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here she is

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cat

cat

Teenage Guinea Pig
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this is ambrosia.

i picked her up last night. at the minute she is separate from Pickle. i put ambrosia on the sofa in the travel cage and pickle was on the sofa. they both went up to the bars and started chewing them, so i opened the cage door and the first thing ambrosia did was wash pickles face. there was a bit of teeth chattering, but i only had them together for about 15 minutes. my mum said i shouldn't put them together straight away as i wouldn't be able to supervise, because it was getting late in the day.
how long should i leave them together for to see if they like each other? i haven't done bonding in a while so i am a bit rusty!

<a href="http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/Highdubber/?action=view&amp;current=Shehasaface.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/Highdubber/Shehasaface.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/Highdubber/?action=view&amp;current=Firstpicofnewgirl.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/Highdubber/Firstpicofnewgirl.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/Highdubber/?action=view&amp;current=Cousinit.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/Highdubber/Cousinit.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/Highdubber/?action=view&amp;current=Bonding.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/Highdubber/Bonding.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
also if anyone can guess the breed i'd like to know! she was on the website as a sheltie. but when i looked in my guineapig book last night, i thought she looked more like a merino with a coronet head.

she has shorter hair on her back which looks like it fell out when she was wondering outside. she was found by someone in their back garden.

she is so lovely i really hope it works. i don't want to take her back! x)

also do i need to get special scissors and combs for her hair?!

i am going out for dinner tonight with my dad, but all i want to do is play with her!
 
also i thought i would show you what we have on the side of our boat!

<a href="http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/Highdubber/?action=view&amp;current=Photo002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b33/Highdubber/Photo002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
x) They are both lovely, I have never bonded piggies so am hoping that a experienced member may be around in a bit to offer some advice...
 
The initial acceptance phase with sows takes about 15-20 minutes, then it switches straight into the dominance phase, which can last several days to about two weeks. Dominance is part and parcel of piggy society. You have to sit through it and interfere as little as possible. Unlike you, the piggies know what is going on and come with a instinctive manual. Unlike us humans, piggies have to spell out everything in bold letters where we humans get by with just a hint.

It sounds very encouraging! Please stage introductions always in a neutral place; things can go wrong very quickly simply because a piggy gets defensive about its home patch or a newbie becomes aggressive from feeling very much as an intruder in hostile territory. My preferred location is under my big kitchen table, but any other wipeable surface without nooks and crannies will do, like a bathroom floor or even a bathtub with a towel for grip. Never use any hideys that haven't got two exits (if you used hideys at all) and offer some fresh grass or hay on a flat plate, so nopig can go possessive and provoke a squabble. Eating together is a good way of helping along a bonding.

Always put piggies in a freshly made up cage/hutch (including cleaning furniture and bar/walls etc.) If you can, change the lay out, so the cage is as new and neutral for both piggies as possible. Make sure that you have two hideys or sleeping places and two bowls, spaced slightly apart.

Here are more tips on how to stage introductions:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38562

Sow behaviour (and a very good description of increasingly aggressive behaviour in boar behaviour, so you know the danger signs)
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38561
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28949

I would recommend to give Ambrosia a day to settle down in her new home and get an idea of the sounds, smells and daily routine before you do the full introductions; that will help to relax her more, so she is less likely to go on overload when stressed out. Once you have committed, you have to sit out the full introductions (unless there is a big fight of course), or you will interrupt the girls working through the bonding process and force them to start again from several pages back.

Best of luck!
 
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww x)x)x)x)


WELCOME AMBROSIA TO YOUR FOREVER HOME WITH FRIEND PICKLE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


LURVE the painting on the side of your boat droolx)
 
OMG Ambrosia! I saw you on the guinea pig rehoming website and i was soo tempted to take you home. I am looking for a longhaired sow to join the gang. I'm so jealous of you, but I'm so glad she has gone to a great home. I know a little longhaired sow will come along soon. Ive just had to put off looking for a couple of weeks due to the herd coming down with fungal.

Shes so beautiful! x) x) drool

x
 
Awww she is so adorable! I saw her on loads of the rehoming sites and was very temped too! I'm glad she has found a loving home, I hope that everything goes well for you and the piggies :) x)
 
Aww what a beautiful girl and how adorable she washed your little ones face as soon as they met!
 
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