Just Introduced New Piggy...

[MelodyNote]

Hi! My name's Melody, and I just introduced my new 3 month old boar, Milk, to my 3 year old boar, Cubby.

Cubby hasn't had a cagemate before, and he's always been very nervous and rigid. It took years for him to soften up to me, and now he's very sweet, but still super cautious.

My new guinea pig, however, has the opposite temperament. He's very friendly, lively and curious. I've only had him a few weeks and he's already pretty comfortable with me, and very cuddly. Nevermind the 26 escape attempts.

I introduced them today, and here's what happened: when Milk saw Cubby, he pressed his body up against him and started circling him while making this weird propeller noise. Cubby started walking away with Milk hoolahooping around him, and then climbing under him, over him, or face-smooshing him. By the end of it, Cubby was jammed in a corner, trying to tolerate it, and gently nipping him here and there.

I'm not sure what this behavior means. Was it a dominance thing, or a "ZOMG LETZ PLAY" thing? Is this a compatible personality pairing or is it a red flag?

 

[Wiebke]

There doesn't seem to be any major hostility. The rumblestrutting is mild dominance. I would think that Cubby will make it clear when he has had enough. Please make sure that your boys have ideally one bonding in one go, as every time you separate, they have to start back in square one and it can become very counterproductive. The trickiest period is often waking up in company after their first nap together.

You may find these information threads here helpful:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/faq-introducing-and-reintroducing-guinea-pigs.38562/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/dominance-behaviours-in-guinea-pigs.28949/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boars-a-guide-to-successful-companionship.76162/

This blog from a British rescue lady contains videos and quite a few descriptions of what constitutes a successful bonding and what not. You may find that it helps you to judge what is going on on the basis of the other two threads: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/boar-dating-service-wales.59233/