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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

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 Bonding for beginners? Help?

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    • Lakincolette
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        Hello, so I’ve had my buns for 4 months now, their nearing 7 months old and both recently neutered. ( As of 4 weeks ago) They’re both males and brothers, both were bonded until puberty in which I had to separate them till I got them neutered due to fighting. Nearly gave me a heart attack! Woke up to fur everywhere! Our vet had me wait till they were 6 months old to neuter so now I’m in the rebonding stage and kind of at a loss! I’ve done all the research but I’m afraid I’m rushing it. We started off with the car ride in a laundry basket, they did wonderful, cuddled the entire time and hid their heads under each other, afterwards we put the basket in the tub for about 20 minutes they cuddled the entire time. Day 2 not so well, no car ride just straight into the tub radagast kept shoving his head under Gandalf  and growling while Gandalf groomed himself, followed by nipping his stomach repeatedly so we sprayed radagast with water ( is that the right thing to do?) they kept getting in a stand off where they would touch noses with their ears flat against their heads till radagast would nip/ growl again. We did end it on a positive note Gandalf bunny flopped in the corner while radagast laid in the middle. Day 3 was also rocky again in the tub but they wouldn’t hardly go near each other unless they were in another stand off or radagast was nipping , Gandalf just seems scared he stays in his corner breathing hard till he gets curious enough to smell his brother in which radagast starts nipping and lunging…. I know this isn’t as bad as other bunnies that fight, but truthfully I have no idea what I’m doing and I want the best for my buns. I don’t know what a good/ bad sign is or how to interpret their body language,  and I’d really REALLY appreciate any advice!!!! I’m anxious to get these two brothers back together again!!!!!  (So sorry for the lengthy post!!!)


      • jerseygirl
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          I’ve always liked this article on bonding. Have you read it?
          http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/bond.shtml

          It’s such early days but you’re on the right track doing daily work. If it’s deteriorating, I’d reduce the time of the sessions or even do 2 sort ones a day.

          The water spray is suggested I think because it’s a remote way to break a behaviour without putting our hands into the fray. I never stuck with it too long. It just ended up making more mess!

          I guess identify something you know Radagast doesn’t like (a noise? Movement?) and use that when he gets aggressive. You want to pre-empt that and break them out of the mode.
          The article does cover how to detect aggressive stances.


        • Lakincolette
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            Thank you so much for your help. I’m thinking of doing another car ride to see if that helps

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        Forum BONDING Bonding for beginners? Help?