help? - Bonding for single piggies that don't get along?

[Kirbs]

i have three lonely guinea pigs who don't get along (+ 2 others that do)
i was wondering whether it would be better to get them a female companion or a baby companion since i saw that adult guinea pigs get along well with baby ones.

 

[Wiebke]

i have three lonely guinea pigs who don't get along (+ 2 others that do)
i was wondering whether it would be better to get them a female companion or a baby companion since i saw that adult guinea pigs get along well with baby ones.

Hi!

I can't answer your question properly without some more information. The less I know, the more I have to generalise - and the devil is always in the detail. In my own experience what looks perfect on paper can go down the drain in a hurry as soon as the piggies involved come face to face. It also depends on the ages of your piggies - boars have different ages at which they are a lot more difficult to bond than sows, for instance. Ultimately it is always down to mutual liking and character compatibility much more than age or gender.

Can you please come back on these points:
- Which country or UK county are you in?
- Do you have access to a decent rescue that offers piggy dating under expert supervision at the rescue?

- Which gender and age are the piggies in question?
- How is your current living arrangement?

Thank you!

 

[Kirbs]

Hi!

I can't answer your question properly without some more information. The less I know, the more I have to generalise - and the devil is always in the detail. In my own experience what looks perfect on paper can go down the drain in a hurry as soon as the piggies involved come face to face. It also depends on the ages of your piggies - boars have different ages at which they are a lot more difficult to bond than sows, for instance. Ultimately it is always down to mutual liking and character compatibility much more than age or gender.

Can you please come back on these points:
- Which country or UK county are you in?
- Do you have access to a decent rescue that offers piggy dating under expert supervision at the rescue?

- Which gender and age are the piggies in question?
- How is your current living arrangement?

Thank you!

So I live in Wales, (Anglesey) and currently don't know of anywhere that offers piggie dating.
So, the one that's most 'lonely' is a 9 month old male who loves to wonder and isn't at all scared of anything really. He really loves the company of other guinea pigs but the feeling isn't mutual.
Then i have a 13 month old male who also enjoys the opportunity to see his former friend and really wants to be friends with him. He's also really cuddly gets excited over food so much.
I also have another 13 month old male who doesn't like any other guinea pig. He's the only one that's been neutered as the vet insisted that it would make a difference (I knew it wouldn't). He gets scared easily around others but would be more than happy to cuddle up with a guinea pig who is calm and isn't making clear signs for dominance.

 

[Wiebke]

So I live in Wales, (Anglesey) and currently don't know of anywhere that offers piggie dating.
So, the one that's most 'lonely' is a 9 month old male who loves to wonder and isn't at all scared of anything really. He really loves the company of other guinea pigs but the feeling isn't mutual.
Then i have a 13 month old male who also enjoys the opportunity to see his former friend and really wants to be friends with him. He's also really cuddly gets excited over food so much.
I also have another 13 month old male who doesn't like any other guinea pig. He's the only one that's been neutered as the vet insisted that it would make a difference (I knew it wouldn't). He gets scared easily around others but would be more than happy to cuddle up with a guinea pig who is calm and isn't making clear signs for dominance.

Hi!

Thank you for the background information.

The nearest rescue to you that offers piggy dating (at least cross gender dating) is the RSPCA Bryn-y-Maen in the hills above Colwyn Bay. They don't usually have all that many piggies but it is always worth enquiring. I have travelled there by train in 2017 to adopt my Beryn (Welsh for 'Candytuft' as my hub's family is from North Wales) from them. Sadly there are not many piggy rescues in Wales; and that is putting it rather politely!

Otherwise you may want to make a day trip into the Midlands.
@VickiA - how is the current situation at The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in Kidsgrove/Stoke-on-Trent?

Here is our recommended rescues locator: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

It is worth travelling further afield as the key to any successful piggy bond is mutual liking and character compatibility long before age or gender. If you opt for baby boys on spec, then you face the same issues again when they go through their own teenage and are too dominant in outlook themselves. I have often made the experience that what looks perfect on paper can be straight fail when the piggies are face to face.
At least you have the option of looking at both sows or boars for your neutered boy, so he has the widest field to play with. There is a good side to neutering!

Here is more information on companionship for single or fallen-out boars:
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

 

[Kirbs]

Hi!

Thank you for the background information.

The nearest rescue to you that offers piggy dating (at least cross gender dating) is the RSPCA Bryn-y-Maen in the hills above Colwyn Bay. They don't usually have all that many piggies but it is always worth enquiring. I have travelled there by train in 2017 to adopt my Beryn (Welsh for 'Candytuft' as my hub's family is from North Wales) from them. Sadly there are not many piggy rescues in Wales; and that is putting it rather politely!

Otherwise you may want to make a day trip into the Midlands.
@VickiA - how is the current situation at The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in Kidsgrove/Stoke-on-Trent?

Here is our recommended rescues locator: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

It is worth travelling further afield as the key to any successful piggy bond is mutual liking and character compatibility long before age or gender. If you opt for baby boys on spec, then you face the same issues again when they go through their own teenage and are too dominant in outlook themselves. I have often made the experience that what looks perfect on paper can be straight fail when the piggies are face to face.
At least you have the option of looking at both sows or boars for your neutered boy, so he has the widest field to play with. There is a good side to neutering!

Here is more information on companionship for single or fallen-out boars:
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

thank you so much!