Confession: I Don't Like One Of My Pigs

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R Dorothy

R Dorothy

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April 1st marks my three year anniversary with Dahlia and Iris.

Despite her tendency to bite over the slightest thing that annoys her, I love Dahlia to pieces. She's the one who enjoys being pet and will sit with me for as long as her bladder allows. She always stretches out and lays her head to the side on my chest while I stroke her back and usually dozes off. She's a funny little thing and will sometimes rumble at my computer if she dislikes any noises from videos or music. She'll also lick my hand for several minutes straight. She's just a joy to have.

Iris... Iris is obnoxious. Dahlia is content with the regular food and snacks (which is plenty, they're not going hungry) but sometimes Iris insists on more. Did you know guinea pigs can whine? Iris does if she's not screaming. I've never given in, but that's never stopped her. As for cuddle time. I'm lucky if I get ten minutes. She used to be nice. But this has become less and less until she's decided being held isn't for her. Usually she leaves a ridiculous amount of poo in my hand before viciously tugging at my clothes so I'll put her back. She likes to aim for my boob, which doesn't help matters. She just decided she wants food from people any absolutely nothing else.

I don't treat her any differently. Please don't think I've done something awful to make Iris this way; it just happened.

Anyone else feel this way about a pig? I've only had three so I'm not sure how often it is to end up getting a pig like Iris.
 
Firstly I think Dahlia sounds lovely - our guinea pigs are still young, so we have yet to experience what it is to pat a calm and laid back piggie :D

And as for Iris, if she used to be calmer and you feel her behavior is getting worse have you taken her to a vet?
Maybe she no longer likes being held because she is in pain somewhere and it might not be obvious to see just by observing her?
Has her weight changed at all?
If she is whining for food and you are already offering a good diet (and sounds like you are) then maybe she is having problems eating.
I know we are supposed to check teeth, but so far I am struggling to get a really clear look at the back ones (although this might just be my own lack of experience).
If it were my pig I would make a vets appointment, so she could be thoroughly checked over by a professional.
I don't think many animals are naturally bad tempered, and it sounds like you offer a really good an loving home for your girls.
I would seriously investigate an underlying medical issue.
 
I think it is great that you have been honest and posted your thoughts. I posted about the behaviour of two baby piggies I had bought and someone suggested I had been sold piggies with fungal; the vets couldn't initially confirm this but it became apparent in due course. With Iris it does sound like a behaviour change due to a medical issue and she could be quite uncomfortable. Hopefully a visit to the vets and with the right treatment she will feel much better and become a piggy that you can love. Fingers crossed for a happy outcome :)
 
It's great that we can be honest with each other on here. I have no problem in admitting that I have my "favourites".

I agree that the change in behaviour may indicate some pain/discomfort and that it would be worth a vet trip to rule anything out. However my old lady pigs have certainly got crankier as they've got older.
 
I agree with the others that it would be a good idea to get her checked for cysts just in case. My Fuzzy had them and her behaviour changed completely. We are now possibly going through the same thing with Rose. Also, grumpy behaviour can be a pain response.

Some sows are just stroppy though, you should have seen the fit my Katie threw last night as she couldn't get to her cozy because Amy was in the way, chattering at everyone and everything until I got Amy to move.
 
Beans has got a bit grumpier the past few months. She's been checked over at the vets so it's not a medical issue.
She's just a grumpy pig.
Even when I first got her she was very independent, she liked to be held and cuddled but not for too long or she'd be biting my clothes to get down, she just likes to have free run.
She's not the most affectionate pig but I love her. Sometimes I wish she'd let me hug her for longer but that's just her nature I suppose.
She can get quite moody if I don't feed her at the exact time she wants her veg, such an attitude problem she has :doh:
 
helen105281 said:
I agree with the others that it would be a good idea to get her checked for cysts just in case. My Fuzzy had them and her behaviour changed completely. We are now possibly going through the same thing with Rose. Also, grumpy behaviour can be a pain response.

Some sows are just stroppy though, you should have seen the fit my Katie threw last night as she couldn't get to her cozy because Amy was in the way, chattering at everyone and everything until I got Amy to move.
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They're like stroppy teenagers :D
 
It's not an emergency at least, so I'll make an appointment for next week. I also know it has nothing to do with her teeth; she east just fine. She just wants specific things EXACTLY when she wants it. She's turned up her nose at carrots before because she wanted to eat a cucumber first.

