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Forum BONDING Washer Bonding video

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    • Beka27
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        http://www.youtube.com/watch

         

        any thoughts, suggestions… my next move?

         

        (plus some great footage of Max!)


      • Kokaneeandkahlua
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          OMG you have grooming already? If there is absolutely nipping, I would just pop them in a cage together and call them bonded…but I jump the gun alot LOL


        • Beka27
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            there’s still a bit of nipping tho when the washer stops. i’m uploading that vid right now… and last night there was some thru the bars nipping (by Meadow). my vet tech friend is coming over today so maybe we’ll try some real, non-washer bonding.


          • Sarita
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              Well, they are adorable together. I don’t think this is really a good indication as they both looked distracted and confused :~)

              You need to try something else to get them to interact or even to know if they are truly ignoring each other (which is not a negative in bonding).

              I think the washer is best only if you are having some really tough bonding sessions and right now you aren’t really certain how together they will interact or react.


            • babybunsmum
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                thats great beka!  i think you’re ready for non-washer bonding for sure.  some where neutral thats big enough for them to roam around a bit & for you to be there with them to break up if any nipping / circling starts to escalate.  oh and a plate of greens for them to dine on.  what a great match for each other they are!  so sweet


              • COOKIE'N FLUFF MOMMA
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                  awww they are soo cute together! I see you have that water bottle handy!  looks like they are off to a pretty good start.


                • Beka27
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                    okay… i’ll give that a try today. so should i stop the washing machine altogether?


                  • JK
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                      My god girl, they look completely bonded to me!!! They are so adorable together. They look sooo much alike!  I always thought Meadow had gray spots!  I’d put them in a room together and see what happens. BUT I am no expert!  You are doing a fantastic job!  I still want Max.  I love the way his ear rests on Mead’s back.


                    • Nicci607
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                        awwee!! SO CUTE!! Max looks a little scared, though???

                        <3 max <3

                        ***luvin’ the loppz***

                         


                      • JK
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                          I think Max is thinking “why the heck is she putting me in a laundry basket? That’s just weird. I need to pee”!!!


                        • MarkBun
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                            I would stop the washing machine stuff for now and proceed onto the neutral territory bonding. Actually, what I would do is set up the neutral space with the X-pen and then take them on a 5 minute washing mashine ride first and then place them into the X-pen. Do that combo for only the first time. Bring them back to the washing machine only if there is some severe fighting going on. The washing machine should now be considered a ‘time out’ place where you put both buns if they are very naughty.

                            You will have to be prepared for some nipping and mounting that will go on while they sort things out. The hardest thing for a parent when bonding is that they will interrupt any sort of aggression and, unfortunately, buns needta work things out. It only becomes a real issue when both buns decide that they’re not going to back down and go into fighting one another. If one nips and the other hops away and the first doesn’t immediately pursue, that is part of the bonding process.

                            The fact that Meadow groomed Max is a VERY good sign.


                          • Beka27
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                              i cannot thank you enough for weighing in on this Markus (you are the expert!) okay… i am going to do a 5 minute wash with them and then move them into my bedroom. my bed juts out into the middle, and the actual floorspace is pretty small, so that might cut down on circular chasing. i’ll need to do a quick b-proof for behind the dresser, but that’s not a problem. now, should i carry them together right from the washer in the basket to the bedroom, or take them separately? (my friend isn’t coming over now… so i’m by myself). so i should not spray for nipping, only flat-out fighting?


                            • MarkBun
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                                I would simply carry them in the basket to the neutral space. If some nipping goes on during transport, just shake the basket a little bit. If nipping happens during the bonding process, what I would do is clap and say “NO” once it starts and if it continues, then get the water bottle and spray. However, any nipping to the face is a no-no and should be corrected immediately (aka spray). It is hard to clap AND hold a spray bottle so what I do is wear shorts so that I can slap my thigh for the ‘clap’ and still have the water bottle ready to shoot.

                                It is always better to err on the side of caution though. It takes a bit of intuition to know the difference between Meadow’s nips saying “I’m in charge, get out of my way,” and “I hate you and want you gone!” Maryann was easy to read as she’d latch onto Dono like a lampry and pull. Good thing is was so fluffy.


                              • Beka27
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                                  alright… i have to go find something to wash… (one good thing is i’m keeping up on my laundry… lol! folding and putting away tho… that’s another story!)


                                • Beka27
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                                    alright. i did the wash with them for 5 minutes, carried them into the bedroom. took them out of the basket. they walked around sniffing for about 5 minutes, walking right past each other. they got into a scuffle after a little bit, water bottle did nothing so i dropped the laundry basket upside down on top of one of them just to separate. took the basket off, they went back to walking around. they ignored each other for about five minutes then another scuffle. this was was more chasing and i sprayed and i was able to stop it. they took turns hopping in and out of the hay filled litterbox. Meadow spent the most time in there, and when Max would try to go by it she would nip at him. it broke into a full blown fight 3 times in the course of an hour in the bedroom. the rest of the time they were ignoring, grooming (themselves), Max even flopped a couple of times. they both ate some hay. i put out a plate with a couple halved grapes. Mead ate two of the halves. i think i got everything…


                                  • Sarita
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                                      It’s alot of work isn’t it! It’s good if you can be persistent and do a few bonding sessions every day – the more you can do, hopefully the quicker the bonding will go.


