Sociolising a long term Solo pig.

[Hog lips]

Hi, yesterday we took our recently bereaved boy Cookie to the rescue for bonding. We have come home with Bugsy a lovely 4 year old, very hand tame boar who had been kept totally on his own since he was a baby until he was brought to the rescue a few weeks ago.
Bugsy had a failed bonding last week where the other boar wouldn't let him near food. Cookie isn't like this at all and I'm not worried about anyone being bullied but Bugsy is incredibly passive.
Cookie is dominant but not aggressive in any way. He's rumbling and humping but not intensely.

I'm interested to know if being solo for so long effects the way a guinea pig will interact with others, he's displaying submissive squeaking but isnt telling Cookie off as such. I wonder how much social behaviour is hard wired in and how much is learned from others around them. Any piggy psychologists out there who could offer some insight

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, yesterday we took our recently bereaved boy Cookie to the rescue for bonding. We have come home with Bugsy a lovely 4 year old, very hand tame boar who had been kept totally on his own since he was a baby until he was brought to the rescue a few weeks ago.
Bugsy had a failed bonding last week where the other boar wouldn't let him near food. Cookie isn't like this at all and I'm not worried about anyone being bullied but Bugsy is incredibly passive.
Cookie is dominant but not aggressive in any way. He's rumbling and humping but not intensely.

I'm interested to know if being solo for so long effects the way a guinea pig will interact with others, he's displaying submissive squeaking but isnt telling Cookie off as such. I wonder how much social behaviour is hard wired in and how much is learned from others around them. Any piggy psychologists out there who could offer some insight

Hi!

The behaviour is very much in the mild range for the usual post-bonding dominance phase, which lasts around 2 weeks and in which the shape of the relationship is hammered out.

Single piggies can have some social deficits if they have been separated too early and been kept away from their own kind during the crucial formative weeks in the run up to teenage. However, some piggies are just passive and timid by nature. We can only speculate - as much as the ongoing human nurture vs. nature debate.
One of my own boars was rather like this; he'd lost his boarmate before he came here after failing to vibe with any of his previous owners' sow groups once neutered. He also failed with my own sows, so in the end I found him a little rescue boy who perfectly balanced him out, and the two had a very happy relationship until Nosgan's passing.

I am sure that your boys will settle down together nicely once the initial excitement is over. good that you have dated so you could find a gently and not too oversexed companion for your boy.

 

[Hog lips]

Thanks Weibke, Cookie isn't humping so much now and is utterly besotted with Bugsy, wherever B is, C will lie down next to him. I'd like to see Bugsy out and about round the pen and eating a bit more although he's pretty chubby so not too worried about weight loss initially.
It's a constant learning process with guinea pigs isn't it, each pig we've had has been so completely different to the others, they have such complex personalities.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks Weibke, Cookie isn't humping so much now and is utterly besotted with Bugsy, wherever B is, C will lie down next to him. I'd like to see Bugsy out and about round the pen and eating a bit more although he's pretty chubby so not too worried about weight loss initially.
It's a constant learning process with guinea pigs isn't it, each pig we've had has been so completely different to the others, they have such complex personalities.

Give them time to settle down together and get their bearings. That is going to take a number of days or even weeks.

 

[Hog lips]

Sadly Bugsy has gone back to the rescue, its thought he may have trouble with his vision. He's going to be checked out by the vet then will be kept at the rescue as a sanctuary pig so will have the best of care for the rest of his days. I just felt that I don't have the experience to care for a pig with extra needs.
Cookies now bonded with a very sweet boy and things are going really well.