BACKGROUND: I had tried to bond Baby #1 to Gracie for over 3 months. See my post in Bonding Section called Bonding 2 females. Since that never worked, I am now trying to bond Baby to Dino (who I am fostering currently). Baby is about 3, is female, is spayed and is very sweet to humans- she is a dwarf Lillac rabbit and is a beautifu silver gray. Dino is dwarf, lop and that’s about all I know. He is just precious.
On the north side of Chicago is the Red Door Shelter, where they will date your bunny for you. Baby went twice. Last Sat was her 2nd round of dates and we brought Dino home to try.
THIER SPACE -they are in a bedroom with a divider down the middle with it separating the room in half. I have carpet pcs and throw rugs on the floor. They each have a cage and the divider is a child’s wooden playpen that was dismantled and then we wired the sides together into on long divider. The divder is securely held in place at both ends with file cabinents and cinderblocks (we had several breeches in security with Baby & Gracie and have learned from our mistakes) We put plastic chicken wire in between the rungs to that the bunnies can’t get their heads threw. I know Baby can jump the divider if she chooses. So in we take every precaution and only them both free on their own sides when we are home or asleep. When we are gone, one is locked in their cage and take turns as to who gets locked in.
ON DATE at shelter – they were in the pen together twice. Dino mounted Baby and she was okay with it. This had happened on our first visit with Dino too. They seemed to be okay with each other which is why we brought little Dino home.
INTRODUCTION at home in same room – He pee-ed a little on the carpet and was fascinated that he could go in and out of his cage without being locked in. He pooped everywhere and ate a ton of food.
He binky -ed twice. They settled down and were quiet all night in one room with the makeshift playpen gate between their two areas.
Sunday morning we woke up to a sea of poop on Dino’s side. Wow can he poop. But it cleans up easy so no biggie.
When we went to church, they took turns being locked in the cage while the other was loose and then switched later who was locked in while we were out.
When we got home and they were both loose in the room – when he would see Baby hopping around he’d go over to the gate and sometimes they would sit near each other with the gate between them
This seemed to happen more when we weren’t around. We’d walk by and there they would be near each other.
They both did a bunny flop — rolled from side to back to side and let their eyes roll up in their heads -this happened within 15 minutes of each other.
We didn’t bond since the dates at the shelter were enough. Dino loves his new home. He was checking things out and he is eating like a little tiny horse. They are both pooping and peeing everywhere on their side -but that is to be expected.
BONDING AREA -is my foyer which is neutral territory – tried to bond Baby and Gracie here but we all know how that didn’t turn out. So area is about 4 feet by 7 feet.. Rugs, towels on floor. 2 poop dishes, one box with hay.
BONDING DAY 1 -Dino was all anxious – and checking things out. He went to up Baby and she gave him a light nip. He ran away.
Then every time he came near she gave him a light nip – no fur out. Then they went nose to nose twice both shoving their noses in front of the other to be groomed but no grooming. We told Baby no bite and she knows what that means and still she was naughty. Then Dino went and layed down against the wall and she hopped over by me and just stared at him like why aren’t you chasing me? They were about a foot apart and I was right there. We ended the session then with treats – it went about 15 minutes. He did not chase her, he did not even attempt to mount her. He was perfect – and sweet. I can’t help but remember that this is how Gracie and Baby were and now I’m afraid she is doing to Dino what Gracie did to her. Gosh I hope not.
We tried to put them next to each other to do forced petting but neither one would stand for it.
OTHER DETAILS – I’m intentionally leaving all of their poop in place in the entire room until I switch their sides at lunch today and then I’m gonna leave Baby run loose in Dino’s poop all afternoon while we are at work. Yes every day I plan to switch them to the others side.
BONDING Day 2 – Dino did a binky and a bunny flop. Think he likes it here. He is sure sweet enough. When taken into the foyer Dino was really excited, not Baby -she was like “i’ve been here before and done this before”. Dino calmed down and the pooping started.Everywhere. okay. We put them next to each other, did forced, rapid petting and Dino totally relaxed. Baby not so much. Went about 15 minutes – no real intercounters. Dino a gentleman – no chasing, no mounting, no nippin – just perfect. Gave treats and ended – always have to end on a positive note.
BONDING Day 3 -They did some running around – approaching and then going the other way. Dino seems to be the one to approach Baby and then she is on the defensive. Baby showing more aggression but then she kissed his face. Then his ear. And she was all happy licking, licking, licking. And Dino was happy. And we were happy until, it happend. Baby gave Dino a little nip! Dino didn’t even flinch. He is so calm – sweet little guy. We told Baby “no bite” and she does know what this means. Then Dino approaches, Baby kisses again then nip. No response from Dino. So we put them together, forced rapid petting – and then treats. Session went about 25 minutes.