                                    • Beka27
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                                        should i do it an hour each time, less, more? fortunately i have time so i’m not worried about it being work. i just want to make sure i’m doing it the best way for results.


                                      • Sarita
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                                          I think as long as you and the rabbits can tolerate hour sessions then I think you should keep up with the hour sessions – if after an hour they are getting along then I say start increasing the sessions. I think most people start out at 15 minutes because that’s all they can handle but it’s really not long enough in my opinion if they are having spurts of good behavior and it’s not all bad behavior – then longer is better.


                                        • kimberleyanddarren
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                                            have u tried bonding them in the bath? so they cant ignore each other? very nice video i love how u are such a bunny slave she nipped him and u squirted her and then gave her head pats hehehehe


                                          • Beka27
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                                              here’s the bedroom video if you’re interested…  http://www.youtube.com/watch


                                            • babybunsmum
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                                                i think your bedroom session went well.  i agree with markus when he says the buns need to work it out.  baby & pinky were both trying to be top bun but after the first few scuffles &… ahem… humping incidents baby backed right down.  it became verrrrry clear that pinky was the top bun dispite baby’s seniority & spunky rabbitude. 

                                                imho (not speaking from experience but from having read stuff ) if you continue with these sessions the scuffles will die down once they both accept where they stand in the pecking order.  i really think this is what i need to do too.  [ maybe why i’m suggesting it for you… hmmm?  lol ] 


                                              • JK
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                                                  That’s a cool video.  Are you sure they are not playing??? Is Max a mini lop? He looks bigger than a Holland Lop.  Did you take him to the vet yet?


                                                • Beka27
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                                                    no i didn’t take him in yet, i’m gonna call and see if i can come by on friday. whoops, right? shouldn’t have started bonding before seeing the vet… but i really wanted to get it going ASAP! Max wants to be by Meadow. you saw when she was in the litterbox, he would just sit a little bit away from her. it was always him walking up to her and her reacting. honeslty, i think this would have been her response regardless of who we brought home. she’s just used to being an only, a very very spoiled only. but i believe i can break her down. this video is only the 4th time they’ve “met” outside of a cage. and it was about an hour total.

                                                    i’m guessing he’s a mini lop based on pics. my guess is that he’s about 6 pounds or so.


                                                  • Beka27
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                                                      we spent another hour in my room today.  no washer beforehand.  they had a plate of parsley and some matchstick carrots.  there were no major scuffles.  Meadow nipped at Max as he walked by about 3 or 4 times in the course of the hour.  at one point they were both flopped about 8-10 feet from each other.  this lasted about 10 minutes.  at another time they were both grooming themselves in close proximity.  much of what they were doing was walking cautiously by each other, Mead would make a small lunge toward him and he’d run off.  it went so well for the hour, that afterwards i opened up the bedroom door and let them each walk out on their own.  they explored the rest of the house for about 5 minutes, but then there was a huge hallway brawl with fur flying.  they got separated at that point and returned to their pens.  i have videos that i’ll post as they upload.


                                                    • Beka27
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                                                        pretty relaxed… http://www.youtube.com/watch

                                                        more relaxed… http://www.youtube.com/watch

                                                        i kept the lights off for atmosphere, but i didn’t realize how dark this one was… double flop, but opposite sides of the room… http://www.youtube.com/watch

                                                        this is when i let them out of the bedroom.  it also gives you an idea of how my house is set-up.  the bunny room connects my room to the hall leading to the living room.  of course this was a few minutes before the big fight broke out… http://www.youtube.com/watch


                                                      • MarkBun
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                                                          Thanks for all the vids. They help out a lot. I hope others weigh in besides me on what I am seeing as I often miss the subtle things.

                                                          First, I think that you have too much room for them. They need to interact with one another more to get the bonding working. Although it is good to have a place to retreat to, too much space and they’ll just remain bad neighbors. You should cut the space in half – put up a gate so that they can’t get past the bed.

                                                          Next, with the fight that happens in “Bedroom Bonding” – you don’t want the fight to continue for more than a couple of seconds. The moment that Meadow chases Max is when you want to stop it – either with a loud clap or the water sprayer.

                                                          Also, don’t let them into Meadow’s territory (any place she’s had free reign of) as she will fight ferociously to defend it.

                                                          Yup, Meadow reminds me a lot of Maryann. It’s going to take some time.


                                                        • Beka27
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                                                            should i not be giving Max free roam thruout the rest of the house? i’ve been alternating them with their time out. my house is not large, so i have limited spaces to work with.


                                                          • MarkBun
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                                                              Oh, they can have free roam space by themselves. But when bonding, you should try to keep the space smaller and as neutral as possible.


                                                            • Sarita
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                                                                I agree with Markus – too much space means too little interaction.

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                                                            Forum BONDING Washer Bonding video