Because I can barely remember what I ate for dinner yesterday, I figured keeping a bonding thread for Peep and Yumi might help me keep track of what Im doing (and also helping me see any mistakes Im making!)
So I have had Peep just over a week now, – I started bonding pretty quickly(after talking with the woman from the shelter about it) for 2 reasons-
1) Peep is super relaxed (he grew up in a sanctuary and was re-homed more than once, and is a very confident boy)
2) Yumi was getting cage rage- to the point she was getting so worked up she was biting anyone who went near her cage (not just the new bun) so after three days I decided that both bunnies should meet in neutral territory (bath tub)
Once she met him bun on bun-that stopped completely, she calmed down and the pacing and shadowing stopped too.
They met in the bathtub three times a day for 15 -30 minutes at first. After three days of it I wasn’t happy with how they were acting despite how short a time frame it was, some things are worth persisting with, but to me I was looking at the potential of an injury to one or both buns.
Every session took the same route, they would groom each other politely, one would push for dominance and a fight would break out.
To me, the confined space was causing the problem to be worse. Both bunnies are stubborn and want to be in charge, cornering them into sorting it out was pretty much asking for the worst case.
So they were given the bathroom floor which is slippy and large enough and 100% neutral. Seeing as Yumi claimed me as hers, I am resigned to sit in the bath tub out of sight.
This hasn’t stopped the bickering, but it gives them a chance to move away from one and interact with one another minus a full fight.
<Yesterday>
I was sick and not in the humour to deal with a bunny bickering so I lugged the 2 of them into my bed. (I had a boyfriend at hand to assist if anything was to go wrong, though once in bed both rabbits just go into sleepy cuddle mode)
-This way the rabbits spent an hour together tooth purring and sharing a favourite space (all positive association is good right?)
<Today>
The most recent session lasted an hour, one fight in the first 15 minutes of the date. Lots of tie spent ignoring each other and grooming themselves in different locations(Im going to own the cleanest rabbits in the world after this)
Peep approached Yumi a few times but was given a nip- to go away, which was what he did-there was no escalation to a full fight.
Session ended with them eating together. I also used the time to brush Peep…Yumi was still eating and I felt it would help with the positive note for Peep.
Unintentional advantage- Yumi joined in and ‘helped’ groom Peep. Lasted for about 15 minutes, she would groom and then go eat food and return to clean his eyes and ears. Tried to praise this “good” behaviour from Yumi with the occasional nose rub ( Lots of tooth purring.)