What is this behavior?

Piggie Mom

Piggie Mom

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi!
I've been bonding my 11 month old male to a new male who just turned 1 this month, they bonded semi well the first time, there were still some discussions about the hierarchy, but as they had only been together for a week that's to be expected. Today I put them outside in an outside cage while I was cleaning and the more dominant somehow managed to corner the other one even tho I had done my best to prevent that. They got into a fight which I immediately stopped, but their bond was so shaky afterwards that I made a new introductions cage. The one who was previously submissive is now acting much more dominant and has even got the dominant one to back off a few times. When the dominant one has backed off he's sat in a corner seeming kind of like he's doing biscuits (like cats) and been purring a bit quietly and shaken his butt but the other piggy hasn't been close by so what does that behavior mean? I couldn't figure out if you can like videos so if anyone has tips for how to do that I have tried to record it. Sorry for the long text I didn't know what could be relevant
 
Piggie Mom said:
Hi!
I've been bonding my 11 month old male to a new male who just turned 1 this month, they bonded semi well the first time, there were still some discussions about the hierarchy, but as they had only been together for a week that's to be expected. Today I put them outside in an outside cage while I was cleaning and the more dominant somehow managed to corner the other one even tho I had done my best to prevent that. They got into a fight which I immediately stopped, but their bond was so shaky afterwards that I made a new introductions cage. The one who was previously submissive is now acting much more dominant and has even got the dominant one to back off a few times. When the dominant one has backed off he's sat in a corner seeming kind of like he's doing biscuits (like cats) and been purring a bit quietly and shaken his butt but the other piggy hasn't been close by so what does that behavior mean? I couldn't figure out if you can like videos so if anyone has tips for how to do that I have tried to record it. Sorry for the long text I didn't know what could be relevant
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Hi and welcome

I am very sorry about the bust up.

He has been rumblestrutting, but quietly and not for dominance; just to express his own feelings that he still regards himself as a proper boy and that he is not quite happy with how things have turned up. But he is at this stage obviously not willing to chance another dominance face-off.
Guinea Pig Behaviours in their Context
A - Z of Guinea Pig Behaviours
 
Piggie Mom said:
Thank you

Thank you! I've never before seen this type of behavior in any of my introductions so I was already worried that he had hit his head or something when the other one did a lunge to get him to back off 🙈
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A lunge is essentially defensive and not aggressive behaviour, means a very strongly worded 'stay out of my space'. As long as your older boar is not pushing it and giving your other boy the space he needs, then the bond is not dysfunctional.

You can find out more about dominance and fear-aggressive behaviours in the links in my first post. You may find them actually very interesting.
 
Wiebke said:
A lunge is essentially defensive and not aggressive behaviour, means a very strongly worded 'stay out of my space'. As long as your older boar is not pushing it and giving your other boy the space he needs, then the bond is not dysfunctional.

You can find out more about dominance and fear-aggressive behaviours in the links in my first post. You may find them actually very interesting.
Wiebke said:
A lunge is essentially defensive and not aggressive behaviour, means a very strongly worded 'stay out of my space'. As long as your older boar is not pushing it and giving your other boy the space he needs, then the bond is not dysfunctional.

You can find out more about dominance and fear-aggressive behaviours in the links in my first post. You may find them actually very interesting.
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I did read through the fear aggressive behaviors as Söpö is quite unsure of himself still and does exhibit some of those behaviors so that was very educational, thank you! He's not completely backed off yet, still slightly trying to see whether he could get to be the boss again so I'm thinking of keeping them in the large introduction cage still at least for the whole of Sunday, just to make sure they both feel they have enough space.
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Good idea. I hope that it helps you to read the situation better.

Make sure that you don't have any dead corners in the cage itself.
 
Wiebke said:
Good idea. I hope that it helps you to read the situation better.

Make sure that you don't have any dead corners in the cage itself.
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Yes it's been much easier to follow their "struggle" for dominance. There's been no cornering anyone and it's luckily been much calmer even if I there's still some rumble strutting. Now they're mostly ignoring each other, how long do would you suggest I wait before putting them back in their usual cage?
 
Piggie Mom said:
Yes it's been much easier to follow their "struggle" for dominance. There's been no cornering anyone and it's luckily been much calmer even if I there's still some rumble strutting. Now they're mostly ignoring each other, how long do would you suggest I wait before putting them back in their usual cage?
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I would give them all day or even another night to allow tempers to settle down.
 
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