Is mutual exercise space no longer neutral space?

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This topic has 1sd reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 5 months ago by DanaNM.

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- 06/05/2018 at 5:04 PM
  godzlini
  Participant
  5 posts
  This is a second question I have about the two buns I currently bonding (and still have so ways to go with). We had 5yr old male Fluff first and kept him upstairs so it’s “his.” When we got 2 yr old Baby Girl, we put her pen next to his upstairs and did pre-bond swapping so they could get used to each others’ scents, but did all our bonding downstairs which was neutral. But we gave them alternate time in the upstairs living room so that they could each get sufficient exercise.
  
  With it being summer, we realized it gets way too hot upstairs to keep the buns there, so we moved both of their pens downstairs where it’s cool and have moved our bonding to the hallway. BUT we still let them do their alternating exercise time upstairs when it’s cooler in the evenings.
  
  My question is about when we start trying to move them upstairs at the end of the summer. It’s definitely not neutral space for Fluff, and now I wonder if Baby Girl will consider it “hers” since she hasn’t experiencedit with Fluff yet, though surely she can smell that he’a been up there. We also live in an apartment so there is no where else that would give them sufficient runaround space.
  
  Once they have gotten friendly in the hallway, how can we start introducing them to sharing the upstairs space?
  
  Sorry for typos…I am typing on my phone with tiny keys XD
- 06/05/2018 at 7:24 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  I would keep using your hallway as your neutral space, and the upstairs area will eventually be your “semi neutral” area (especially if you clean very well and reorganize so they don’t immediately recognize it).
  
  Once they are doing well in the hallway for longer time periods (no aggression, relaxed around each other, with snuggling and grooming), then you can have them spend a long time together in the hallway, such as an overnight or two in their neutral space before moving to less neutral.
  
  Then the idea is to start them in the neutral space, and move them together into the less neutral area. Some bunnies will back track a little when you move locations, other’s don’t. It depends on the pair!
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
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