Who is dominant?

Sophie B

Sophie B

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I can’t tell which one of my guinea pigs is dominant, this question may be impossible to answer so if it is I don’t mind. 😂
They do equal parts pushing each other around they both rumble strut and teeth chatter.
Is it possible there is no dominant pig?
 
Sophie Blane said:
I can’t tell which one of my guinea pigs is dominant, this question may be impossible to answer so if it is I don’t mind. 😂
They do equal parts pushing each other around they both rumble strut and teeth chatter.
Is it possible there is no dominant pig?
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Your piggies sound like they are pretty evenly matched. Are they boys and what age are they?
 
They’re boys and Smokey is 5 months Bacon is 6 months
 
They do seem to be very close, I have only had three guinea pigs, Smokey and Bacon being the two I have now so I am definetly not an expert so maybe I'm just oblivious to it.
 
Sophie Blane said:
They do seem to be very close, I have only had three guinea pigs, Smokey and Bacon being the two I have now so I am definetly not an expert so maybe I'm just oblivious to it.
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They are currently at the stage where the testosterone output is at an all time high.

If it gets really dodgy, a divider in the cage for a day or two followed playtime re-intro in their run or neutral ground (they should just go back together as if nothing has happened once the hormone spike has settled) should see them through the roughest bits in the coming ca. 4-5 months. But you are nowhere near any major alarm range, even though this is one of the trickiest periods. ;)
Just make sure that you take out any hideys with just one exit, but rub down any new furnishings with some soiled bedding before putting them in the cage.
 
Ok thank you. I have noticed them getting a bit more angry at each other.
 
Sophie Blane said:
Ok thank you. I have noticed them getting a bit more angry at each other.
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Please take the time to read the teenage guide; it also contains a list of Dos and Don'ts for avoiding potential trigger points, too, to help you get your boys through the difficult time without any permanent split if possible. ;)
 
I think this is my first ever thread, which I am revisiting as I am in the same dilemma, I still can’t work it out!
The situation is still basically the same, except they’re both one now
There are days I think, oh it’s Bacon, and others where I think it’s Smokey!
They get along really well 99% of the time, they have off days where they’re extra rumbly, but the vast majority of the time they are really close
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To elaborate-
They are both bossy, Bacon is chief rumbler, Smokey is a trouble maker (stealing food etc...)
They do have off days where they’ll get grumpy but when that happens they just sulk off away from each other
They’re quite a harmonious pair, and enjoy each other’s company

Is it possible that there just is no boss? Or am I just oblivious and there will be one...
 
Sophie B said:
To elaborate-
They are both bossy, Bacon is chief rumbler, Smokey is a trouble maker (stealing food etc...)
They do have off days where they’ll get grumpy but when that happens they just sulk off away from each other
They’re quite a harmonious pair, and enjoy each other’s company

Is it possible that there just is no boss? Or am I just oblivious and there will be one...
Click to expand...

There will be one, but in some pairs or groups dominance is not really an issue if both are on the laid-back side like yours!

Feel blessed! :tu:
 
Our herd dynamics shift slightly with the ladies seasons and moods, a few weeks ago I was worried Blodwen pig was getting a rough deal and having her dinner stolen and hiding away a lot- tonight I witnessed lovely Blod right out in the open stealing veg from every other pigs food dish and nose challenging boss pig Clover back into a hidey house so she could take her food!
I agree that if both piggies are mostly ok with what the situation is on any particular day you are lucky, I am lucky too that my lot are fairly tolerant of each other if somepig is feeling a bit sassy one day, and usually it swings the other way in a few days with no hard feelings, just a few nose shoves and a bit of pee spraying but nothing to worry about!
 
I have never worked out who is boss between Bill and Ted, they are now 4.5 years old and I have no idea? They get on very well 99% of the time like Smokey and Bacon and have the very occasional fall out, usually when they have been placed in new surroundings. They do rumble at each other and occasionally teeth chatter, an odd chase/hump but that’s been it
 
I struggle to tell with my boys too, but since Oggie is the chief rumbler I’ve tended to side with him as the boss, which was confirmed yesterday when he humped Finn’s head as Finn was eating (Finn continued eating, he didn’t even bat an eyelid) so now I’m thinking definitely Oggie. Finn doesn’t seem bothered one way or the other! 😂
 
Sophie B said:
I can’t tell which one of my guinea pigs is dominant, this question may be impossible to answer so if it is I don’t mind. 😂
They do equal parts pushing each other around they both rumble strut and teeth chatter.
Is it possible there is no dominant pig?
Click to expand...
Mine are like this now, they both rumble at each other, both hog places in the cage, both lunge at one another from time to time ( no open mouths, just like a big nose push). I would say mine ar evenly matched, now Bernie is older, he has found his back bone. Bernie doesn't try and hump Dot anymore, they are more like a brother and sister
 
Another funny thing now, is Bernie when he sleeps. He makes a wall out of cage furniture, and lays curled up behind it, I have no idea why, but he does it every night without fail. I'm guessing it means Dot leave me be
 
Whenever they try to hump each other (which they both do) they just kick each other off, they’ve never been able to actually do it you know, successfully? How do I word that without sounding creepy 😂
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Another funny thing now, is Bernie when he sleeps. He makes a wall out of cage furniture, and lays curled up behind it, I have no idea why, but he does it every night without fail. I'm guessing it means Dot leave me be
Click to expand...
My boys just sleep wherever, and they know not to bother each other (unless they’re feeling brave!), or they’ll be in trouble! 😂
 
Sophie B said:
Whenever they try to hump each other (which they both do) they just kick each other off, they’ve never been able to actually do it you know, successfully? How do I word that without sounding creepy 😂
Click to expand...
Havnt ever completed their goal, maybe 🤔🙊
 
My pair have no obvious dominant one. They have very different personalities, but they hump each other fairly equally, but very rarely. They are quite old I guess,as they had big thick curly nails when I got them about 2 years ago.
My trio, on the other hand have a very clear pecking order.
With 5 boars, to answer another question, I have never seen any boar glue.
 
Comet and Blitzen had no real dominance forerunner either. Comet was probably the leader but they were so laid back (with each other) that it didn't really matter.

@Reenie I never saw boar glue with those two either. Mind you considering they'd only manage to hump each other for half a second before falling off and running in circles in giddy glee, maybe I shouldn't be surprised.
 
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