Naughty Male. Is This Normal?

Claire5012

Claire5012

Junior Guinea Pig
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I have a male Guinea pig that is very naughty! I've had him for 3 months and he is now 5 months old. I rescued him as he was a bully to the other pigs. I can tell he's been in a fight as he has a scar by his eye. He is a trouble maker for sure. He doesn't chew his toys much apart from 1 ball that he likes to throw around but would much rather devour my phone or iPad or clothing come to that. He lunges at me when I'm cleaning his cage out and then flicks his bedding all over the floor! I have to say I do find him very amusing and I was wondering if I encourage this behaviour by the fact I find him very funny. On the other hand he's a sweetheart. He loves tickles and he will lie on my chest when he has the option of going elsewhere. He will groom himself in my company and even while I'm stroking him so I know he's at ease with me. If my dogs come near he will give them a run for their money. They know who's boss! He's very affectionate and comical just very bolshy. Is this normal behaviour?
 
Hiya. He sounds lovely ( even if he’s bossy!) what’s his name? Your description made me smile. Has he got a guinea piggy friend? x
 
He's called Frodo. I was sold him being told that he must live alone and to be honest I think he'd end up killing another pig if not doing it some serious damage! I'd be very wary of letting another pig anywhere near him. I love him to bits and I wouldn't change him for anything. Even if I have just hoovered and suddenly I end up with a sea of Carefresh and Guinea pig poo all over the floor. I wonder if it's his age lol. He's just come over to see what I'm writing and snuggled his bum into me for a cuddle. He's so sweet but I never knew a pig could be such a trouble maker :))
 
Ahhhh... hello Frodo... I’m afraid everyone will advise you that Frodo will thrive & be better with a guinea piggy friend. And to consider bonding. But.. my late Pedro Was AWFUL to other piggies, really truely awful... but to me he was the most special piggy ever (RIP Pedro) but was an old gentleman.
Maybe he’s going through his teenager hormone phase?
Has he got hideys & loads hay/ things he can chew?
I’m sorry I’m no expert I’m afraid but he sounds like a lovely character xx :love:
 
I thought maybe he was going through his teenage stage myself. A friend I think would prob be an option once he's got over this stage in his life if he ever does and calms down a bit. He's got loads of toys, houses and tunnels. 1 day he was running through his tunnel full throttle in 1 end and out the other repeatedly. He was having a great time. I watched him for ages until he stopped for a breather. I later heard him doing the same thing 10 mins later from the other room. What a weirdo :lol: he's full of energy and has plenty of room to run and play and endless portions of hay to nibble on.
 
He sounds gorgeous! I love the cheeky boys, that's how I ended up with my male asbo pig! My Iggy is a little terror, a show off and a water bottle murderer but after being on his own for what must be 6 months he actually settled in well with my crew :)

If he's quite bolshy you could always have him neutered and after the 6 week waiting period introduce him to a lady friend :)

Places are naughty when they say "he/she must live alone forever because they don't get on with other pigs", often they just say that because they didn't manage to (or want to) bond him with another pig. Usually they may have only tried one or two piggies and if you don't understand them then the bonding will look rougher to us than it really is for them.

I'd say 99% of piggies would love a friend, sadly shops/some rescues say that 50% of their animals can't live with other pigs which is preposterous to me! To imagine my Iggy on his own, he was so upset and sad all the time. I didn't realise how inactive he was til his marriage to the 4 girl pigs! Now he barely sleeps! :))
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
He sounds gorgeous! I love the cheeky boys, that's how I ended up with my male asbo pig! My Iggy is a little terror, a show off and a water bottle murderer but after being on his own for what must be 6 months he actually settled in well with my crew :)

If he's quite bolshy you could always have him neutered and after the 6 week waiting period introduce him to a lady friend :)

Places are naughty when they say "he/she must live alone forever because they don't get on with other pigs", often they just say that because they didn't manage to (or want to) bond him with another pig. Usually they may have only tried one or two piggies and if you don't understand them then the bonding will look rougher to us than it really is for them.

