Bereavement/new Companion

[Jess565]

My self and partner and fur baby Bruno are all still getting used to life without our Ted which is very hard. I think because I'm trying to find something to distract me from the pain plus I'm scared of the dreaded bonfire night looming for Bruno on his own I have started to think of a companion for Bruno. My partner was quite annoyed and said it was too soon. I have called our local shelter and they have single boars but don't do dates and our next shelter is an hours and half's drive away don't do dates either, it was just putting the feelers out at this stage. Saturday came and an opportunity presented it's self for Bruno to meet a potential buddy, a young single boar.I thought this was it as our Bruno was so accepting if Ted and his crazy ways. But no Bruno hated every minute of it and was very distressed. He showed aggression and it was quite up setting. He was also very happy once home and pop corned like crazy in all his houses like he won the game!
I'm now very nervous of our options if we cannot date him. He did not like to be near the other pig let alone living with it! But I don't want him to be lonely.
Was this too soon to try and find him a friend?
Bruno was always the 2nd in command and was so gentle and passive with Ted, but I'm getting the feeling he's enjoying his new role which is great but also not for finding friends. We bonded Ted and Bruno two years ago when Ted was three and very bossy but it was nothing like the other day he is housed in the living room and has a toy rat he snuggles with now which also breaks my heart when he tries to get it to play out with him. My head hurts with thinking about this now. I just want the best for Bruno now and I'm getting mixed messages from him

 

[Deleted member 114675]

I really do feel this is just a case of finding a guinea pig that is compatible - and it's a real shame you don't have a local rescue that offers dating . personally, I think it's worth investing in looking a little further afield - and , if you can't face a car journey - maybe travelling by rail? I went to Milhaven by rail and highly recommend this rescue .

 

[Jess565]

I did look at Millhaven's website they were next on the list to contact. My local rescue said they just don't have the space to allow it. I've never done a piggy date before Bruno's introduction to Ted was pure luck! Do guineas know straight away if they don't like each other? Would the rescue environment show a true representation of thier friendship to be? Once they date is it on to the bonding stage at home?

 

[Deleted member 114675]

I did look at Millhaven's website they were next on the list to contact. My local rescue said they just don't have the space to allow it. I've never done a piggy date before Bruno's introduction to Ted was pure luck! Do guineas know straight away if they don't like each other? Would the rescue environment show a true representation of thier friendship to be? Once they date is it on to the bonding stage at home?

You'll drop your guinea off in the morning and leave him at the rescue for a few hours. Hopefully, the rescue will be happy that you go home with a bonded pair.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Yes, that's how it was when I took my boars dating. The rescue had a cage for the purpose, which was thoroughly cleaned and therefore neutral territory, and the boys were placed in it along with some veggies. The first time, the potential friend was a teenage piggie, and did a bit of humping etc, but my boar was only really interested in the food. They had been okay together the rest of the time when I came back later, so Yoshi came home with us and all was well. Sometimes it's obvious from the moment you put two boars together that it's not going to work, other times they need some time together to work out their relationship.
It obviously helps to speed things up if you can tell the rescue what your pig is like, so they can match him up with one they think will complement him.

Good luck with finding a friend for Bruno