Thanks so much to all the bonding stories here I have my own successful bonding story to share! I hope it helps others to read an example of male-male bonding as well as an extreme size difference. I had a game plan in mind when I started but in the end I just did what felt right. When I was wrong I took a step backwards. When it was good I pushed forward. I’m convinced bonding is not one size fits all, this is just our story!
Background: I got my 2 yr old mini lop, Cooper, in September from the SPCA. He was neutered the day before I brought him home. He is a dream rabbit, about 4.5lbs of pure love and a perfect free-range bunny. Around December I decided I really wanted another rabbit and by January I found Sheldon at the SPCA: a 2.5yr old Flemish Giant (12.5 lbs) who was already neutered and a seriously laid back guy! That’s where this story begins:
Day 1: Meet at the shelter in a large room. Nose to nose sniffing, each explores the room, somewhat ignoring the other. Cooper mounts Sheldon, Sheldon doesn’t really care. Continues on with ignoring/mounting for 15 minutes. We decide the pairing will work and officially adopt Sheldon and take him home. Used separate carriers for the ride home since there wasn’t another adult to break them up should they decide to fight. Got home, set up Sheldon in an x-pen and decided to start bonding a few hours later. Bathtub bonding: lots of mounting from Cooper. Sheldon sits there then walks away. No fights, snuggling when they hear loud noises. 30 minutes in the tub, then ended session while they were cuddling.
Day 2: Decided to try them in a 4′ long hallway, neutral space: Cooper humps, Sheldon doesn’t mind at first then gets irritated and starts nipping. Turns into aggressive fighting after about 10 minutes in the hallway. Move to tub, lots of cuddling, a little more humping, Cooper appears to aggressively groom Sheldon’s face, end session as soon as the grooming stops (about 15 minutes in the tub).
Day 3: Bathtub: cuddling, no fighting. After 5 min moved to bathroom floor (a 3’x5′ space). A little humping, a few nips, but never goes beyond a couple seconds of very small nips. Stop the session while they are ignoring each other, about 15 min total, got cut short by family obligations.
Day 4: Back to the hallway from day 2 with brand new litter box filled with hay. Cooper jumps right in to eat, no fighting no nipping no humping. After 5 min Sheldon flops next to the litter box while Cooper eats hay. After 5 minutes of laying around suddenly there is chasing and fighting (seems like Cooper started it and Sheldon decides to fight back). Cooper thumps after Sheldon nips him. Tried smeared bananas on head, they end up boxing each other. Back to bathtub, immediately cuddling. Cuddled 5 min in bathtub, moved to bathroom floor again. After a few minutes of ignoring they cuddle on the bathroom floor. Grooming themselves at the same time. Cooper tries to hump, major fighting. Back to tub. No problems in tub, added a handful of hay. Cooper eats happily, Sheldon flops. After 5 more minutes of happiness in the tub, session ends on a good note (about 45 minutes total).
Day 5: started in tub, cuddling with heads together. Moved to bathroom floor a few minutes later. Ignored each other. Cooper goes to litter box to eat hay. A minute later Sheldon jumps in box. Ok for about 30 seconds then fight breaks out, Sheldon leaves the box. Sheldon tried to go back but Cooper won’t let him in, Sheldon boxes, major fight has to be broken up. Return to tub. 30 seconds later Cooper starts grooming Sheldon and they continue cuddling. Ended there on a good note (about 30 minutes total)
Day 6: Marathon bonding. I set them up in tub with a little hay, close the shower curtain so they can’t see me while I watch movies on my ipad on the bathroom floor. They snuggle and eat for an hour then suddenly start fighting. Broke up the fight, they snuggled another hour. Added litterbox in tub. No problems for 30 min. Moved to bathroom floor (same 3’x5′ space as before). Cooper grooms Sheldon then nipping turns to chasing. Broke it up, then they ignored each other, taking turns in the litter box. Total time 4 hours, ended with them ignoring each other.
Day 7: semi neutral, 3’x4’x-pen area with litter box in family room. Lots of humping from Cooper but Sheldon doesn’t care. A few thumps, taking turns in litterbox. Calmed down after 30 minutes then started cuddling and napping. Shared a salad, continued napping, etc no problems 6 hours total.
*2 hour break to exercise alone*
Back together in semi-neutral living room x-pen with 2 litter boxes, lots of hay, newly washed blanket and water to try for overnight bonding. Cooper humping, lots of nipping, Sheldon demanding grooming. Didn’t get out of hand but wasn’t looking good so I gave them a bowl of salad to share. Happily eating. Not another noise for the rest of the night as I slept on the couch beside them.
Day 8: Woke up at 7am to a little humping here and there but Sheldon doesn’t care and it’s only a couple seconds. Cooper continues to groom Sheldon. Snuggling, eating together, etc. no problems all day. Ate meals together, a little more humping here and there but Sheldon didn’t care. Lots of naps snuggled up close together, more grooming, both bunnies flopped and relaxed.
8pm opened up living room (10’x10′) for playtime together. Cooper immediately humping, Sheldon hops away. Mild chasing, not at all aggressive. Sheldon does lots of binkies, Cooper follows him around. Kept going like that 45 min then Cooper grooms Sheldon. 9:30pm humping seems to have slowed way down, lots of grooming now. Put back in 4’x2′ x-pen space at 11pm for the night. No problems overnight.
Day 9: moved to final shared space in dining room after thorough cleaning and rearranging a little. Cooper chased and humped a little but within a few minutes started grooming Sheldon. Left them alone and came back a few minutes later to find them cuddling. Groomed and cuddled all day. I’m officially declaring them BONDED!!
Pictures below…
Store
.
