Bitey boar

[KinkyDorito]

Some of you may remember me coming on, debating whether to give Tony a home earlier in the year. He was labelled as 'antisocial' by PAH, and put in the adoption tank.

Well, we got him and he's proper feisty little fella. The problem is, he bites. A lot. He doesn't draw blood, but he leaves an impressive mark. This has made the kids a bit nervous of handling him.

I was considering getting him a friend, but I'm now very worried about trying this. He's an indoor pig and I don't want to end up with two massive cages in my living room because he won't accept a friend in with him. We could get him neutered, but I will admit to being a bit nervous about putting such a little creature through an op like that.

Any advice will be very appreciated.

Is there anything that spurs him on to bite?
Like if your hands smell of food?
Or a certain way he's lifted?

(I've just had a quickie look through your old Tony threads - he was an anti social but ok with people pig that you got in May)

My DD GP1 is 3 now and I've noticed in the last 3-4 months he's changed personality wise (not bad exactly , but his cagemate died, he got a new piglet who is now bigger than him and keeps trying to jump on his bones . We were away for a week (they were in boarding ) and we had a really hot summer).

He's gone a bit 'bitey' usually clothes but he'll sometimes catch skin as well.
Like your Guinea_pig it doesn't draw blood but you can feel they have sharp teeth.

Our new boar doesn't like being picked up under his armpits and flies into a screamy rage if DD lifts him 'wrong' (though GP1 loves being lifted like that and kissed.

Tony has been on his own all this time ?
It's a difficult call. He might love a female (and if you find a vet you can trust then neutering is an option) or he might be a nightmare.
He might love a little boar. But when little boar grows up, you might find they battle for supremacy.

Personally, I don't mind a bitey pig if I know why they bite.
I am very wary putting GP1 at my neck. But GP1 would no sooner bite DD than eat his own spleen.

You could try saying "No, naughty" and firmly put him in a washing basket or somewhere not interesting (like not back in his cage where the food and toys are) then he might twig that him being unpleasant to you means boredom for him?
So he's not "I don't want cuddled right now. I'll bite and get my own way"
It's bite and get put in an empty box (only for 5 minutes or so)

GP1 is getting a bit middle aged now so I accept that he's getting a bit grumpy. He's still 99% his usual self,

(I used to put my DS in a washing basket if he was a bitey toddler. Worked for him)

Thanks for the ideas 70. I think he is just a very dominant little pig. He always headbutts us and then bites. I don't think it's how he's held - I genuinely think he's showing us who is boss! We've had him on the carpet and he runs up to DH, gives him a nip, runs and hides, then does it again. He seems to be very entertained by it! I've never known a pig like it.

He chunters and neeps at us for food, so seems happy enough. He also goes for the cats and is not in the slightest bit bothered by them. I'm more worried he'll bite one of them and we'll end up at the vets.

I am very nervous about trying him with another pig. I do think he will go for them. This makes me sad as I wanted him to have a friend, but the last thing I want to end up with is two separate piggies. I suspect this is what would happen.

I remember you getting Tony Kinky, sorry he hasnt settled down so well. It might be worth having a read on the other thread about boars and whether to keep them on their own or not, there was a good link for advice on it.

I had a rather bitey girl, my traumatised rescue, the one who had been living in a cage full of fag ends and broken glass. I think I would have been bitey too after that! It might be worth trying a cuddle cloth when you pick him up, swaddle him tight, and when you put him on your lap offer him some lovely tempting food. He will learn to associate the cuddles/food as a good thing. Our first rescue pair were terribly jumpy and bitey to begin with as they had been handled ONLY by small children who poked the, dropped them etc, and they were terrified at being picked up. I guess the biting is a symptom of his past treatment. Always have something in your hand to offer him when you pick him up so he has something yummy to stick his teeth into and not you!

My little boy just snapped at me (not a bite but a warning) when I touched his left side.
I've held him in a half nelson popped him on the table to examine him, but I can't see anything amiss. I think he just doesn't like it.

He licked my arm after "The old bag thinks I'm being all kissy nice-nice but I've just eaten pooh . Heh Heh"

Sometimes it's just them.
After all prey animals are always on the defensive. It's how they survive sadly.

I have one very bitey boar. It's not malicious though he just thinks he can try and eat everything (weirdly he is the one who only eats green veg). He will happily attempt to chew zips, collars, belts, fingers etc and he loves a good button . I don't think there's a lot you can do - just be careful handling him but do keep handling him. Our boy is a bit better now and less likely to try and eat us but he's still bitey.

Fernie that sounds lots like Tony - he also only eats green veg and the odd bit of carrot or pepper, nothing else. I've tried him with lots of stuff and he's not interested. I suspect he has a taste for flesh .

Out of 8 boars I've had, 3 of them have been biters (including the two I have now - my reflexes have just got better!)

My second boar seemed to just enjoy gnawing on my wrist or hand for fun. It wasn't in response to fear or anger or anything. He'd just chomp for no particular reason. His nickname was Beelzebub. I just sort of got used to it as everything I tried (saying "no" firmly, rubbing a lemon on my hand and wrist to "taste bad", blowing in his face, etc.) was fruitless.

Current DBoar 1 mostly bites in response to having a haircut (could you imagine if I did something like that at the hairdressers, honestly!) or nails clipped, so I just try and do both quickly! He is also a "kisser" who sometimes crosses that boundary between licking and biting. I just say "no" but he just looks up at me with that fluffy gormless face with a sort of, "Whu?" kind of stare, so it makes no difference.

Current DBoar 2 is a bit more sneaky and unpredictable in his biting, but again, it tends to be mostly a response to being expected to do something he doesn't want to do.

In short, I think I've just learned to live with it because I've given up trying to stop it. Does this make me a bad pigmum?

No you're a realistic pig mum. I currently have both boys on my knee and Scruffy has just tried to bite Smooths ear right in front of me

They can't really run, jump, kick, lunge with any great conviction.

I'm surprised that guinea-pigs are so gentle really.

Especially DD very resigned GP1 who still cries at being put in a Build-A-Bear skating dress. (But not the skates)

You have to excuse the odd bitey moment I reckon.