Bonding Pip to her new friend

[Mervinius]

OK. If you all managed it. I'm sure I can get my brain in gear and do it to with all your wonderful support. I'll have tonight off to wash their blanket again, because Bumble has peed on it multiple times. Then Wed after work i'll attempt round 1 by myself

 

[Zoobec]

You can do this I’ve never tried the dating method of bonding, it might help the process if you can put them together and leave them together but obviously it means you have to supervise them. I slept in the same or next room at first!

 

[Mervinius]

Yeah I can't do that with my work commitments. I dont have 2 days off in a row. But I am going to push for longer sessions and try and get this done quicker without Mr Grumpy pants. Lol

 

[bunny momma]

You will do fine. I know you are worried that Pip can get bit. Yet Pip speaks bunny and she continues to approach him so it does not sound like she is afraid of his fur pulls/nips or grunts.
Sending more vibes.

 

[Mervinius]

You will do fine. I know you are worried that Pip can get bit. Yet Pip speaks bunny and she continues to approach him so it does not sound like she is afraid of his fur pulls/nips or grunts.
Sending more vibes.

You are totally right. She's not afraid of him at all. Even after he goes for her. She's tends to dig back if he gets too boisterous. I'm just such a softy and everyone has told me she's a senior bun. So feel like she's fragile but in reality she isn't. I had to pick her up two days ago cos I couldn't get her into the carrier to go dating. It was like picking up pure Nethie muscle. Although she only weighs 1.3kg. It's like wrestling a rottweiler. Lol
They are both currently sitting eating hay a few inches apart whilst I have breaks in thr lounge

 

[tonibun]

It's only natural that you feel protective over Pip. I am the same although I have never known them to get injured during scuffles. It always seems to look much worse than it is. It's still very scary!

 

[joey&boo]

You will do fine. I know you are worried that Pip can get bit. Yet Pip speaks bunny and she continues to approach him so it does not sound like she is afraid of his fur pulls/nips or grunts.
Sending more vibes.

I love this, great advice

 

[joey&boo]

I love how Pip still feels strong & muscly

 

[Mervinius]

I love how Pip still feels strong & muscly

Hmmm not sure you'd agree if you were trying to control her. Lol.
So I got home late, but we decided to do a session together but reduce the size a little so I could see how easy it might be to control the blighters by myself.
Anyway Bumble was rather lungey and reactive for the first hour and Pip spent that whole time trying to escape the area. Which I think irritated him cos she wouldn't sit still.
Bumble then had a lie down and after he woke up he seemed a tad calmer. They passed each other a few times without any reaction. Then Pip decided to grunt at him one time, which put him back on edge. He had another lie down and did some adorable snoring and tooth purring whilst Pip nibbled on some hay and carried on trying to escape.
Then they did a bit of hay nibbling together with me at the ready with the glove between just in case
Then he started to get lungey again. So we waited a bit longer so we'd end on a good note. He had another lie down and we waited 10 more mins to end the session.

We did 1.45mins in total our longest session. I'm not sure it was a step forward, but hopefully wasn't a step backwards. i am a bit disappointed he was more reactive tonight that the last session and Pip wasn't being stubborn and wouldn't settle at all.

I do feel like longer sessions will help him calm down and hopefully get used to her. He doesn't chase her or attack her constantly. It's just when she invades what he sees as his personal space.

 

[joey&boo]

I think how reactive they are does seem to ebb & flow. It does with Eddy. But there are loads of positives in what you wrote, not least you managed the longest session yet, despite Bumbles grumbles. I'm not sure mine could pass each other..

we need a bunny love drug for our grumpy boys

It took me 3 weeks to bond Boo & Eddy. it was a time consuming PITA but in the not too distant future everybun WILL get there.

I bet you are pleased you opted for a duo rather than quad or trio? There is nothing more scary than 4 rabbits all deciding to move together during bonding..they move so fast your eyes cant compute whats going on - & thats medium sized regulars, not wilful ND's. You still updating the rescue?

