travel experience/advice

metalhead

Junior Guinea Pig
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tomorrow we are taking smokey Joe to little wheekers to hopefully find a friend. it is a hour each way, any tips for the journey?. i have read the travel guide. Also, if he does find a friend, should i bring them back in separate carriers, as the bond will obviously not be settled and i would hate for a fight to happen in the carrier. Any advice appreciated x
 
When I took Christian and Meg to Little Wheakers to see if they could be bonded with Pretty Patsy, I popped them in a carrier and put lots of hay and some cucumber in. It's around a 2 hour journey from here and we stopped halfway to check that they were OK. I would be guided by what Little Wheakers says regarding the carriers on the way home. That's what I did. Is Jason doing the bonding? He's very experienced and very lovely.
 
When I took Christian and Meg to Little Wheakers to see if they could be bonded with Pretty Patsy, I popped them in a carrier and put lots of hay and some cucumber in. It's around a 2 hour journey from here and we stopped halfway to check that they were OK. I would be guided by what Little Wheakers says regarding the carriers on the way home. That's what I did. Is Jason doing the bonding? He's very experienced and very lovely.
Yes he is. Thank you for the advice
 
My Bill and Ted regularly travelled a round trip of 600 miles a day to see their vet (dental problems) with no I’ll effects and were quite happy and settled with lots of hay and tasty veggies. Place a blanket over their travel pen so they feel secure
 
I take mine yo Yorkshire regularly.
The go in their carrier with lots of hay and some veggies.
They’re usually fine. If there’s any hold ups we stop so that I can check them.
 
Good luck - hope he finds his new best friend at the dating.

An hour’s journey each way is less stressful for the piggies than it is for the humans to be honest. I just make sure I have hay and some wet veg (usually cucumber and a piece of pepper) in a lunch box and offer them some when we stop.

Please be guided by the rescue about whether they should travel in separate carriers. When you do get home please remember that you will need another neutral pen to continue the bonding process before putting them into a freshly cage together.
 
I was also told it was a good idea to take a blanket or something similar on collection day and pop it in with them so that all their smells are on it When I got home I rubbed it all over the hutch and run before I put them in it. Then it would smell of all of them so it would help them to settle as they would think it was "their" territory. Remember to give both cage and/or run a thorough deep clean before bringing your piggies home so that all smells are removed.
 
Update... so we left Smokey Joe at the rescue in the end, the jury was still out on his first date and you cant rush these things, so i decided it would be best for all pigs involved to leave Smokey Joe for residential boarding, coming home without him was/is super weird though, keep telling myself it was the right thing to do and i know it was, Jason was so kind and helpful, i know he is in good hands but having only lost Gizmo a month ago looking at the empty run in my lounge is a bit rough! But i know i am doing right by my Piggie, so fingers crossed everyone, and thank you for all the advice xx
 
🤞 I know it’s hard, an empty cage but try to think of the joy you’ll feel when you are bringing Smokey Joe and his little friend home very soon x
 
Jason is lovely. He knows what he's doing. Pretty Patsy was fear aggressive on first meet as she'd been on her own for a while but then she realised that it was better with a friend for two. If the first piggy isn't suitable for Smokey Joe, there will be others I'm sure.
 
tomorrow we are taking smokey Joe to little wheekers to hopefully find a friend. it is a hour each way, any tips for the journey?. i have read the travel guide. Also, if he does find a friend, should i bring them back in separate carriers, as the bond will obviously not be settled and i would hate for a fight to happen in the carrier. Any advice appreciated x

Follow our travelling tips; they work for whether you travel for half an hour or a day.

If it is just a one day quick dating session, then please bring your piggies home in separate carriers because you are only at the start of the bonding process. A sudden panic can lead to instinctive defence bites and fights. Continue bonding at home on neutral ground.

If your piggies have gone through several days of their bonding process ('full' or residential dating), then you can bring them back together because their bond has been stress tested and will be stable enough to survive the extra stress of the trip.
 
Thank so much everyone, its so strange without my piggie! I hope he is doing well x
 
Thank so much everyone, its so strange without my piggie! I hope he is doing well x

HUGS

It's always a funny time leaving a piggy for residential bonding but please keep in mind that you are giving Smokey Joe the very best chance to find a friend he really clicks with and is happy with. He will be initially wary after his last bad experience, so it was definitely the right decision to give him time. :tu:

When you bring them home it always best to rub the cage and any furnishings with their mingled scent to mark it as their shared territory. You can do the same with the carrier before you them in it.

If in doubt, take two carriers and do a quick re-intro on neutral ground at home.
 
HUGS

It's always a funny time leaving a piggy for residential bonding but please keep in mind that you are giving Smokey Joe the very best chance to find a friend he really clicks with and is happy with. He will be initially wary after his last bad experience, so it was definitely the right decision to give him time. :tu:

When you bring them home it always best to rub the cage and any furnishings with their mingled scent to mark it as their shared territory. You can do the same with the carrier before you them in it.

If in doubt, take two carriers and do a quick re-intro on neutral ground at home.
Thank you, as i was not expecting to leave him, i did not take anything for jason to have in the cage with them for the scent to go on, so i might ask him if he has anything, its a very good idea, it did it when i got my dog with the scent of his mum and it really helped settle him.
 
well getting up to an empty cage and opening the fridge and there being no wheeking form the lounge was harder than i thought this morning! Though i have been awake since 3am worrying (its a special skill i have, i have worrying about things i cant control down to a fine art!) so I'm not in the best way! I know he is in excellent hands, i hope all is going well!
 
well getting up to an empty cage and opening the fridge and there being no wheeking form the lounge was harder than i thought this morning! Though i have been awake since 3am worrying (its a special skill i have, i have worrying about things i cant control down to a fine art!) so I'm not in the best way! I know he is in excellent hands, i hope all is going well!

Try not to worry, I know it's easier said than done. Jason is excellent and will look after Smokey Joe as if he was his own. I felt happy leaving my two there. Jason doesn't mind at all if you contact him.
 
Thank you, as i was not expecting to leave him, i did not take anything for jason to have in the cage with them for the scent to go on, so i might ask him if he has anything, its a very good idea, it did it when i got my dog with the scent of his mum and it really helped settle him.

Just have a soft cloth/fleece in their carriers when you bring them home and wipe their cage and hard furniture with that. ;)
 
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