I'd say 99% of piggies would love a friend, sadly shops/some rescues say that 50% of their animals can't live with other pigs which is preposterous to me! To imagine my Iggy on his own, he was so upset and sad all the time. I didn't realise how inactive he was til his marriage to the 4 girl pigs! Now he barely sleeps! :))
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I'm so sorry @Cavy Kung-Fu , I have this image of Iggy running around the cage all day and night with a hammer, doing all the DIY while his 4 wives nag him.
 
Claire5012 said:
I have a male Guinea pig that is very naughty! I've had him for 3 months and he is now 5 months old. I rescued him as he was a bully to the other pigs. I can tell he's been in a fight as he has a scar by his eye. He is a trouble maker for sure. He doesn't chew his toys much apart from 1 ball that he likes to throw around but would much rather devour my phone or iPad or clothing come to that. He lunges at me when I'm cleaning his cage out and then flicks his bedding all over the floor! I have to say I do find him very amusing and I was wondering if I encourage this behaviour by the fact I find him very funny. On the other hand he's a sweetheart. He loves tickles and he will lie on my chest when he has the option of going elsewhere. He will groom himself in my company and even while I'm stroking him so I know he's at ease with me. If my dogs come near he will give them a run for their money. They know who's boss! He's very affectionate and comical just very bolshy. Is this normal behaviour?
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Hi! You are dealing with a teenager. Please read the information about the teenage phases at the start of our fighting guide, so you know what to roughly expect.
Make use of our guinea pig whispering tips to ensure that you love your boy, but also assert your authority in no uncertain terms. Since he lacks the company of his own group, he has got only you to test his limits on.

Depending on the country, you can consider having your boy neutered so he can live with a sow in the longer and after a 6 weeks' post-op safety wait. More information on that at the end of the fall-out guide. Pet shops unfortunately don't tell their customers of this option when they condemn poor boys to a solitary life without the round the clock company of their of their own kind that they need, whether it is in the same (large) cage or in adjoining cage. :(

Boars: Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
 
Reenie said:
I'm so sorry @Cavy Kung-Fu , I have this image of Iggy running around the cage all day and night with a hammer, doing all the DIY while his 4 wives nag him.
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Ha! That's not far off the truth, they do nag him something rotten! :)) They also kick him out of bed and make him sleep on the sofa!
 
Claire5012 said:
He doesn't chew his toys much apart from 1 ball that he likes to throw around but would much rather devour my phone or iPad or clothing come to that. He lunges at me when I'm cleaning his cage out and then flicks his bedding all over the floor! I have to say I do find him very amusing and I was wondering if I encourage this behaviour by the fact I find him very funny
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Hey Claire!

So your pig is naughty because he doesn't chew his toys much, he throws one of his toys around, he chews your iPad or phone and flicks his bedding "all over the floor"?

Animals aren't humans - he doesn't know the difference between your phone/iPad or any other object. He also won't understand that he has "flicked his bedding all over the floor" - it's a human attribute that we want the floor clean not something a pig would understand. He's just behaving like a normal piggie, he can't be expected to think like a human and it's unfair on him to expect it. He's doing things that you obviously dont like but it's YOUR responsibility to ensure he can't get to your phone etc.

I hope you find a friend for him it's a shame that pet shops sell males alone and share the wrong information! He sounds like a lovely Guinea pig and I'm glad he amuses you :-) there's nothing your doing that negatively impacts or encourage his behavoiur he just sounds like a normal piggy to me! :-)
 
No he doesn't annoy me at all! I find him quite comical. I don't want anyone to think that anything he does gets on my nerves. Maybe I worded my post wrong. I don't mind that he flicks his bedding everywhere or nibbles on my things. I'd make sure they were out of the way if so. I was just wondering if his miacheiviousness was normal which I have been informed it is. I've never owned a pig before and every pig I've ever met just sits there quiet. I'm very glad that he is more active. He' so much fun :yahoo:
 
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