My wife and I have two boars That get along GREAT Gilligan is the oldest and we’ve had him for longer. But he is also the more aggressive one. I can’t even get near him to try and pet him. I feed them regularly, I keep their water good. I try to give him treats while I attempt to pet him.... but he is always chattering his teeth and acting very aggressive towards me... the only time I even attempt to hold him is when I put him in the bathtub while I clean his cage... BTW he has always been aggressive towards me. I can’t find anything helpful online. Is there any way I can treat this?
My boar is SO aggressive HELP
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Betsy
Anniversary Herd
In what way is he aggressive? Does he bite? Is he just generally anti-social towards you?
Have you tried piggy whispering? It really does work. Half the time you feel ridiculous following the guide but if it makes Gilligan less aggressive (and nobody is going to see you!) it's worth it! You need to let him know in a language that he understands that his behaviour is unacceptable.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Am adding in a few more guides that may help.
" Biting" And What You Can Do
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
Have you tried piggy whispering? It really does work. Half the time you feel ridiculous following the guide but if it makes Gilligan less aggressive (and nobody is going to see you!) it's worth it! You need to let him know in a language that he understands that his behaviour is unacceptable.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Am adding in a few more guides that may help.
" Biting" And What You Can Do
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
He has no issue being around me during floor time or treat time, it’s getting him out or even trying to get my hand near him and he lunges at me trying to bite and he chatters his teeth at me just all around aggression
Hi!
How old is Gilligan? Problems are usually worse during the teenage months when testosterone is at an all time high.
Some piggies however will never be great cuddlers (in fact, mst piggies aren't if they have the choice), but you can build
up a relationship with them.
Use guinea pig body language to interact with Gilligan and frame your interaction in ways that he understands. Make friends with him, tell him you love him.
THEN you assert your authority first in a friendly way - guinea pigs live in a strict hierarchy; that is how their society works. You need to claim the lead as the herd superpig; if you don't, he will stand his ground against you.
Get more direct if he doesn't get it, but always intersperse any dominance of yours with assurances that you love him and want him to be part of your herd.
Always start with love and always end with a gesture of love. This mimics the method socially adept piggies integrate difficult newcomers into their group.
I know that it sounds somewhat whacky, but as a number of members with problem piggies like yours can attest, it actually works and is very effective because you deal with the problem not from a human but from a guinea pig perspective. You can call it piggy whispering if you wish! However you want to call it, it comes in very handy in all kinds of situations from grooming to medicating.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
We have got a whole range of guides on understanding guinea pig behaviours to interacting with them plus a lot more in our new owners' guide collection, which you may find very helpful.
New Owners' Problem Solver And Information Collection
If your boys are in the thick of the teenage hormones, then you may find this additional guide here useful: Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
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Betsy
Anniversary Herd
Teenage piggies are between 4 and 14 months.
I’m pretty sure he is a little closer to 16-17 months... like I said ever since he was a baby he has been aggressive towards both my wife and me. I am going to try the whispering but he won’t let me near him to pet him, even if he is on my lap.... I’m just trying to figure out the best way to tone down his aggression.
fanniephina
Junior Guinea Pig
I understand how frustrating this can be. The people here whom directed you have given the best information you can get and the only way to have a relationship with him. We have 5 piggies; 2 are boars. We had to learn a lot because they were 'she' when we got them. Now I can't believe there was a time I even thought they were anything but boars. One is aggressive when he wants to be. And he has been very aggressive. We got him as a bit older rescue. He will chatter and we have had bites from him but, and I stress this, only the two different times we've tried to bond him. He was as confused as we when it happened and was docile as a baby after and since. There have been a few moments, however, when both my daughter and I have looked at him and joked that it was a very good thing he was so cute. It's probably why he lived long enough for us to get him lol. We are very cautious with him and can gauge his mood. Nail clipping time was beginning of a war and I feared for my poor fingers again until my brilliant daughter threw a piece of cilantro in his face. Oh it was so funny the change in him so fast. It's our ticket now for everything Tybalt the Terrible decides to take a stand on with us.
We have very affectionate females but one that we still can't even give a treat to. She doesn't chatter and I have been able to take her out but I am of the mindset that it's not worth it to force her if it only makes her nervous. In the end, I and my daughter really love just watching these guys and just want to make them happy. I really want to back up one important thing posted; some guinea pigs just can't get to the point of being close to you in this way. Taking care of them and protecting them is really making them happy. He sounds like he is very happy with his friend and that is the best thing this little guy can have. Keep on trying to just give him treats, talk gently to him and love him.
This can sound crazy but my daughter spent about 8 hours throughout several days in putting her ipod at a very low volume level near each of our boars' cages. She took notes of the different styles and recorded how they reacted. It did bond her a bit more to one of our boars while the monster showed reactions to a totally different kind. She's 17 and home schooled so had some time and proposed this with her music research and essay but I have to say it did give some results. I would try classical first if you're up to it. Of course our little monster reacted a lot more to rock and roll and pop lol. Our other boar still really listens to classical and a very low volume level.
We have very affectionate females but one that we still can't even give a treat to. She doesn't chatter and I have been able to take her out but I am of the mindset that it's not worth it to force her if it only makes her nervous. In the end, I and my daughter really love just watching these guys and just want to make them happy. I really want to back up one important thing posted; some guinea pigs just can't get to the point of being close to you in this way. Taking care of them and protecting them is really making them happy. He sounds like he is very happy with his friend and that is the best thing this little guy can have. Keep on trying to just give him treats, talk gently to him and love him.
This can sound crazy but my daughter spent about 8 hours throughout several days in putting her ipod at a very low volume level near each of our boars' cages. She took notes of the different styles and recorded how they reacted. It did bond her a bit more to one of our boars while the monster showed reactions to a totally different kind. She's 17 and home schooled so had some time and proposed this with her music research and essay but I have to say it did give some results. I would try classical first if you're up to it. Of course our little monster reacted a lot more to rock and roll and pop lol. Our other boar still really listens to classical and a very low volume level.