Post by bouncy on Oct 26, 2020 11:31:59 GMT
This (cute) little monster has decided he's not happy with his status.
Historically Sneaky and Snoozy, as pups, immediately paired off with Spud and Sausage respectively. For over two years, it's stayed this way, and all has been happy. I've never been able to discern the alpha of the group, but each pair have had their own personality. As a recap, Sausage and Spud are 4.5 yrs brothers, taken on as 12 week pups from Notts Nibbles. Sausage has his fanclub, the smallest, and the most laid back and cuddly. Spud is rather stand-off-ish, used to be very timid, but now is just Mr Independent (unless there's food involved). Sneaky and Snoozy are the only male pups from sarahc and her two litters, now 26 months. They met Sausage and Spud at five weeks, and it was love at first squeak. Sneaky isn't small, just very timid. Left alone by humans, he's fine. Snoozy has always been the most boisterous of the two, is inseparable from Sausage, and a bit of a porker.
Over the last couple of weeks, Snoozygoo has tried to climb the ranks. There's been the usual boxing and humping, but this has then suddenly evolved into a FBOD. There's been one with Spud, may have been the cause of Sausage's prolapse injury, and has now started on Sneaky. Sneakygoo has the goo equivalent of a black eye, but no blood has been drawn yet, despite three bouts that I have seen. I can separate them without issue, and a shout from me has the desired effect.
With Spidey, it was easy. He's just a bully, and some time-out in the carry cage watching the others was enough to settle him.
My biggest problem with Sneaky is that I haven't been able to hold him since he was eight weeks, he's just too anti-hooman. When I completed my build last year, and was transferring them to the new cage, I thought I'd lost him. In his fear, he had dug himself down a foot into the burrow! This has destroyed his confidence, though. He scatters at the sign of any movement, and immediately runs away if Snoozy comes near him, even just to groom him. Snoozy isn't bad (how could he be with such a cute face) and trying to move up the ranks is totally natural, so I don't want to punish, but Sneaky won't even come for a sunflower seed now unless he can do so unseen.
Ideas?
Historically Sneaky and Snoozy, as pups, immediately paired off with Spud and Sausage respectively. For over two years, it's stayed this way, and all has been happy. I've never been able to discern the alpha of the group, but each pair have had their own personality. As a recap, Sausage and Spud are 4.5 yrs brothers, taken on as 12 week pups from Notts Nibbles. Sausage has his fanclub, the smallest, and the most laid back and cuddly. Spud is rather stand-off-ish, used to be very timid, but now is just Mr Independent (unless there's food involved). Sneaky and Snoozy are the only male pups from sarahc and her two litters, now 26 months. They met Sausage and Spud at five weeks, and it was love at first squeak. Sneaky isn't small, just very timid. Left alone by humans, he's fine. Snoozy has always been the most boisterous of the two, is inseparable from Sausage, and a bit of a porker.
Over the last couple of weeks, Snoozygoo has tried to climb the ranks. There's been the usual boxing and humping, but this has then suddenly evolved into a FBOD. There's been one with Spud, may have been the cause of Sausage's prolapse injury, and has now started on Sneaky. Sneakygoo has the goo equivalent of a black eye, but no blood has been drawn yet, despite three bouts that I have seen. I can separate them without issue, and a shout from me has the desired effect.
With Spidey, it was easy. He's just a bully, and some time-out in the carry cage watching the others was enough to settle him.
My biggest problem with Sneaky is that I haven't been able to hold him since he was eight weeks, he's just too anti-hooman. When I completed my build last year, and was transferring them to the new cage, I thought I'd lost him. In his fear, he had dug himself down a foot into the burrow! This has destroyed his confidence, though. He scatters at the sign of any movement, and immediately runs away if Snoozy comes near him, even just to groom him. Snoozy isn't bad (how could he be with such a cute face) and trying to move up the ranks is totally natural, so I don't want to punish, but Sneaky won't even come for a sunflower seed now unless he can do so unseen.
Ideas?
