Dominance Was this the right thing to do? Dominant baby?

I can't answer for a fact, but Carl establishing dominance over domino just might be because of their personalities, or domino thinks this is normal because he's never had a friend before. To make sure there's no more complications, make sure your cage is big enough for both boys to go to opposite end of the cage and take a break for a while if they're annoyed by each other. Also, to prevent any other issues, make sure there's two of everything. Sorry for not giving a straight answer, but I did as best as I could.


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Lauren0625 said:

I can't answer for a fact, but Carl establishing dominance over domino just might be because of their personalities, or domino thinks this is normal because he's never had a friend before. To make sure there's no more complications, make sure your cage is big enough for both boys to go to opposite end of the cage and take a break for a while if they're annoyed by each other. Also, to prevent any other issues, make sure there's two of everything. Sorry for not giving a straight answer, but I did as best as I could.


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thanks for answering, I have two of everything except water bottles and they seem to be getting along pretty well. I'm going to bed now hopefully I can sleep!

Also, I just read that you shouldn't pair a feisty younger pig with a more laid back older pig. I think that is exactly what i did. But I really didn't know Carl's personality when I got him. It seems they have the dominance worked out though, they are still chirping and Carl's butt sniffing but overall no blood or fighting!

Honestly whether or not a young dominant boar will work with an older boar depends on if the two of them can come to an agreement or not. Often the issue with a dominant younger boar happens when the older boar won't submit to them because they are so much smaller than them, particularly if the young boar challenges them to a chin raising contest and then the young boar loses, whoever wins the chin contest is supposed to get to be boss in guinea pig world. Even the most laid back boar might not be happy to be submissive to someone half their size. If Domino is happy to be submissive and let Carl be the boss then that is good.

Do remember that just because a guinea pig seems laid back to us doesn't mean that they are submissive or happy to be submissive. It sounds like all is well between your two boys for now so all you can do is wait and see if Domino eventually gets fed up with the young one being boss, or if Domino is happy to remain submissive in the long term.