Unsure Who The Dominant Pig Is

[RavenRed]

I've been trying to figure out who rules the roost (cage) in our house but i'm finding it difficult. I've read some of the behaviour stickies, especially the section for "Working out the relationship (dominance phase)" but both pigs seem to do some of these actions.

Is it possible that they're both on the same level or will there always be a boss pig, even if they've lived together all their life? They were 4 months old when we got them and have had them just over a month now.

Do I need to know who the boss is? In order to correctly remove from cage in correct order etc
Any advice would be helpful.

Ghillie stays in the hidey a lot of the time but she's the only one I've seen rumblestrutting
Doesn't like to be picked up or stroked much.

Caramac usually eats first, (although they eat together a lot), and runs about more. She seems like she's more adventurous and she most often likes being stroked.

They sleep together in one hidey for the most part.
I believe they both make an underwater/purring noise now and again

When we try to get them out of the cage, Caramac is quick to jump into any box with food in it but Ghillie never seems too sure.

Can a judgement be made on those behaviours?

 

[Wiebke]

I've been trying to figure out who rules the roost (cage) in our house but i'm finding it difficult. I've read some of the behaviour stickies, especially the section for "Working out the relationship (dominance phase)" but both pigs seem to do some of these actions.

Is it possible that they're both on the same level or will there always be a boss pig, even if they've lived together all their life? They were 4 months old when we got them and have had them just over a month now.

Do I need to know who the boss is? In order to correctly remove from cage in correct order etc
Any advice would be helpful.

Ghillie stays in the hidey a lot of the time but she's the only one I've seen rumblestrutting
Doesn't like to be picked up or stroked much.

Caramac usually eats first, (although they eat together a lot), and runs about more. She seems like she's more adventurous and she most often likes being stroked.

They sleep together in one hidey for the most part.
I believe they both make an underwater/purring noise now and again

When we try to get them out of the cage, Caramac is quick to jump into any box with food in it but Ghillie never seems too sure.

Can a judgement be made on those behaviours?

No, if the piggies are both laid back and are getting on well, then you do not need to know which one of them is the leader, as while there is one, it doesn't matter too much.

It is either the very dominant, jealous and/or insecure ones where it really matters and where you will know instantly - and where it can make a difference in the relationship whether you observe the niceties of piggy etiquette or not, especially in the crucial phases during the initial dominance sort-out and the hormonal teenage months when boar bonds are under a lot of stress.

Rejoice that yours are very much on the relaxed and snuggly side! You usually get one that is greedier and one that is more forthcoming with humans, but it is not necessarily the top pig. Either girl can rumblestrut when they are in season, depending on closely matched they are; it is very mild dominance behaviour.