Challenging Dominance?

[ThomasThePiggyDad]

Hi all!

We’ve noticed that one of our boars is demonstrating a behavior and we’re not sure if it’s challenging dominance or not.

Biscuit is our dominant piggy at the moment. He rumble struts, he wins the ‘nose offs’ and he mounts more frequently than his cage-mate Teacake.

We’ve been noticing that recently, Teacake has been intently sniffing at Biscuit’s mouth. At first we thought he was trying to take food out of Biscuit’s mouth but he’s doing it even when they’re not eating. Sometimes Biscuit seems content to let it happen, other times he’ll jerk his head away like he’a annoyed although he doesn’t make any noise while doing so.

Is this Teacake trying to challenge Biscuit? Or is it something else?

 

[Siikibam]

He may be grooming him. Sniffing the mouth is in no way a display of dominance though. Did you start a thread on their dominance earlier? The names sound familiar and I think Piggies&Buns answered you there. If you did then it’s best to keep to that one as this post is kind of related.