Question about training 2 buns

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 3sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 9 months ago by Baxter n Boos Mom.

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- 07/02/2013 at 10:45 AM
  Baxter n Boos Mom
  Participant
  394 posts
  I wasn’t sure if this belonged in Q&A or Behavior….
  
  Just Sunday, I told my husband how fortunate we are that our buns (who have been bonded for 10 months) never went through humping – to establish dominance. I SPOKE TOO SOON! Monday evening – during our Tricks for Treats session, as both buns were vying for my attention, Baxter started to hump Boo.
  
  My questions are:
  
  1) Why would Baxter (dominant bun) hump Boo after so much time has passed without exhibiting this behavior – and during their training session? Does the fact that Boo receives any attention threaten the established hierarchy? Or does he just feel that Boo should not receive any attention – ever? He does chase Boo away when I pet him as well.
  
  2) Should I continue to train the buns together, and let them just work it out? Or train the boys separately? If the gate is closed, and Baxter is on the other side – he gets very agitated. I guess I could always close the door.
  
  Thank you.
- 07/02/2013 at 11:00 AM
  Elrohwen
  Participant
  7318 posts
  Mine will both hump each other if the other is getting a treat and they aren’t. So it could be dominance behavior, or it could just be “hey, get out of my way! I want that treat!”
  
  If you can train them separately, that would be better. It is hard for them to separate out who is getting a treat for what behavior, so you will be able to teach things faster one at a time. Though if you just want to have fun and don’t mind how fast they are learning, you can continue with the joint sessions. When I’m giving treats together, I just try to keep both bunnies occupied enough that they don’t start humping and bothering each other.
- 07/02/2013 at 11:11 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Sometimes humping is simply because they are excited which is probably the reason for this – the treat.
- 07/02/2013 at 11:16 AM
  Baxter n Boos Mom
  Participant
  394 posts
  Thank you so much for your insight! I really appreciate it.
  
  So – I may try the separate training sessions….and see how that goes.
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