If it's nothing, and she is just the way she is, I'll just continue letting her pick how long she wants me to interact with her and trying not to let how vocal she is drive me nuts xD
 
R Dorothy said:
It's not an emergency at least, so I'll make an appointment for next week. I also know it has nothing to do with her teeth; she east just fine. She just wants specific things EXACTLY when she wants it. She's turned up her nose at carrots before because she wanted to eat a cucumber first.

If it's nothing, and she is just the way she is, I'll just continue letting her pick how long she wants me to interact with her and trying not to let how vocal she is drive me nuts xD
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She sounds like my Beans.
Very demanding and very vocal about it too. If I don't get her veg exactly when she wants it she will eek so loud that her little ears flap up and down as she eeks.
She's a grumpy little pig with an attitude problem :twist:
 
VickiA said:
However my old lady pigs have certainly got crankier as they've got older.
Click to expand...

This
Beans&Toast said:
She sounds like my Beans.
Very demanding and very vocal about it too.
She's a grumpy little pig with an attitude problem :twist:
Click to expand...

I keep telling my husband that he is so lucky I am NOTHING like this as I get older....:whistle:
 
R Dorothy said:
April 1st marks my three year anniversary with Dahlia and Iris.

Despite her tendency to bite over the slightest thing that annoys her, I love Dahlia to pieces. She's the one who enjoys being pet and will sit with me for as long as her bladder allows. She always stretches out and lays her head to the side on my chest while I stroke her back and usually dozes off. She's a funny little thing and will sometimes rumble at my computer if she dislikes any noises from videos or music. She'll also lick my hand for several minutes straight. She's just a joy to have.

Iris... Iris is obnoxious. Dahlia is content with the regular food and snacks (which is plenty, they're not going hungry) but sometimes Iris insists on more. Did you know guinea pigs can whine? Iris does if she's not screaming. I've never given in, but that's never stopped her. As for cuddle time. I'm lucky if I get ten minutes. She used to be nice. But this has become less and less until she's decided being held isn't for her. Usually she leaves a ridiculous amount of poo in my hand before viciously tugging at my clothes so I'll put her back. She likes to aim for my boob, which doesn't help matters. She just decided she wants food from people any absolutely nothing else.

I don't treat her any differently. Please don't think I've done something awful to make Iris this way; it just happened.

Anyone else feel this way about a pig? I've only had three so I'm not sure how often it is to end up getting a pig like Iris.
Click to expand...
Yeah, Darwhin's kind of a bully.
and he never lets me set a hand on him.
 
Hi @R Dorothy :)
If you rule out cysts then perhaps Iris is going through a phase? @Wiebke has written some excellent advice on how to deal with a nippy piggy: Biting
Please don't feel you are alone in having a little 'madam'.

I hope she calms down for you, they often do mellow with age, as well as with you talking pig-dominance-language to them (little ear-rubs etc) :hug:
 
Sometimes there can be an ongoing medical problem if there is a change in behavior. With sows it could be hormonal. That said, different pigs have different personalities, and I will confess to having 'favorite' pigs, or at least pigs whose behavior I enjoy more. I've always appreciated the lap pigs I've had (and I've been lucky enough to have two... Linney was very mellow with the people, and our current younger pig, Hadley, will flop on our knees and watch TV.) My other pigs have not been as cuddly- Frenzy was very high strung, and although Sundae is very sweet in her own right (she 'talks' a lot and gives kisses) she does not relax and lay down when handled and you have to be on high alert to put her back to pee (in her defense, she has lifelong bladder problems and simply cannot hold it very well or for very long, especially now that she is elderly.)

But yes, I've had pets it was hard to like. Actually, one of my hedgehogs, Thistle, was a 'rescue' from a breeder who was selling off her stock. I don't think she had been handled very much and she was a young adult when we got her. She HATED people. Absolutely hated them. She was impossible to handle without injury. We had her for six years, and although I loved her, I did not enjoy her like I enjoyed my other pets. She was not fun. She did not want a relationship of any kind with me. She lived in my house for 6 years, we gave her food, water, clean bedding, vet care, etc... and she gave us minor skin injuries in return. We loved her, but I can't say we enjoyed having her as a pet or that she was a good pet. She actually finished off my husband on hedgehogs for good, hence we now have guinea pigs!
 
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