What Is Rumblestrutting? Piggy Flirting… or Turf War?

If you’ve ever seen your guinea pig slow-walking like they just dropped a diss track, you’ve witnessed the legendary rumblestrut—a bold display of dominance, drama, and maybe even flirtation.

In this blog post, we’ll break down what rumblestrutting looks like, what it means, and when it’s a normal part of guinea pig life… and when it might be time to intervene.

What Is a Rumblestrut?

Rumblestrutting is a unique guinea pig behavior where your piggy:

• Walks slowly with exaggerated side-to-side hip swaying

• Makes a low, vibrating “brrrrrr” sound

• Looks very serious about whatever they’re doing

It’s like a runway walk… if the runway was made of fleece and the audience was another guinea pig eating hay.

Why Do Guinea Pigs Do It?

Dominance: It’s piggy language for “I’m the boss around here.”

Guinea pigs use rumblestrutting to establish social order. This is especially common during introductions, changes in environment, or shifts in group dynamics.

But here’s the twist…

Flirting: Sometimes, it’s not a turf war—it’s piggy flirting!

A pig might rumblestrut to show off for a potential mate.

Context is everything.

When Is It a Problem?

Most of the time, rumblestrutting is harmless and normal.

Totally Normal:

• Rumblestrutting

• Nose-offs

• A little chasing

Concerning:

• Biting

• Lunging

• Drawn blood

If things escalate, it’s time to separate and reassess.

What should you do?

If you’ve got piggy drama unfolding, here’s how to set the stage for peace:

✔️ Two of everything: Hideys, food bowls, water bottles.

✔️ Neutral play space: For introductions or disputes.

✔️ Room to escape: Let them have space to strut and retreat.

Don’t interrupt too quickly—most piggy hierarchies sort themselves out. But do monitor closely for signs of aggression.

Final Thought

Guinea pigs are complex, expressive little creatures. The rumblestrut is just one of the many ways they speak their minds—and their hearts.

So next time your piggy starts swaying and purring with attitude, smile.

You’re witnessing drama with style