Hello! :wave:
For the past 5 days now I have been trying to bond Ozzy, my 7 month old Netherland Dwarf buck, with a Ruby, a 2 year old Holland Lop doe I took in from someone who was moving and could no longer look after her. Both rabbits are spayed, and have lived around other rabbits in the past. Ozzy originally came into my care because he was housed with another female, but even after neutering he would still relentlessly mount and hump her, and she was not having it and would bite him, so the owner decided to separate them. Ozzy is extremely curious and rambunctious, and has free run of my entire bunny-proofed house. It is fine with human attention, and occasionally asks for it by jumping on to my lap to be pet, but I would not exactly classify him as a "cuddly" bunny. He seems to have endless energy and despises being put stuck in his cage with the door shut (even though his cage is HUGE).
Ruby, is basically the exact opposite of Ozzy. I had not met her before deciding to take her in (which I now fear was a mistake)and knew little about her other than her age and breed, but hoped that her and Ozzy would be a good pair to bond anyways. She is slightly over weight, and although she has since been spayed, has had a litter previously. She rarely leaves her pen to explore the house, and even when her pen door is open, she will still just stay laying in her cage. The only thing she seems to care much about is food. She isn't opposed to being petted when in her cage, but she never asks for human attention and if I try to pet her when she is out of her pen, she runs away from me.
As far as bonding goes, I introduced Ruby to Ozzy in our bathroom. Although this was not technically "neutral territory", it was the best option because Ozzy has free run of our entire home and there was little to retain scent (it's a small room with laminate floors and I removed almost everything I could from the room). Every night I have switched their pens so sometimes they sleep in theirs and other times they sleep in the others. They both seem fine with the pen switching and the pens are both right next to each other. Every time they are together Ozzy cautiously follows Ruby around and then just relentlessly mounts her and pulls out her fur. She is usually fine with this for some time, and I push him off of her when he mounts too frequently, but after a little while she gets tired of it and either mounts him (and he is terrified), or will nip him when he tried to come near. As soon as she starts getting nippy and he won't leave her alone, I separate them. I have been alternatively letting one out of the cage for free time while keeping the other inside, then switching after a bit so they both have lots of opportunity to run around. When Ozzy is out he goes straight to Ruby's pen and stares at her, sometimes even grooming her head through the cage. She occasionally shows interest in him, but rarely. When Ruby is let out she does not acknowledge Ozzy in his pen.
On their dates I have been petting them at the same time, giving them small treats when they are good, and giving them veggies and hay so they will eat together. They are both fine with this. However, Ruby just continually shows absolutely zero interest in Ozzy, when he is absolutely infatuated with humping her. I have never seen her groom him. She does not lay down to relax in front of him and doesn't clean herself on their dates. Normally I would think Ruby being indifferent towards Ozzy would be a good thing, but after 5 days of indifference with multiple dates each day, I am starting to think this is a match that just won't work.
Does anyone have any advice or input for me? Does this sounds like a match up that maybe just won't work?
This sounds extremely horrible but at this point I'm not sure I care enough for Ruby to want her to be bonded to Ozzy as she does not seem to care for anything, or anyone, but food, and this bond does not seem to be going anywhere. The person who gave her to me originally said she still has the ability to take her back if need be, and I'm trying to decide if that is a better option for everyone. If in fact she did bond to Ozzy I would under no circumstances separate them, because I want what's best for him.
Sorry for writing so much! I'd appreciate any help I can get.
For the past 5 days now I have been trying to bond Ozzy, my 7 month old Netherland Dwarf buck, with a Ruby, a 2 year old Holland Lop doe I took in from someone who was moving and could no longer look after her. Both rabbits are spayed, and have lived around other rabbits in the past. Ozzy originally came into my care because he was housed with another female, but even after neutering he would still relentlessly mount and hump her, and she was not having it and would bite him, so the owner decided to separate them. Ozzy is extremely curious and rambunctious, and has free run of my entire bunny-proofed house. It is fine with human attention, and occasionally asks for it by jumping on to my lap to be pet, but I would not exactly classify him as a "cuddly" bunny. He seems to have endless energy and despises being put stuck in his cage with the door shut (even though his cage is HUGE).
Ruby, is basically the exact opposite of Ozzy. I had not met her before deciding to take her in (which I now fear was a mistake)and knew little about her other than her age and breed, but hoped that her and Ozzy would be a good pair to bond anyways. She is slightly over weight, and although she has since been spayed, has had a litter previously. She rarely leaves her pen to explore the house, and even when her pen door is open, she will still just stay laying in her cage. The only thing she seems to care much about is food. She isn't opposed to being petted when in her cage, but she never asks for human attention and if I try to pet her when she is out of her pen, she runs away from me.
As far as bonding goes, I introduced Ruby to Ozzy in our bathroom. Although this was not technically "neutral territory", it was the best option because Ozzy has free run of our entire home and there was little to retain scent (it's a small room with laminate floors and I removed almost everything I could from the room). Every night I have switched their pens so sometimes they sleep in theirs and other times they sleep in the others. They both seem fine with the pen switching and the pens are both right next to each other. Every time they are together Ozzy cautiously follows Ruby around and then just relentlessly mounts her and pulls out her fur. She is usually fine with this for some time, and I push him off of her when he mounts too frequently, but after a little while she gets tired of it and either mounts him (and he is terrified), or will nip him when he tried to come near. As soon as she starts getting nippy and he won't leave her alone, I separate them. I have been alternatively letting one out of the cage for free time while keeping the other inside, then switching after a bit so they both have lots of opportunity to run around. When Ozzy is out he goes straight to Ruby's pen and stares at her, sometimes even grooming her head through the cage. She occasionally shows interest in him, but rarely. When Ruby is let out she does not acknowledge Ozzy in his pen.
On their dates I have been petting them at the same time, giving them small treats when they are good, and giving them veggies and hay so they will eat together. They are both fine with this. However, Ruby just continually shows absolutely zero interest in Ozzy, when he is absolutely infatuated with humping her. I have never seen her groom him. She does not lay down to relax in front of him and doesn't clean herself on their dates. Normally I would think Ruby being indifferent towards Ozzy would be a good thing, but after 5 days of indifference with multiple dates each day, I am starting to think this is a match that just won't work.
Does anyone have any advice or input for me? Does this sounds like a match up that maybe just won't work?
This sounds extremely horrible but at this point I'm not sure I care enough for Ruby to want her to be bonded to Ozzy as she does not seem to care for anything, or anyone, but food, and this bond does not seem to be going anywhere. The person who gave her to me originally said she still has the ability to take her back if need be, and I'm trying to decide if that is a better option for everyone. If in fact she did bond to Ozzy I would under no circumstances separate them, because I want what's best for him.
Sorry for writing so much! I'd appreciate any help I can get.
