Is Redemption trying to dominate?

[Pat Shields]

I read on this forum someplace today that one guinea pig biting another could be a sign that he is trying to dominate. Lately, since Red has started taking food from my hands, he has also started nibbling my fingers. I presumed that he was checking for more food. But yesterday he actually bit me, hard. Didn't break the skin, but it hurt. He wasn't being aggressive, nor was he playing. So I was wondering, might he think I am the big guinea pig who knows where the food is kept, and he was telling me that oh no, HE'S the boss?

 

[piglet_and_rogers_mama]

i havent a clue...it's an interesting thought, though. I'm sure someone could give you a more helpful answer

 

[SweetsPig11]

Sweets used to bite my fingers and Fez now does the same thing. Not sure why, I just shrugged it off like it's a baby and they're 'teething' lol Sweets wont bite me now but he does give me quite the bath, he has lots of kisses for me, he will bite my mom though lol so I don't know why they bite :\ hope someone else has a better answer!

 

[sport_billy]

Was he feeling threatened? Treacle will bite (not nibble for food) when she is feeling threatened usually when we are nail clipping.

Not an expert, hopefully someone with more knowledge will be able to help.

 

[Pat Shields]

Was he feeling threatened?

Of course I don't know what goes through a guinea pig's mind, but based on our interaction at the time I think I can safely presume he did not feel threatened. I had just handed him some vegetable he enjoys (parsley, I think it was), and he took it and munched it. I left my hand in the same place. He came over and sniffed my knuckles for a few seconds, so he HAD to know it wasn't food, AND there was a pile of parsley, carrots, grass, and green beans beside him so he couldn't have been looking for more, and he bit me!

 

[JoBo]

probably wanted to know what you tasted like lol xx

 

[Wiebke]

Some piggies can start tweaking for dominance once they have settled in and comfy and confident. Just tell him off, gently but firmly, and make sure that you are not pleased by this behaviour. No and retribution doesn't generally work with piggies.

 

[Guinea pigs <3]

Cheeky Red! Dottie has nipped me for the last few months...like you said it doesn't hurt but it's not nice, i'm a little cautious of her now as i don't completely trust her (she once went to nip my face when i she was lying near me, i actually heard her teeth shut down!rolleyes) Maybe Red just smelt some food on your fingers though and didn't realise it was human and not edible!

 

[Pat Shields]

Some piggies can start tweaking for dominance once they have settled in and comfy and confident. Just tell him off, gently but firmly, and make sure that you are not pleased by this behaviour. No and retribution doesn't generally work with piggies.

He has since made biting movements and as soon as I feel it I say "DON'T you bite me" and I jerk my hand away slightly. He gets the message and doesn't complete the act nor does he pursue it. I'm sure he does not understand what I say or mean, but I am sure that he knows that his act produces another act on my part, one which makes him not too sure if he wants to bite.
I want him to approach my hands so that I can pick him up without grabbing him, but not if he is going to nip. As I said (at least I think I said it someplace else), he doesn't do it maliciously, it is like it is something he thinks of doing while he is sniffing my fingers.

 

[4piggiepigs]

My piggies nibble finger's and it don't hurt but i had a friend's teddy here and that bit rather hard tho i don't think it was intentional and didn't draw blood, i pick my piggies up with one hand over the shoulders and one under the bum and sort of scoop them up

 

[Pat Shields]

I think I might have figured out about this biting. It is a new occurrence, and he is maturing quickly daily. Yesterday I saw him do something that looks like what I have read "rumblestrutting" described as. He backed up to his hay manger and stomped each foot and wiggled his butt. When I picked him up he had definite arousal. So I think, to him, as he is maturing and has no other guinea pigs around, but he sees me daily, he is showing me attention the way he might if I were another guinea pig. Today he even rumbled at me as I was cleaning his cage.