What Do I Do...?

[RachelE]

My piggy Boris (5 months) was paired with Frisbee (4 months) on Wednesday at a rescue centre. Frisbee is terrified of everything and everyone, so will take a bit of love to coax out of his shell.
Boris was going for Top Pig status to begin with but after the first night he had a bit of a bloody (bitten) nose and since then has been looking like a subdued defeated piggy. Frisbee ventures out when I'm not around (I can see through a window) and chases Boris, possibly nipping him as well.
I don't know if it's bullying or whether it's still the dominance phase. Boris is showing none of the happy signs he used to show me pre-Frisbee. It makes me so sad to see him like this but I don't know whether to separate them or leave them as they are to work things out.
How long does this last? Is there anything I can try (bonding bath or something)?
When do I call it a day and separate them? Etc etc

 

[Wiebke]

I would talk to the rescue! The stress of a move to a new home can upturn an initially promising bonding. Personally, I wouldn't think that it is looking right. Did you remove all hideys with one exit upon their arrival? Feeling cornered can make a terrified piggy out of its safe surroundings react aggressively.

 

[RachelE]

I would talk to the rescue! The stress of a move to a new home can upturn an initially promising bonding. Personally, I wouldn't think that it is looking right. Did you remove all hideys with one exit upon their arrival? Feeling cornered can make a terrified piggy out of its safe surroundings react aggressively.

Hi Wiebke. I think Frisbee is fairly stressed and terrified by the new home because he was such a nervous piggy to start with and I think you're right that it's made him more defensive/aggressive than normal. None of their hideys are one exit, so that should be okay.
I've never adopted a piggy, let alone experienced this dominance/bonding behaviour before, so it's all completely new to me. It may be perfectly normal behaviour which I'm worrying about unnecessarily, but I don't want to let my over-worrying nature get the better of me, so I'll keep going and keeping a very close eye on things. I keep coming back to the forum because I need the reassurance, so I really hope you don't get fed up with my posts.
I might try a bonding bath and see how that goes...
Thank you so much

 

[Wiebke]

The bonding bath is only necessary of both boys have been fighting/close to fighting; it simply removes any excessive testosterone for a re-bonding session after a separation. You may want to consider whether you really want to stress out Frisbee even more.

It doesn't stop dominance behaviour, which is what you are currently experiencing - and it is quite obviously Frisbee who's coming out on top. Chasing and nipping are normal dominance behaviours and what you can expect for this stage of the bonding, but it is very difficult to judge the line where it goes over into active bullying.

I would rather recommend to monitor Boris' weight daily at the same time; if he is losing steadily over the course of several days, then it is an indication that things are not well. I wouldn't trial separate for a night yet, as they haven't finished the bonding process and it could prove counterproductive. It is very difficult to judge for a newbie to bonding what is normal and what is not good.

But it would still be good if you talked to the rescue lady - any good rescue will give you support during the settling in period, especially if things are not going swimmingly; she knows Frisbee better!

 

[RachelE]

The bonding bath is only necessary of both boys have been fighting/close to fighting; it simply removes any excessive testosterone for a re-bonding session after a separation. You may want to consider whether you really want to stress out Frisbee even more.

It doesn't stop dominance behaviour, which is what you are currently experiencing - and it is quite obviously Frisbee who's coming out on top. Chasing and nipping are normal dominance behaviours and what you can expect for this stage of the bonding, but it is very difficult to judge the line where it goes over into active bullying.

I would rather recommend to monitor Boris' weight daily at the same time; if he is losing steadily over the course of several days, then it is an indication that things are not well. I wouldn't trial separate for a night yet, as they haven't finished the bonding process and it could prove counterproductive. It is very difficult to judge for a newbie to bonding what is normal and what is not good.

But it would still be good if you talked to the rescue lady - any good rescue will give you support during the settling in period, especially if things are not going swimmingly; she knows Frisbee better!

Hi Wiebke, I've been giving Frisbee cuddles and he's becoming more used to me - I figure if he's less scared then he'll be less defensively nippy and it seems to be having a positive effect. He's still top pig though!
I've added space to the hutch by reinstalling the ramp to the upper floor (I didn't want to put it back in till I'd made a ramp tunnel) so they have more space and more to keep them occupied. I've witnessed more sharing of space, food etc which is good progress.
I think I'm extra-sensitive to this because it's my little Boris who's the one being dominated, but it's getting better...
Thank you so much for your support