 

[bunny momma]

You are totally right. She's not afraid of him at all. Even after he goes for her. She's tends to dig back if he gets too boisterous. I'm just such a softy and everyone has told me she's a senior bun. So feel like she's fragile but in reality she isn't. I had to pick her up two days ago cos I couldn't get her into the carrier to go dating. It was like picking up pure Nethie muscle. Although she only weighs 1.3kg. It's like wrestling a rottweiler. Lol
They are both currently sitting eating hay a few inches apart whilst I have breaks in thr lounge

I had many nethie bunnies over the years so I know what you mean. One of my smaller nethies was named TS (tough stuff) . My newest bunny, Peter, is a nethie too.
Your latest session sounds positive. You got to see how each reacted when the other bunny annoyed them and still they still managed to work it out, grunts and all. It is the difference between dating (when your partner does not pass gas in your presence)) and living together (when your partner passes gas at the dinner table) .
Sending more bonding vibes.

 

[Mervinius]

I think how reactive they are does seem to ebb & flow. It does with Eddy. But there are loads of positives in what you wrote, not least you managed the longest session yet, despite Bumbles grumbles. I'm not sure mine could pass each other..

we need a bunny love drug for our grumpy boys

It took me 3 weeks to bond Boo & Eddy. it was a time consuming PITA but in the not too distant future everybun WILL get there.

I bet you are pleased you opted for a duo rather than quad or trio? There is nothing more scary than 4 rabbits all deciding to move together during bonding..they move so fast your eyes cant compute whats going on - & thats medium sized regulars, not wilful ND's. You still updating the rescue?

Does Eddy react the same. Lunging for a nip at her whenever she comes too close?
Yes I could do with a bunny love drug.
Yeah im hoping time will help, but feeling a tad overwhelmed this morning and that he might not settle down. But I'm sure he will eventually.

Oh yes I'm so glad we didn't go for the quad. Can you imagine 4 NDs zooming around me. I recon I'd have been savaged between a mega fight.

Haven't updated the resume for a few days becuase I didn't feel there was enough progress to report anything new.

 

[Mervinius]

I had many nethie bunnies over the years so I know what you mean. One of my smaller nethies was named TS (tough stuff) . My newest bunny, Peter, is a nethie too.
Your latest session sounds positive. You got to see how each reacted when the other bunny annoyed them and still they still managed to work it out, grunts and all. It is the difference between dating (when your partner does not pass gas in your presence)) and living together (when your partner passes gas at the dinner table) .
Sending more bonding vibes.

Tough stuff. That's hilarious. Yes my partner is definitely in the second stage. . I said you are teaching Bumble bad habits. He will keep letting off his stinks during the dates.

 

[Zoobec]

Hmmm not sure you'd agree if you were trying to control her. Lol.
So I got home late, but we decided to do a session together but reduce the size a little so I could see how easy it might be to control the blighters by myself.
Anyway Bumble was rather lungey and reactive for the first hour and Pip spent that whole time trying to escape the area. Which I think irritated him cos she wouldn't sit still.
Bumble then had a lie down and after he woke up he seemed a tad calmer. They passed each other a few times without any reaction. Then Pip decided to grunt at him one time, which put him back on edge. He had another lie down and did some adorable snoring and tooth purring whilst Pip nibbled on some hay and carried on trying to escape.
Then they did a bit of hay nibbling together with me at the ready with the glove between just in case
Then he started to get lungey again. So we waited a bit longer so we'd end on a good note. He had another lie down and we waited 10 more mins to end the session.

We did 1.45mins in total our longest session. I'm not sure it was a step forward, but hopefully wasn't a step backwards. i am a bit disappointed he was more reactive tonight that the last session and Pip wasn't being stubborn and wouldn't settle at all.

I do feel like longer sessions will help him calm down and hopefully get used to her. He doesn't chase her or attack her constantly. It's just when she invades what he sees as his personal space.

