A successful bond comes down to character compatibility. When you bond guinea pigs they must have mutual liking and character compatibility to be able to form a hierarchy and relationship. They will not bond if they do not like each other. If you buy guinea pigs ie from a pet shop and put them together then if does run the risk of the bond failing as you don’t know if they are going to want to be together. The safest way to find a new friend for any single piggy is with the help of a rescue centre. If the bonding doesn’t work out they will usually take the piggy back and allow you to try another. Some will even do the bonding for you at their centre. If you have to do a bonding yourself, then it is important to follow the correct bonding procedure.
DoMina ce is entirely normal - it’s something they have to go through and something they will do when piggies are first put together and while they establish a relationship. It takes around two weeks for them to fully form a relationship and you will see dominance behaviours during that time. Dominance isn’t the same thing as a failed bonding.
Any bonding must be done properly and on neutral territory and following the correct procedure . You cannot put a piggy directly into the cage of another piggy as that will be seen as a territory invasion and will cause problems. Bonding is a one time thing - you put the piggies in a neutral territory bonding pen for several hours and see how things go. If they go well, then you clean out the cage they are to live in and then move them into it after several hours and leave them together permamently. As I said, you will see dominance behaviours during all of this time . If they don’t get on, and that isn’t the same as dominance, then the bonding has failed and they need to be separated.
If she is fear aggressive, then it can make her overreact and can mean bonding needs to be done more slowly. Again, this is where the help of a rescue centre can be valuable as they can help find the right character compatible piggy.
If she doesn’t get on with any of your other piggies, then during the time she is single, then her cage must be next to the other piggies. She can interact through the bars and that will stop her from becoming lonely.
This can be a viable long term living arrangement if you cannot find her a suitable friend.
The guides below offer further information on how to carry out a bonding and behaviours
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Moody Guinea Pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour
Dominance Behaviours In Guinea Pigs
