Who's my boss pig?!

[Tbag]

This isn't really a matter of urgency or anything, I'm just very curious to hear other peoples opinions on my boys! They've been together all their lives and get along (other than the usual boarly squabble here and there), though they're not super cuddly with each other or anything like some piggies are. Though, to me, they both seem to show signs of being boss pig and I can't figure it out for the life of me!

Tango is the larger fellow, whenever there is rumble strutting or the odd occasion of mounting its usually instigated by him, and hes always the pig that ends up physically on top (haha)! However, he can't seem to function if Cash gets taken away from him for a while and seems to get quite stressy about it - for instance last weekend I got Cash out for a cuddle on the sofa (same room but out of Tango's sight line) and he starts wheeking his head off and dashing round the cage. Same thing happens when they have floor time if you pick Cash up for a cuddle.

On the other side of things Cash shows more 'civil' signs of dominance like eye cleaning/grooming and generally ends up getting his way more than Tango does. He's also totally unphased if Tango disappears for a bit and he's by far the bolder and braver of the two - always off exploring whereas Tango is a real scardey pig!

I know there are a lot of people on here with experience in bonding etc so just thought I'd see what anyone else has to say.

 

[Goth Mummy]

I dont know but my trio of boars are like that! They do sound well matched though. Piggy personalities are lovely

 

[AbiS]

Same here - I haven't a clue whether it's Toby or Barney who is the dominant one. Am just pleased that they get on with each other so well even though they are 9.5 months old and all a bit hormonal!

 

[MerryPip]

It change dependant on situation too....

My Suilven always was ( and likes to be I think) the 'bottom' pig and has had 3 dominant cage mates in succession. The most recent addition to his cage is actually not at all dominant and I think Suilvy is now Top pig and isn't sure he really likes it! He does get told to get lost when Struan has had enough but generally he's in charge for the first time in his life.

My other pair are very complex. There is little to no noticeable dominance behaviour between them. Hamish is a lethal gene piggy and as such I think is no threat to hi brother Angus' claim on things but I'm not sure that's all of the story... They rumble but together, side by side, not at each other. There is little to no mounting and generally they seem to function like two halves of the same being! I dread to think what's going to happen when they get older and one passes away as they've never been apart and don't seem to function apart either!

Boars are complicated things and dominance changes hands frequently as far as I can tell depending on the situation, day of the week or one of a hundred other factors! I am pretty sure the mutual grooming in our house proves the pigs think they are dominant to me and my OH too!

 

[Tbag]

Ooh interesting! Thanks for your input. From what I've read I always thought one pig was established as boss during the terrible teens with all those hormones flying around and then it stayed that way from then on. Clearly not the case!

Aww Hamish and Angus sound so adorable, heres hoping they have many more happy years together!

 

[theoretikos]

My boars are exactly the same. One day one will be more dominant than the other. I keep telling them that they are equally matched and to just give up