Playdates/bonding trials

[Scooter Pie]

Does anyone do trial meetings for new pigs? I'm wondering the best way to go about this. There's a single female at my shelter. So sad, her friend was killed by the family's dog.

I'm afraid one of my girls may be alone soon. See my thread below. I'm thinking she could have a stone. UTI/IC pain not letting up

Anyway, what I wonder is if brining one of my girls to the shelter to meet a potential friend, would their behavior be accutate? Meaning, would the stress of traveling and being in an unfamillair environment allow them to show their true feelings?

 

[Wiebke]

Does anyone do trial meetings for new pigs? I'm wondering the best way to go about this. There's a single female at my shelter. So sad, her friend was killed by the family's dog.

I'm afraid one of my girls may be alone soon. See my thread below. I'm thinking she could have a stone. UTI/IC pain not letting up

Anyway, what I wonder is if brining one of my girls to the shelter to meet a potential friend, would their behavior be accutate? Meaning, would the stress of traveling and being in an unfamillair environment allow them to show their true feelings?

Hi!

All you can do is give it a try of your shelter allows dating. Your other option is to adopt with a plan B (next door neighbourship with interaction and stimulation through the bars if the bonding doesn't come off).

Please be aware that not all US shelters do quarantine and provide medical treatment (the majority don't) so you need to weigh up the risks/benefits between quarantine and having to treat both piggies for any problems.

You may find the information in these guides here helpful for asking the right questions and making as informed a decision as you can under the circumstances:
- Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs
(Contains chapters on the difference between rescues and shelters and on what happens during rescue dating)
- New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights (includes a chapter on quarantining aspects)
- Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics (Guinea pigs don't do play dates. Every meeting is for them a full-on bonding session.)

I hope that this information helps you to work out what is the best way forward for you.

 

[Scooter Pie]

We do have 2 separate pairs due to failing at attempting to form a trio, and then finding the 3rd pig her own partner So we would go into it knowing that it could mean 6 pigs in 3 pairs.

You’re right, they don’t do a quarantine here. All we do know is that these two originally came from our shelter, and the surviving pig has been brought back. Probably by the time we decide to go visit, she would have been there for two weeks anyway, which would effectively be like a quarantine period