after almost a year living next to each other, i've finally decided to "man up" and start introducing the boys.  i've noticed recently that there has been a lot of through the bar grooming and side-by-side napping going on.  so today, i decided to give it a shot.

i put them in the tub with a big pile of greens.

puppet, the one i was expecting problems with (he's pushy with the cat) was totally chill and willing to make friends.  he pretty much ignored rue, and happily nommed down.  when i petted him, he loafed out and closed his eyes like all was right in the world.  he occassionally would give rue a lick or two on his nose.  he was honestly acting like they were old friends.  

 

rue.... was obviously nervous.  he showed no interest at all in the food, and was tense and alert.  he let me pet him, but never relaxed.  he never acknowledged puppet, but allowed himself to be groomed.  

 

at one point, they both jumped out of the tub.  puppet went to go his own way, but rue started hopping after him.  rue was definitely the instigator when they started circling each other, nose to butt, faster and faster.  at that point, i got them separated and back in their own pens.  

 

i'll be honest- the circling kinda freaked me out.  i just knew it was going to escalate into a fight.  it seemed to go fairly well, though, especially when they where in the tub together.  is there anything i can/should do to help rue relax, though?

Time and more sessions will help him relax Keep it up if they did great in the tub

I'd ask other people, but maybe making the tub a happy place for Rue? Like whatever his favorite thing is - he only gets when he is in the tub for the next week and without Puppet. Like, if he really like his carrots or you do the papaya stuff, then you can take him in the tub and give him his happy stuff and that way when you put him in there again with Puppet you can hope he'll only want his special treat so much it might help him relax.
I've only had 1 bunny for a month on tuesday but this sounds like it would make sense.

I wouldn't put Rue int eh tub without Puppet. You don't want Rue to think its his territory, it has to stay neural.

Indeed. Tub is used because neither bunny frequents it. Treats can be a good idea or a bad idea, it depends on the rabbits, since sometimes the dominant one might get nippy with the other over a favorite food. I found the best way to relax my buns when I was bonding them was to pet them both at the same time.

Oh - got it. Sorry.

yeah, the tub is the only place in the house that puppet doesn't consider his. he's much more outgoing that rue, and considers the whole house to be his. i didn't even think food might cause a problem- they share greens and hay through their pen bars all the time. we'll give it another go tomorrow!

we're going out of town for about 10 days at the end of april. i would *like* for the boys to be living together by then, to make it easier for the pet sitter, and so they'll have company while we're gone, but even if they're doing really well together, i don't know if i'll be comfortable leaving them together when i'm not around to supervise.

today's bunny play date went well. puppet went to town on the salad and acted like it was no big thing. rue was still too nervous to eat. he hopped around some, though, and eventually felt comfortable to wash his face. they both wanted grooming, neither wanted to groom. petting them both at the same time seemed to keep them happy, though.

there's a couple pics. please ignore the disaster of the tub- it was still damp from my shower, and puppet is blowing his coat, so there was sticky wet rabbit fur EVERYWHERE!

this was how most of it went- nut puppet eating, rue looking on


some sniffing, then both asking for grooming