@) I want to get them out but at the same time I observe what they are doing and it looks quite stressful and because they don't run, hide, eat it seems pointless to put them through it as they are not benefitting from being on the floor with plenty of space.

 

[Poison]

I had two boys who originally lived together, but had to be separated due to fighting. They lived next to each and still 'spoke' to each other and stuff. They used to get floor time together and they were fine about it. I think it was because during floor time they were in a much larger space and there more hiding places, so if they didn't want to be around each other they didn't have to be.

Where do they have floor time? Is it on neutral territory? Also how old are the piggies?

I think it would be worth getting them out together. And then letting one of them establish dominance, once one of them has established dominance over the other they should stop fighting for dominance and be able to enjoy their floor time. Often whilst dominance is being established, with all the bumble-strutting and mounting it looks quit aggressive and you will feel like you should separate them. It's really not as aggressive as it looks and you should only separate them if they start fully fighting and it looks as though blood will drawn. So I would suggest letting them get on with it, and eventually one will establish dominance overt the other and they should settle down.

Good luck, and let us know what happens

 

[Stacey]

Do you put toys out? Maybe distract them a wee bit? When we tried to introuduce ours, we put some treats out, like hay or veg and they use to sit and munch it together.

What kind of cage are the in? Is there a way you leave the cage door open and let them come out themselfs?

Aslong as they arent fighting, give them time and I'm sure it will calm down the good thing about this is they do live together, so they should be fine and calm down.

 

[Lil_Piggles]

Thanks I'll keep trying. Hopefully they will learn to be as compatible outside the cage as they are inside once they've established who is boss outside as well. Thanks for the advice.