DAY 4 – So some times they are sitting near each other with the gate in-between – I’d say like a foot apart maybe 15-16 inches. Good while in their room.
Bonding went 25 minutes. I noticed before and then again last night that Dino is very possessive of food and treats. Baby found a treat from the night before and was eating it. When she dropped it out of her mouth, Dino ran over and tried to grab it. She didn’t know what he was doing and was dumbfounded but I have been watching him for his behavior so I gave him his own treat and he was fine.
So Baby did some threatening lunges but no bite contact when he ran past her. He was wound up and was running all over and chinning everything. But then we calmed them both down and I sorta held Baby down near me and did some rapid petting. Well Dino saw this and came hopping over and flopped down right near Baby. So I petted both of them. We then moved Baby right next to him and continued to pet them both and I think Dino was about to fall asleep. This went on for 10 minutes. Then Dino got up and of course Baby gave a threatening lunge without contact. They then came back over and we petted for another 6 minutes and Baby was kissing and licking his face and then gave a little nip — I think it meant “hey my turn to be kissed now” but Dino didn’t get it. He just sorta jumped a bit and looked like “hey what the heck”. We ended then with treats.
They are both still pooping and pee-ing all over the place. We switch them into each others pens daily. I leave the poop all over till I can’t stand it anymore and then clean it all up. I am guess I’m doing this 2 times per day. I gave them clean poop dishes today.Gosh they are sure cute together.
DAY 5 –
Bonding went so – so. They both were wound up and Baby was lunging and nippin. We put jelly on her forehead, back, side and poor Dino caught the scent but couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. So he never kissed. He just wants to be next to her –he follows her and then just sits or lays next to her. Sometime she stays and some times she hops away. Baby did kiss him again and then a little nip to get a turn but Dino is still having no part of it. Once again he was a perfect gentlemen. I told my husband this morning that the only way Dino could be sweeter is if he pooped out sugar cookies…he is so sweet and adorable. I just love him. I bought a spray bottle that I may fill with water to try and get Baby to stop nipping. Session about 25 minutes.
DAY 6 –
Bonding was very strange today. As usual Baby was lunging and trying to nip about 4-5 times. They had settled down and snuggled and Baby kissed Dino but no kisses from him for her. Then Baby gave a lunging attempted nip and Dino just jumped up and nipped her back. I don’t think he made contact but his mouth touched her tho. Then it turned into a jumping, tousling, boxing match where we had to separate them with a dustpan. We were all a little in shock. Poor little Dino had had enough I guess. Then something spooked Dino – ears up, eyes wide open and thumping his back legs. Then Baby started. The two of them were scared and ran around, came together looking around on high alert. Brad and I could not figure out for the life of us what caused this. But we did see them really kinda take comfort in having the other there. They were right next to each other on alert, bodies touching and not nipping. Somehow we just have to get them to realize it’s okay to be together and not nip. Perhaps we will bring out the spray bottle of water for Baby. She might stop nipping long enough for us to bond. But if we continue to spray her night after night it won’t be affective any more.
Baby seems to be getting nervous before bonding sessions now. I can see her behavior change right before we take them down. Dino is good until he realizes he is gonna be picked up and then the chase ensues. He is not eating as much any more as he was. But he is eating way more than the girls. He is getting to know his name. He sorta knows food, poop dish, treat and he surely knows good boy and Baby. They are both pooping and pee-ing everywhere on their side and I leave it as long as I can take it before cleaning it all up (twice a day I clean it up).
DAY 7 – When we uncage the one that had been caged, they usually run over to the divider to see the other one. Baby is more standoffish then Dino . He lays up against that divider all the time – again he just wants to be by Baby. I take the shelf out of their cages unless they are caged. Otherwise Baby will just hang out in her cage when she should be interacting with Dino.
Bonding today was okay. Baby nipped and got sprayed with the water bottle. By the end of the session she was finally get the fact “oh if I nip, I get sprayed”. They had on encounter and tousled a bit but nothing too brutal. Baby kissed again but nothing from Dino still.
Intersesting thing about Dino was that about 2 weeks ago he was being fostered and he kept kissing the girl but when he stopped the girl would attack him in a very furious manner. So he was brought back to the shelter very quickly for his own protection. Now I think Baby has pulled out a small patch of his fur only once and it was a very small patch and he is sheding too which could have been part of it.
Baby seems to be untrusting of him, not sitting by him or laying near him like she was before….hmmmmmm not a good sign here.
Feel free to post any comments. Will contiune to post as long as this goes on ….
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