Aggressive guinea pig

[Guineapigs.]

I have an aggressive guinea pig. She’s territorial and dominant, so she lives alone. It’s obvious she’s lonely, but I’m not aloud to get another cage. They said if she could share her current cage I could get another piggie. My cage is only 10 sq feet so I don’t want to separate it into sections, so any tips on bonding? She’s about a year old. I’ve heard it’d be best if I got a neutered male, any other tips for bonding? I need another piggie

 

[Piggies&buns]

A good bond comes entirely down to character compatibility and mutual liking and the best way to achieve this is to take her to a rescue centre for dating. That way, she chooses her own friend
if you buy a piggy on spec from a pet shop, ghen there is always a risk of a failed bonding and then you would need a separate cage.

Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour

 

[Siikibam]

A boar/sow pairing is a good match and works out well. Having said that, the important thing is character match. Your best bet would be to take her to a rescue that will do dating. That way she picks her own friend.

If there aren’t any, you will need a plan B - in other words, if they don’t get on them they need to live next to each other.

When you say she is aggressive, what exactly do you mean? How many piggies have you tried to bond her with, and what has happened when you tried?

It’s god you’re wanting to get him a friend. A 10sq foot cage is the minimum for two sows or a boar/sow pairing.

 

[Wiebke]

I have an aggressive guinea pig. She’s territorial and dominant, so she lives alone. It’s obvious she’s lonely, but I’m not aloud to get another cage. They said if she could share her current cage I could get another piggie. My cage is only 10 sq feet so I don’t want to separate it into sections, so any tips on bonding? She’s about a year old. I’ve heard it’d be best if I got a neutered male, any other tips for bonding? I need another piggie

Unfortunately, good rescues are rather thin on the ground in Canada.

Your girl sounds like she has a bit of a fear-aggression issue; that is not uncommon, especially in sows. I have managed to work through it with some of my special adoptees but it has not been easy, even with a laid-back neutered boar or a timid submissive baby sow. It's never been a quick bonding process but one that has taken several weeks during which time they were living side by side. Some bondings have sadly not worked out although I have found companion for all of them eventually - but then I have much more rescue access to find a likely companion than you.

Has she always been alone and what is her back story?

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics