CloverBenandWallybuns
New Kit
Hi! I was referred here by someone from another forum who said that you have more trio experience and might have some useful insights. I'll give a synopsis of our situation and then the questions I have.
I have a bonded pair of 3/4 year old neutered males and a 4 or 5 year old spayed female. I have had her for 2 years and want to bond them. One of my males is very friendly and gets along with everyone. My other male is very aggressive and is a small breed, about 2.5 lbs. I've seen him lunge directly at a cat before for some insight into his personality. I have worked very hard with the smaller male and the female so he is typically not aggressive towards her at all anymore. However, she will nip and bite at him especially when he isn't being submissive. He also had a very difficult time accepting his submissive role with the other male but because he's so much smaller than them I don't think there's any way they would let him be the dominant rabbit. I currently have them in a pen in my bedroom doing marathon bonding. Last week suddenly the small male and the female were at odds and fighting for about a day, and then they just stopped.
They're the point where all rabbits will groom all other rabbits but nobody has accepted a submissive role. I know the hierarchy will be more complicated given that it's a trio but I am expecting the female to be dominant, but the other large male has not yet settled in as submissive to her. Unfortunately for my little guy I expect him to be the least dominant of the 3. He will groom the female then he stops and demands grooms and just sits there sticking his nose out for as much as 5 minutes which usually causes him to get nipped. Usually these interactions begin with her grooming him, then asking for grooms. He complies then quits and says it's his turn again and she disagrees. He will nap by her when she isn't being nippy bit does spend a decent amount of time away from the other 2.
So my questions are, does anyone have any ways to help them work through dominance? Any ways to help the 3rd rabbit integrate? He wants to hang out but he's wary of getting nipped (she tends to bite him fairly hard although she's been better about that lately). I have noticed that they both respond very well if I mush them together and pet them. It usually leads to 20 minutes of grooming back and forth before she gets frustrated with him not being submissive enough and starts nipping. They will typically share food and treats with no issue so I'll give them healthy treats together a few times a day as well. I believe this trio is bondable given the many positive interactions they have every day but I'm frustrated with the nipping and lack of progress in accepting/establishing dominance. I know I can't MAKE him be submissive but he's about 1/4 the size of the other rabbits so if they want to be dominant, they will be.
Any thoughts on helping them work this out would be very much appreciated!
I have a bonded pair of 3/4 year old neutered males and a 4 or 5 year old spayed female. I have had her for 2 years and want to bond them. One of my males is very friendly and gets along with everyone. My other male is very aggressive and is a small breed, about 2.5 lbs. I've seen him lunge directly at a cat before for some insight into his personality. I have worked very hard with the smaller male and the female so he is typically not aggressive towards her at all anymore. However, she will nip and bite at him especially when he isn't being submissive. He also had a very difficult time accepting his submissive role with the other male but because he's so much smaller than them I don't think there's any way they would let him be the dominant rabbit. I currently have them in a pen in my bedroom doing marathon bonding. Last week suddenly the small male and the female were at odds and fighting for about a day, and then they just stopped.
They're the point where all rabbits will groom all other rabbits but nobody has accepted a submissive role. I know the hierarchy will be more complicated given that it's a trio but I am expecting the female to be dominant, but the other large male has not yet settled in as submissive to her. Unfortunately for my little guy I expect him to be the least dominant of the 3. He will groom the female then he stops and demands grooms and just sits there sticking his nose out for as much as 5 minutes which usually causes him to get nipped. Usually these interactions begin with her grooming him, then asking for grooms. He complies then quits and says it's his turn again and she disagrees. He will nap by her when she isn't being nippy bit does spend a decent amount of time away from the other 2.
So my questions are, does anyone have any ways to help them work through dominance? Any ways to help the 3rd rabbit integrate? He wants to hang out but he's wary of getting nipped (she tends to bite him fairly hard although she's been better about that lately). I have noticed that they both respond very well if I mush them together and pet them. It usually leads to 20 minutes of grooming back and forth before she gets frustrated with him not being submissive enough and starts nipping. They will typically share food and treats with no issue so I'll give them healthy treats together a few times a day as well. I believe this trio is bondable given the many positive interactions they have every day but I'm frustrated with the nipping and lack of progress in accepting/establishing dominance. I know I can't MAKE him be submissive but he's about 1/4 the size of the other rabbits so if they want to be dominant, they will be.
Any thoughts on helping them work this out would be very much appreciated!
