Bunny bonded to dog ???

[Peanut the Nut]

Hey everyone! I’m new to the community! I’m a 20 year old college student and got my Lionshead, Peanut, from a shelter back in November to be my ESA (emotional support animal) while at school. He’s an intact male and just turned 1, I’ve had him for about eight months now. I would like to neuter him soon, but an exotic animal vet in Fairfax, VA is charging over $200, so I’ll need to save up first (If you have any recommendations that are cheaper, but still professional, PLEASE respond on this as well!). 

Every academic break I go back home to my parents, where my retriever mix, Titan, stays. He would’ve been my ESA but he has epilepsy, so that’s why I got Peanut. Anyway, I introduced Peanut to our animals (Titan & Hope, our dogs, and Perseus, our Maine Coon cat) and everyone got along well. However, Peanut gets along with Titan almost TOO well. The odd behavior he shows are as follows:

– Follows Titan all over the house to the point that I have to lock him in the cage to make sure he actually eats & drinks. He won’t leave his side. I can actually let him roam the backyard with the dogs since he’ll come inside with them when they’re called.

– Humps Titan’s face. It’s hysterical until Titan licks between his legs – not sure if it’s “encouraging” the behavior or something. I tell him “no” and pull him off if it starts getting a little too steamy. He know’s what “no” means, just simply doesn’t give a hoot. He’ll go by my cords and when I tell him “no,” he shakes/shivers like he’s offended.

– Circles and digs on the dog. Poor Titan can’t catch a break from this weirdo unless I put him back in his cage, and he’s starting to get annoyed. When we hang out and lay on the bed, Peanut hops up (the bed is like 3ft off the ground, btw. Agility prospect, perhaps? lol) and climbs all over Titan – begging to be groomed, licking, honking, spraying, and eventually mounting him. When Titan starts to flat out ignore him, Peanut digs on his belly and penis, and seems to also nip on him. I’ve never heard Titan actually growl before, but Peanut ignored it and continued, causing Titan to snap. Most of the time, Titan will get up and move to another spot on the bed, only to be followed and nipped some more. It seems like Titan only snaps at Peanut when he nips his tummy, so I try to stop him when it looks like he’s about to dig/nip.

I know these behaviors are characteristic of an intact male (and that I should neuter him?, but why towards Titan? And ONLY Titan? Peanut has approached/been approached by my other furbabies, but takes a few sniffs and just goes right back to Titan. What do you guys think??? Have any of you experienced this before?

[Bam]

I have experienced sth very similar minus the humping with my German Shepherd dog and my bunny Bam. Bam followed her around relentlessly, circled her and nipped her and would not leave her alone. He also started pee-and poopmarking on the the sofa and the dog’s blankie. I had him neutered and it all went away, much to my dog’s relief.

[Peanut the Nut]

How much did your neuter cost you where your state (also, what is it?)? I’m hoping he’ll stop when I get him fixed but I’m afraid the longer I wait, the more the behaviors will stick. He is only 1 though, but I know horses who get gelded later than usual and still have stallion-like attitudes, so I imagine the same applies.

[Author]

Messages