Aggressive/ active single sow, considering another cavy

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Ethan3wilson

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I’ve had a single female for about 5 months now. She is 6 months old total and I was thinking about getting her a companion as I know guinea pigs do better with friends. A few things I’ve noticed that she does is bite or challenge me whenever I touch hay or food that is near her. She talks so much that it’s hard to tell when she’s annoyed or just bored. She is aggressive when touched on sides or sometimes the rear but that is expected as it’s a sensitive area for most. That being said, whenever my hand looks like it’s going near her legs or sides or ever her chest under her chin she lashes out immediately at me. Although, she loves to be pet on the head and still climbs over me and cleans herself on me so I know she is comfortable around me it’s just sometimes she lashes out. I’ve even litter box trained her along with a few tricks. She’s very active and doesn’t ever lay in the same spot for more than 5 minutes. It seems that she is more moody than aggressive and is one of the most vocal cavies I’ve ever heard. I’m not sure how she would react to the bonding process and I was curious if anyone had any advice on that or how to deal with her aggression. I was considering adopting a baby cavy as it would be easier for them to figure out who’s dominant and who’s not.
 
Hello and :wel:. I have a pair of boar brothers and have never bonded any guineas so can’t help you, but have a look at the Bonding Guides. I’m sure someone will come along soon who have experience with bonding girlies x
 
My 6 month old cavy shows sign of aggression. I got her when she was a month and a half old and she is the most vocal piggie I have ever heard and her personality is as loud as she is. Whenever I touch food that is near her she is quick to lash out and challenge and bite me. She bites me whenever my hand or fingers even look like they aren’t going to pet her only on the top of her body/head; but she is comfortable around me as she climbs on me, crawls over my arms and legs, accepts food straight from my hand, and even cleans herself on me. Despite that being said, I still feel like she is very defensive and you can tell by her body language that when my hand is next to her or her face she is very uncomfortable and will even lash out and bite it without being touched even without any sudden movements. Immediately after the signs of aggression she goes back to lowering her body and head on me as if she’s comfortable and wanting to be pet. Her aggression is very temporary as she doesn’t really try to hide or run away from me but instead just lashes out very aggressively, then calms down again and acts like nothing happened.
 
Goodness you don't give a very flattering interpretation of your piggies behaviour! Nothing you describe sounds really unusual or aggressive. We have 5 ladies and if you read the piggy whispering guides on the forum, and the guide on how to deal with biting, these will probably help. A lone piggy, especially if she is naturally very sociable and active, will obviously be frustrated at being alone except for a giant predator hooman who keeps putting their hands in her space! A companion is a great idea, you could try take her to meet other lady pigs at a rescue to see if she finds someone she likes, or have you considered a neutered husboar? A neutered male might help diffuse some frustration, coming into season affects lady pig moods quite a lot and a husband might help with this :)
 
She will likely be thrilled to be matched with a suitable friend :) i've had some right miserable (towards me) but they have absolutely adored their piggy friends. In fact there was only one (out of all the 29 piggies ive had) that i've never managed to match with a single pig, but she was completely traumatised by a trio of rabbits for who knows how long..
As above, the behaviour you're seeing is very normal, all piggies have their favourite spots to be tickled, but most don't enjoy having vulnerable areas touched like their bums, backs, sides, legs etc, it mimics a predator trying to grab them, and they're sensitive little sausages :)
 
Ethan3wilson said:
My 6 month old cavy shows sign of aggression. I got her when she was a month and a half old and she is the most vocal piggie I have ever heard and her personality is as loud as she is. Whenever I touch food that is near her she is quick to lash out and challenge and bite me. She bites me whenever my hand or fingers even look like they aren’t going to pet her only on the top of her body/head; but she is comfortable around me as she climbs on me, crawls over my arms and legs, accepts food straight from my hand, and even cleans herself on me. Despite that being said, I still feel like she is very defensive and you can tell by her body language that when my hand is next to her or her face she is very uncomfortable and will even lash out and bite it without being touched even without any sudden movements. Immediately after the signs of aggression she goes back to lowering her body and head on me as if she’s comfortable and wanting to be pet. Her aggression is very temporary as she doesn’t really try to hide or run away from me but instead just lashes out very aggressively, then calms down again and acts like nothing happened.
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Hi!

Please take the time to read these guides here and follow the piggy whispering advice to establish a group hierarchy with you as leader in which you can then tell her what is OK behaviour and what not in ways she instinctively understands and accepts. This method is suprisingly effective because right now - as far as she is concerned - she is living away from her a hierarchical group in a power vacuum.
" Biting" And What You Can Do
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig

You are also dealing with a teenager right now at the time when her teenage hormone spikes are strongest. Sows rarely fight, so this aspect is often overlooked as not all sows experience this equally strongly; but this is the often the time when the drama when they are in season is the greatest. It is no accident that the teenager in the videos is 6 months old when took them! Because your girl is a single, you are unfortunately the recipient of all those extra energy and stress.
Sow Behaviour
When Sows Experience A Strong Season (videos)

If you want to find your sow a friend, the best way is by dating her at a good non-kill rescue with mandatory quarantine, vet care and pregnancy watch for incoming sows in contact with a boar, so your girl can have a say at who she likes and gets on with, and you come home with a new mate only if there has been success. Character compatibility and mutual liking is much more important for a successful bond than age. With rescue piggies you can also look at both sows or neutered boars, as long as you can date. Since there is no licensing or supervision for rescues, you will have to do your research, as anybody can call themselves a rescue, and the results can be accordingly. :(
Our recommended rescues will also double-check the gender before they will let her meet a rescue piggy.
We have got lists for recommended rescues
UK: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
Some other countries: Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations

If you want to get a same sex companion yourself, you may need to take these considerations into account:
- ALWAYS double-check the sex of both piggies before they meet! Sexing Guide
- Quarantine if you get a piggy from a shop/for sale breeder/shelter without medical care or substandard rescue.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
Importance Of Quarantine
- Take to the read and follow our bonding tips beforehand.
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics
- Have a plan B in case a bonding is not working out with a piggy you have bought on spec.

Many of these links are part of our New Owner's information collection. You may find it both interesting and helpful as we are addressing all the areas we get the most questions and concerns about. You can access the collection via this link here: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
My sow Dot bites. Since i read the wispering guides and she has been bonded with my boar Bernie, she has calmed down and got a bit less bitey. I used to check her water bottle is working by tapping the spout, and she would run over and bite me. Little 😜 a few years back she bit right through my nostril, causing my nose to drip with blood. But it was because i took a picture of her and the flash spooked her.

If i was in your position, i would find a Neutered boar to date her with at a rescue👍. Which is what i should have done. I chanced things and got a boar from pets at home adoption. Luckily the bond worked
 
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