Hi there,
I successfully bonded my two house-rabbits (a male and a female lionhead, both neutered/spayed) about a month ago. They are getting on perfectly, but my lady bun only cleans right down inside of the boy rabbit's ears. They are starting to get sore where she keeps on licking them, and although I can stop her when I'm watching, I'm obviously not on 'ear watch' the whole time!
The male rabbit doesn't particularly try to get away, and he was bossing her around during the bonding (he doesn't groom her at all), but he has come from a very sad situation and was extremely lonely, so I think he is accepting whatever form of affection he is offered from his new friend! I don't think that this is happening out of boredom, as she often pauses from racing around/destroying cardboard boxes etc. when he hops up and asks to be groomed: then she plonks her paw on his head and shoves her nose down his ear to give it a good old lick!!
Any thoughts on how I can re-direct this behaviour would be most welcome....
I successfully bonded my two house-rabbits (a male and a female lionhead, both neutered/spayed) about a month ago. They are getting on perfectly, but my lady bun only cleans right down inside of the boy rabbit's ears. They are starting to get sore where she keeps on licking them, and although I can stop her when I'm watching, I'm obviously not on 'ear watch' the whole time!
The male rabbit doesn't particularly try to get away, and he was bossing her around during the bonding (he doesn't groom her at all), but he has come from a very sad situation and was extremely lonely, so I think he is accepting whatever form of affection he is offered from his new friend! I don't think that this is happening out of boredom, as she often pauses from racing around/destroying cardboard boxes etc. when he hops up and asks to be groomed: then she plonks her paw on his head and shoves her nose down his ear to give it a good old lick!!
Any thoughts on how I can re-direct this behaviour would be most welcome....