When Should I Be Worried With Dominant Behavior

[elliiiiiex]

I have had my guineapigs less than a week but yesterday their dominant behavior with each other has got worse, they know kick each other out of the bed, so i put a new one but they still go into the beds together then eventually one will kick the other out. They lunge at each other more and have a lot more face offs. Has anyone else experienced this if so when does/should it calm down and should i be worried that it's getting worse? I went back to the pet store today to ask for some advice and they said i should exchange them, but obviously i'm not keen.

 

[Wiebke]

I have had my guineapigs less than a week but yesterday their dominant behavior with each other has got worse, they know kick each other out of the bed, so i put a new one but they still go into the beds together then eventually one will kick the other out. They lunge at each other more and have a lot more face offs. Has anyone else experienced this if so when does/should it calm down and should i be worried that it's getting worse? I went back to the pet store today to ask for some advice and they said i should exchange them, but obviously i'm not keen.

Hi! Have you got boars or sows? Their bonding/dominance dynamics are somewhat different.
It would also help if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can tailor any advice with respect to your local options.

 

[MerryPip]

Wiebke's questions are right... If you can tell us a bit more we might be able to give you more targeted advice but I can suggest that exchanging them is likely to cause at least as many problems.

I've just posted the same thing on another thread: the problem with choosing piggies from a pet store is that you just tend to pick two, that you like the look of, from a group. It's a bit like you picking your husband/wife from 15 photos then expecting to live in a bedsit for the next 50 years, without ever really leaving the house and get on perfectly without squabbles.... We wouldn't do it but we expect our piggies to. Good pairings or groups are all about personalities and who fits well with each other, that's one of the reasons we strongly advocate rescue as a place to get piggies because they come in well bonded pairs or groups with lots of support and back-up.

It sounds a bit like your piggies are really testing their boundaries and things are getting a bit heated. Regardless of what sex and age they are you can make sure you have the basics right like:

• Space - the more the better but a cage for a pair should be minimum 120cm x60cm. For boars particularly space is often crucial to them getting along
• Two of everything - hideys, food bowls, water bottles. Having two limits the chances of them fighting over the prime spots or food and makes sure the lower ranked pig doesn't get bullied out of their share
• Blood drawn - if you get to this point then it is possible you need to separate. I wouldn't always but I have enough experience of my boars to know when to leave them and when not to. Keep a dustpan handy to separate any fights so you don't get bitten by accident...

I am usually of the opinion that as long as one of them isn't getting bullied to the point there is health issues or a lot of distress, or a significant fight then I tend to leave them to sort it out themselves.

Your piggies are quite new to you so they've had a lot of change lately and will still be trying to sort out what's what and who's in charge. Hopefully they will calm down over time but also be ready in case they don't. If you have a local rescue (see our locator) they may also be able to offer practical advice.

 

[elliiiiiex]

Wiebke's questions are right... If you can tell us a bit more we might be able to give you more targeted advice but I can suggest that exchanging them is likely to cause at least as many problems.

I've just posted the same thing on another thread: the problem with choosing piggies from a pet store is that you just tend to pick two, that you like the look of, from a group. It's a bit like you picking your husband/wife from 15 photos then expecting to live in a bedsit for the next 50 years, without ever really leaving the house and get on perfectly without squabbles.... We wouldn't do it but we expect our piggies to. Good pairings or groups are all about personalities and who fits well with each other, that's one of the reasons we strongly advocate rescue as a place to get piggies because they come in well bonded pairs or groups with lots of support and back-up.

It sounds a bit like your piggies are really testing their boundaries and things are getting a bit heated. Regardless of what sex and age they are you can make sure you have the basics right like:

• Space - the more the better but a cage for a pair should be minimum 120cm x60cm. For boars particularly space is often crucial to them getting along
• Two of everything - hideys, food bowls, water bottles. Having two limits the chances of them fighting over the prime spots or food and makes sure the lower ranked pig doesn't get bullied out of their share
• Blood drawn - if you get to this point then it is possible you need to separate. I wouldn't always but I have enough experience of my boars to know when to leave them and when not to. Keep a dustpan handy to separate any fights so you don't get bitten by accident...

I am usually of the opinion that as long as one of them isn't getting bullied to the point there is health issues or a lot of distress, or a significant fight then I tend to leave them to sort it out themselves.

Your piggies are quite new to you so they've had a lot of change lately and will still be trying to sort out what's what and who's in charge. Hopefully they will calm down over time but also be ready in case they don't. If you have a local rescue (see our locator) they may also be able to offer practical advice.

Pets at home have offered that i can swap them, however i am only ever going to have the same problem. Where could i find where the nearest rescue home is please just for future reference?

 

[elliiiiiex]

Hi! Have you got boars or sows? Their bonding/dominance dynamics are somewhat different.
It would also help if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can tailor any advice with respect to your local options.

I have boars... I'm still working out the site on how to add things as i only made it yesterday

 

[MerryPip]

I have boars... I'm still working out the site on how to add things as i only made it yesterday

No problem. At the top of the page on the tool bar there is a section called 'rescue locator'. If you click on it and pop in your location it will give you the closest recommended rescues to you.... Bear in mind not all rescues are the same and some are better than others so it's also worth taking recommendations.

I agree that swapping them is likely to land you in the same situation or worse and is not a good solution. They may well work it out as they settle in to their new home with you so persevere just now and see how things go.

Also have a read of these threads...
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

 

[elliiiiiex]

No problem. At the top of the page on the tool bar there is a section called 'rescue locator'. If you click on it and pop in your location it will give you the closest recommended rescues to you.... Bear in mind not all rescues are the same and some are better than others so it's also worth taking recommendations.

I agree that swapping them is likely to land you in the same situation or worse and is not a good solution. They may well work it out as they settle in to their new home with you so persevere just now and see how things go.

Also have a read of these threads...
Boars: A guide to successful companionship.
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?

Thank-you for your help, very much appreciated!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank-you for your help, very much appreciated!

Thank you for also adding your location. Your closest good standard piggy savvy rescue is Windwhistle Warren. It may be worth speaking to them for working out a suitable long term solution for you and both boys.
Sadly, shops sell guinea pigs as you pick them, not whether they get along or not. It sounds like yours are too closely matched in dominance and are rather building up towards a fight. While most sows more often than not will eventually settle down together, boars that do not get on, are more prone to fight (with exceptions, of course).