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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum BONDING (Fixed) male rabbits not getting along

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    • Shadow Of The Dance
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        Hoping this is the right place. It was a tossup between here and behave, so if I’m in the wrong place correct me!

         

         

        The history: Thor and Loki came to me at about 8 months of age when their owner found out they couldn’t have rabbits. They’re not related, but have been together since about 3 months of age, and always had their cages next to each other. They aren’t really trained to be picked up, and try running when you go to grab them to put them away. Loki is learning to like being pet, but Thor hates when someone touches him. Neither is litterbox trained due to aggression towards the other rabbit. (Training has failed no matter what I do)

        When they were younger and both got out they used to try to mount each other, spending up to 10 minutes running in circles. They’d never nip, bite or attack. Then Loki became of age, and turned into a monster. He’d attack my cats, spray, glare, and attack Thor. It finally got bad enough that Loki got a vet trip. He recovered within a day and is now more lightning than grumpy. Thor on the other hand I couldn’t afford to fix right away due to medical problems, so he was Alpha Bunny for about a year. During this time Thor would attack Loki, rub his cheek on Loki’s cage, glare at Loki, and get tough with the humans. He’d attack my daughter (She’s an adult, and was in charge of blocking off areas/removing him from areas he couldn’t go, which is why he hated her) and when he wasn’t attacking her he’d stand in her way and refuse to move. He’d also attack my cats. Finally we got Thor fixed as well about a month ago, which he took REALLY hard. He went from Alpha Bunny to little scared bunny who was VERY mad that we did that to him. We couldn’t even get into his cage to feed him. He’d grunt and attack us. It took us a week to convince him it was okay to come out of his cage, and he’s still very nervous and timid now.

        The present: Loki has learned bad habits! Thor has now gone from Alpha Bunny to very shy bunny, but he attacked Loki enough that Loki has gone rabid. If I let Thor out of his cage Loki has to be in a totally different room or else he runs around his cage panting trying to lung at Loki. (Thor for the most part leaves Loki alone) In the two times Loki has gotten out with Thor (He’s a master at undoing locks) he’s attacked Thor and pulled out hair, which has made Thor either A) Cower in fear all day or B) attack Loki back. We’ve tried putting their cages in the same room, but if they can even see each other Loki goes nuts and can’t sleep, scaring Thor to death. If for some reason we have them both out at the same time (Each being held by a different person. Usually when we’re cleaning under their cages) Loki goes rabid and takes hours to settle down. He’ll toss paper, throw toys, grunt and has even hissed. This has only happened since we got Thor fixed.

        The Future:  Eventually  we’d like to be able to let them out together. They have large cages, but LOVE being out. If we let one out the other goes nuts! We intend to move their smalishl cages downstairs to a full sized cage. But the way the cage is set up they’ll be able to see each other. We can’t have them within five feet of each other, nevermind within biting distance. Is it possible to train them to work together again? It really looks like learned behavior for Loki, very much ‘fight of flight’ mode. Can Loki be retrained or should I put one rabbit in the basement and one upstairs? They both have a forever home with me, I just want to make sure it’s the best quality of life they can possibly have.


      • Jennifer
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          Hello!
          I would definitely not let them out together at all. I personally think it might be impossible to bond those two or even have them as play mates because they seem to hate each other. Also my bunnys tend to have “bad” playful behavior so I use a squirt bottle to spray then when they are being bad because u can not harm your rabbit as punishment. Holding your rabbit can be very stessful for them so if you are going to clean their cages maybe try putting them in a carriar, seperate ones of course. It might help Loki from going rabid. I would also try comforting thor when he is scared. When my bunnies are scared I give them lots of lovens and a treat.

          Your situation seems very difficult. Personally I would keep them seperate for their safty it may also help them calm down. I wish you the best of luck!


        • Shadow Of The Dance
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            I was afraid of that. Since Thor got fixed Loki has been going rabid more often to the point where I can’t keep them in the same room. =/ Do you think they’d ever get to the point where they could cope being in the same room? When Thor gets out Loki gets so mad he starts shaking. It’s ONLY developed since Thor got fixed, too. Not sure what caused it, but Loki is a pest! I’ll keep them on different floors of my house for now and see if that helps.


          • Paradigm
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              I’ve never done any bonding, but in a similar (ish) situation I remember people suggesting keeping the bunnies away from each other (different rooms/floors) until they forgot they hated each other or calmed down.

              At the moment it sounds like they’re both in a negative feedback loop, so separating them for a while (if not forever) is probably the best thing for them.

              I recall people saying it could take months before they’re ready to see each other.


            • Robert
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                Separate for like 4 months, I’m talking not even coming close to smelling each other. Then put their cages in the same room and see what happens, if they remember each other you will know

                I had to go away from my rabbits for a few months due to United States Marine Corps stuff and they didn’t even remember me and we’re not sure about who I was

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            Forum BONDING (Fixed) male rabbits not getting along