It cannot be this simple surely?!

[Piggly&Weeny]

Hi all!
We recently sadly lost our male Guinea pig who we had intended to bond with our female (who's sister sadly passed away shortly before we took over her care) and we noticed a change in her behaviour and decided to get another girl to keep her company.
We got a younger female and have had her quarantined and I've had such anxiety about bonding them. We decided to bite the bullet and do it tonight (I would have preferred to have a full day but due to several reasons we decided tonight is best). We've followed all the guidelines etc and put them out in a neutral area, and at first they completely froze on opposite ends and did not move (they're both very timid quiet little things) but then finally they noticed each other, started bum sniffing and following each other, and then cuddled up together in a hut. I've seen the older female (Piggly) eating, and also licking the younger females (Weeny) ear, and so far they seem to be acting like they've always been friends.
I just feel like that's too good to be true, and it seems to have gone way smoother and quicker than expected. Should I still be concerned for something going wrong? Or would that have happened by now? My worry is that I put them in the same cage tonight and go to bed and wake up tomorrow with one piggy gone. Is this likely to happen?

(photo of their current position, sat together in the hut - Weeny on the left, Piggly on the right).

 

[Black piggies]

They look gorgeous together! So glad if they've found a friend. The ear licking sounds a great sign of friendly dominance. In my limited experience of bonding, it's ranged from easy, to white knuckle ride, depending on the piggies involved.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all!
We recently sadly lost our male Guinea pig who we had intended to bond with our female (who's sister sadly passed away shortly before we took over her care) and we noticed a change in her behaviour and decided to get another girl to keep her company.
We got a younger female and have had her quarantined and I've had such anxiety about bonding them. We decided to bite the bullet and do it tonight (I would have preferred to have a full day but due to several reasons we decided tonight is best). We've followed all the guidelines etc and put them out in a neutral area, and at first they completely froze on opposite ends and did not move (they're both very timid quiet little things) but then finally they noticed each other, started bum sniffing and following each other, and then cuddled up together in a hut. I've seen the older female (Piggly) eating, and also licking the younger females (Weeny) ear, and so far they seem to be acting like they've always been friends.
I just feel like that's too good to be true, and it seems to have gone way smoother and quicker than expected. Should I still be concerned for something going wrong? Or would that have happened by now? My worry is that I put them in the same cage tonight and go to bed and wake up tomorrow with one piggy gone. Is this likely to happen?

(photo of their current position, sat together in the hut - Weeny on the left, Piggly on the right).

Best case scenario - feel blessed!

It can be that simple when both piggies really, really want to be together and are just happy to have found another piggy that wants them just as much as they want to be with somepig. You may see some very mild dominance in the coming day or two but it is more of a formality for them, a bit like doing the necessary paperwork when moving in together. Your older piggy is doing a very gentle 'I want you to be a member of my group' lick, which is the mildest and most friendliest gesture of dominance, so acceptance has indeed happened.

I have had the odd bonding myself where two piggies have just slotted together. Of course, our bonding guide is geared towards helping inexperienced owners understand what is going on and deals more with what can happen and go wrong with the not so easy bondings, which are more common.
Sit back, take a deep breath and enjoy!

 

[Piggly&Weeny]

Best case scenario - feel blessed!

It can be that simple when both piggies really, really want to be together and are just happy to have found another piggy that wants them just as much as they want to be with somepig. You may see some very mild dominance in the coming day or two but it is more of a formality for them, a bit like doing the necessary paperwork when moving in together. Your older piggy is doing a very gentle 'I want you to be a member of my group' lick, which is the mildest and most friendliest gesture of dominance, so acceptance has indeed happened.

I have had the odd bonding myself where two piggies have just slotted together. Of course, our bonding guide is geared towards helping inexperienced owners understand what is going on and deals more with what can happen and go wrong with the not so easy bondings, which are more common.
Sit back, take a deep breath and enjoy!

Thank you so much for the reassurance! I've just been re-reading your guide on bonding for about the millionth time to try and gain as much understanding as possible, as this is the first time I've ever tried bonding! As they're both quite timid and we're relaxing together I've now out them in the cage together (I hope not too quickly?) and there has been more signs of dominance from my older pig, but for the most part they're keeping to themselves and eating hay. The young female looks a little 'deer in headlights' and I feel awful! But aside from a bit of chasing I haven't seen any other aggressive signs yet.

Fingers crossed all goes well over the next few days!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for the reassurance! I've just been re-reading your guide on bonding for about the millionth time to try and gain as much understanding as possible, as this is the first time I've ever tried bonding! As they're both quite timid and we're relaxing together I've now out them in the cage together (I hope not too quickly?) and there has been more signs of dominance from my older pig, but for the most part they're keeping to themselves and eating hay. The young female looks a little 'deer in headlights' and I feel awful! But aside from a bit of chasing I haven't seen any other aggressive signs yet.

Fingers crossed all goes well over the next few days!

Take a deep breath; acceptance has happened but your piggies still need to work through the 'dominance paperwork' to set up a group. Rest assured that it will be on the mild side and there will be mutual reassurances in between dominance rounds. The next day or two won't be quite as nice to sit by but they are part and parcel of the process. Once the 'paperwork' part is done (as quickly as possible), things will slot back together and they will just get on very nicely and peacefully. The magic has happened, now comes the bureaucracry. I hope that helps you.
But you need not worry, just be patient for a little while and not interfere. Things are going to work out perfectly.

 

[alpacasqueak]

So pleased they get on so well @Piggly&Weeny, what pretty little piglets!
Hope they have a great first night together