It sounds like they are starting to get comfortable together. if I were you I would only intervene if absolutely necessary, if they are eating hay together I don’t think you need an oven gloved hand ready between them, I think it might stop them feeling at ease together. Even if they do lunge at each other or fur pull imo it would be better to leave them to sort things through themselves so long as they don’t start circling or an actual fight.
Also, it might help your stress levels if you aren’t anticipating issues.

 

[Mervinius]

It sounds like they are starting to get comfortable together. if I were you I would only intervene if absolutely necessary, if they are eating hay together I don’t think you need an oven gloved hand ready between them, I think it might stop them feeling at ease together. Even if they do lunge at each other or fur pull imo it would be better to leave them to sort things through themselves so long as they don’t start circling or an actual fight.
Also, it might help your stress levels if you aren’t anticipating issues.

My partner did wonder if we are intervening too much. But as he nips and digs towards her face it's made me more nervous. There's so much he can damage there. If it was towards her butt I'd be less bothered. But I'll give it a go and see how it goes.

 

[Zoobec]

My partner did wonder if we are intervening too much. But as he nips and digs towards her face it's made me more nervous. There's so much he can damage there. If it was towards her butt I'd be less bothered. But I'll give it a go and see how it goes.

It’s hard to get the balance right! fingers crossed for you.

 

[Mervinius]

So we managed 2 hrs tonight. First 45mins there was just the odd squabble. Then Dan left me too it. The first 15mins I thiught I can do this, but they were really good for a other 45mins. Eating cleaning ans relaxing about 2feet apart mostly, but occasionally hopping past. So I stupidly relaxed. Then out of no where a squabble happened and Bumble was on his side kicking Pip. I'm not sure what she was doing it was all so fast. I dont think he bit her but I really don't know. My eyes can see the movements as they are like lighting speed. I stopped them and then they both carried on like nothing happened. I kept thr date going for another 30mins. Nothing else major happened but he did try to lunge a few times, but I intercepted.
I tried to check Pip over but she got more stressed by me picking her up. I stroked her side a few times but couldn't feel anything and she didn't react. So lost a few tufts of fur.
Is it OK to carry on with more dates as they were fine afterwards? I know fighting isn't good but not sure if this is classed as fighting or just bunnies sorting out there differences.

 

[joey&boo]

So we managed 2 hrs tonight. First 45mins there was just the odd squabble. Then Dan left me too it. The first 15mins I thiught I can do this, but they were really good for a other 45mins. Eating cleaning ans relaxing about 2feet apart mostly, but occasionally hopping past. So I stupidly relaxed. Then out of no where a squabble happened and Bumble was on his side kicking Pip. I'm not sure what she was doing it was all so fast. I dont think he bit her but I really don't know. My eyes can see the movements as they are like lighting speed. I stopped them and then they both carried on like nothing happened. I kept thr date going for another 30mins. Nothing else major happened but he did try to lunge a few times, but I intercepted.
I tried to check Pip over but she got more stressed by me picking her up. I stroked her side a few times but couldn't feel anything and she didn't react. So lost a few tufts of fur.
Is it OK to carry on with more dates as they were fine afterwards? I know fighting isn't good but not sure if this is classed as fighting or just bunnies sorting out there differences.

I'd say it doesn't constitute fighting as such, based on no injuries & bunnies being fine after. You are doing great, very brave - its difficult to have the nerve to continue after an incident

 

[Mervinius]

I'd say it doesn't constitute fighting as such, based on no injuries & bunnies being fine after. You are doing great, very brave - its difficult to have the nerve to continue after an incident

Yeah they aren't at each other's throats or acting massively aggressive to each other. But I am concerned about reactive he is out of no where. I dont trust him yet. But he's so gentle with us.
I'm worried it might be ingrained behaviour where he's had to defend himself in the past.

 

[bunny momma]

He has not had much time with Pip and after many months of living alone it may just take more time for him to get used to living with another bunny.
Why is Pip not running away if he is on his side kicking her? Is she cornered?
Sending more vibes?