bluetrooth
New Born Pup
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2012
- Messages
- 23
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 85
We recently got ourselves two Teddy guinea pigs and are a little worried about their bonding/happiness. The pair is a father (approximately one year old) and son (a few months old).
They never show any actual signs of aggression or fighting, so no serious issues, but the father never seems happy and constantly seems to be bullying the son, who in turn is literally the sweetest, happiest piggy we've ever had. The son is social, loves pets, popcorns, runs around, etc. The father in contrast seems moody, sulky, and regularly chases his son out of his hideys, steals his food even though he himself has plenty, etc.
We've had guinea pigs before, and we know it's common for them to steal each other's food and to chase each other around, but this is a constant, ongoing, one-sided dynamic where one is non-stop bullying the other. And considering that he doesn't even seem happy here, we have seriously considered giving him away to then pair up the little one with a (hopefully) better match. I am very hesitant to do this, because I hate the idea of giving up a pet and wouldn't do this lightly.
It just seems unfair to the sweet, little one to have to live with a constant bully. Are we overreacting? Is there perhaps a way for us to help socialize the big one? Should we wait until they're both fully grown to see their dynamic? I honestly have no idea. I just don't want our piggies to be unhappy, or for one to be unhappy and make the other one miserable because of it - which it what it often looks like now.
They have plenty of space, their own hideys, hammocks, plenty of hay, food, fresh vegetables, etc. The father simply seems intent on bullying his son.
TL;DR: we have two guineas, father and son. The father continuously bullies the son. What do we do about this?
They never show any actual signs of aggression or fighting, so no serious issues, but the father never seems happy and constantly seems to be bullying the son, who in turn is literally the sweetest, happiest piggy we've ever had. The son is social, loves pets, popcorns, runs around, etc. The father in contrast seems moody, sulky, and regularly chases his son out of his hideys, steals his food even though he himself has plenty, etc.
We've had guinea pigs before, and we know it's common for them to steal each other's food and to chase each other around, but this is a constant, ongoing, one-sided dynamic where one is non-stop bullying the other. And considering that he doesn't even seem happy here, we have seriously considered giving him away to then pair up the little one with a (hopefully) better match. I am very hesitant to do this, because I hate the idea of giving up a pet and wouldn't do this lightly.
It just seems unfair to the sweet, little one to have to live with a constant bully. Are we overreacting? Is there perhaps a way for us to help socialize the big one? Should we wait until they're both fully grown to see their dynamic? I honestly have no idea. I just don't want our piggies to be unhappy, or for one to be unhappy and make the other one miserable because of it - which it what it often looks like now.
They have plenty of space, their own hideys, hammocks, plenty of hay, food, fresh vegetables, etc. The father simply seems intent on bullying his son.
TL;DR: we have two guineas, father and son. The father continuously bullies the son. What do we do about this?