bonding leo and ollie

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 9sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 11 months ago by Wicket the Ewok.

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- 01/13/2017 at 11:13 AM
  graysonbun
  Participant
  123 posts
  hi guys!!
  
  so yesterday was my first two sessions with bonding ollie (two years, neutered, netherland dwarf) and leo (around 5-6 months, neutered, mini lop) !! we started off in neutral territory, our kitchen, and I laid out a piece of fleece, a piece of cardboard and lots of fresh hay. during the first session which lasted about 15 minutes; when they were initially both put in the space, I don’t think they realized there was another bunny, even though they were only a few feet apart. eventually, leo started to make his way to where ollie was, and first sniffing there was no fight. ollie mostly just hops away and ignores leo if anything. there was only two minor scuffles in the first session. ollie licked his paws & ate a bunch of hay, while leo sort of just sat there. one thing I also wanted to point out was, multiple times leo (who is a gentle giant, very laid back, and doesn’t initiate the fights) sort of went over to ollie and put his head to the ground. If i’m correct this is him waiting to be licked or acknowledged?? we ended that session with them both sitting in separate spots.
  
  later that night we did session #2, in the kitchen, exact same setup. ollie only started one scuffle, and me simply saying “no!” split them up. ollie ate lots of hay again, and this time, leo observed and joined in, eating a few pieces also. this session was also 15 minutes and we ended on a good note.
  
  I guess my questions are, is this a good start? (i’ve read ignoring each other is preferred sometimes?) If you have any experience sounding similar to this, I would very much appreciate your input and advice. I would like to do another session today, trying a little longer?
  
  thanks so much guys, I am so grateful for your help and I will for sure keep you all updated!!
- 01/13/2017 at 12:47 PM
  Vienna Blue in France
  Participant
  5317 posts
  Hi ! *wave*
  
  It certainly sounds a good start – both buns being in each the same space and feeling relaxed enough to eat in each other’s presence
  
  Yes Leo is asking for Ollie to groom him, both could try and both will give in, one day… LOL
  
  Ollie starting a scuffle may point to him wanting to be top bun but maybe second on the list…. lol.
  
  See how the next sessions go.
- 01/17/2017 at 10:40 AM
  graysonbun
  Participant
  123 posts
  updates:
  so we’ve done a session or more everyday since my first post, things seem to be going mostly the same, lots of eating, and moving around, also very few minor scuffles. (leo is actually fighting back and defending himself now though, and that makes me feel better and proud) but in the most recent session, leo groomed ollie about 3 or 4 different times on the head!! I’m really glad that ollie is no longer running away from the contact. He hasn’t made any attempts to groom leo, but I think he might just not be that type of bunny? No flopping, but neither of them flop outside of the x pen or cage normally unless left for hours, so I’m thinking once we move onto semi neutral, and have longer sessions that may happen…
  how long should I wait for semi neutral? with the minor scuffles at the very beginning of sessions, I’m thinking it could go okay to do it soon? please let me know your opinions on how it’s going and any experience you have!! anyone want some pictures of the next session??
- 01/17/2017 at 12:05 PM
  Wascally Wabbits
  Participant
  104 posts
  I would say to move on to semi neutral if they’re able to spend several hours together in a neutral territory without any scuffles and maybe some cuddling eating together or grooming.
  
  Congrats on your bonding sessions going so well btw! I would love pictures (going through my own bonding and want visual aid lol)
- 01/17/2017 at 3:38 PM
  Vienna Blue in France
  Participant
  5317 posts
  Sounds good. But Ollie must groom Leo for the bond to be complete. Him not doing so could be habouring something inside….. so until they are mutually grooming each other they should still be supervised. Im not saying watching them intently until you go bosseyed, lol, but dont leave them alone yet.
- 01/17/2017 at 4:15 PM
  graysonbun
  Participant
  123 posts
  today’s session is going well!! used another neutral space and great results, mutual flopping. I’l attach some pictures. they’ve been together for more than an hour now and things are going well.
  
  thanks vienna- I’ll for sure make sure there is mutual grooming before I move to the next step, things are going way better than I ever anticipated, so there’s plenty of time to take it slow.
- 01/18/2017 at 1:53 PM
  Vienna Blue in France
  Participant
  5317 posts
  Surely bunnies are officially the messiest pet one can have….?
  Hmmm Azerane may have something to say about that…. she has a parroty birdy creature named after a fish.
  
  Yes they’re great photos – they look like they’re are in comfy tolerating mode.
  Your space, my space…. so the rest will come when they’re ready.
- 02/03/2017 at 3:26 PM
  graysonbun
  Participant
  123 posts
  UPDATES:
  
  things are going well!! have been doing sessions in the bathtub, and zero scuffles to report!! I think leo has established that he is the top bun. ollie does not start fights, and does not run away from contact!! I’m so happy!! here’s a pic of them laying together for you all to enjoy!!!
- 04/02/2017 at 1:46 PM
  graysonbun
  Participant
  123 posts
  just some updates for everyone!!
  bonding is still a work in progress at the moment but I think I can safely say that we are near the finish line, I’m so happy to say that!!
  Today we’ve done hours in our living room (where both of them normally hang out) and we had so much binkying and flopping!! No fights whatsoever I’m glad to say. I’m on spring break this week so I think I’ll try rearranging ollie’s whole xpen and totally cleaning it out so we’ll have a fresh start when we do put them in the pen together!!! so beyond happy to say that after months of the process, it seems we are almost there.
- 04/02/2017 at 2:33 PM
  Wicket the Ewok
  Participant
  66 posts
  Yayyyyyyy!
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