Aggressive Moose

[Monkeybun]

So. Tonite we had attempted to put Moose and Monkey together as they had been doign so well in sessions. Bad idea.. Moose got all out aggressive with ym little girl, chasing, pulling out a TON of her fur, she was terrified.

 

Hubby wants to get rid of Moose now, he says he’ll never be able to trust him with our Monkey, he’s just being such an ass now. Will NOT leave her alone. He was doing so well in the sessions…

I just don’t know what to do. Hubby is scared we’ll wake up to a dead Monkey if we put them together again, even if we continue the sessions. He doesn’t want to now, as he just does not trust Moose.

 

Help

[Beka27]

Were they still in neutral space?

[jerseygirl]

Oh, I’m sorry MB. I suggest to just go back a step. Some stressing and session in netral play area. They might not have been ready after all. Remember, this happened with Jenna’s Chubs&Comet but they did bond. My own pair had a tussle the 1st night I attempted to put them together. It wasn’t long after I recognised a change. They sorted things out and we went ahead to a full bond.

Maybe if your husband sees how Monkey is toward Moose next time they’re together might help. She could be more forgiving than her human Daddy. I would try some sessions why he’s at work too if he’s upset by what’s happened. I understand he’s skeptical right now with Moose but it’s not totally out of the norm in bonding. (Hugs)

[Elrohwen]

Awww, I’m so sorry MB! I agree with Jers that going back a step and having more positive interactions is the way to go.

It’s going to be hard for your husbang to learn to trust Moose again, and I can totally see my husband saying the same thing as yours in that situation. But I think if you have a lot more positive sessions he’ll start trusting again.

[Monkeybun]

Beka, they were in a whole new cage and pen area. We completely demolished their area and rebuilt it all after washing everything down with vinegar and washing all the blankies. New fleece too.

My hubby sees M&M together all the time, he knows how Monkey does with him.. he’s worried about our little girl, and would rather get Moose a new home than make it more stressful on her.

I told him to sleep on it, and maybe try smaller sessions today.

[Sarita]

Husbands should stay out of bonding :~) Any idea at all at what could have set him off? I say start over again as well and see how it goes.

[Elrohwen]

Ditto Sarita. Husbands make things way more difficult.

[Deleted User]

My boyfriend said the same thing when he watched a moving-in session of rabbits I was bonding. He said that they were surely going to kill one another. Rabbits who are attacking EACH OTHER are the ones who might hurt/kill one another; Moose scares Monkey but since he is succeeding in this he has no need to kill her. Bonding animals tend to be satisfied with scaring the other one good.

edit: My guess is that Moose has been set off by realizing that Monkey is now in a space with him smaller than before and that he is not yet ready to share that with her.

[Deleted User]

You might not be able to use the cementing pen that you have made next time you try the big move-in. Did the cementing space you built include any space or materials previously used by Moose?

[Monkeybun]

Yeah, most of it was Moosie’s before. We’ll remake Moosie’s pen and rebuild again when its cementing time again. No biggie

[Deleted User]

Next time, choose only things that Moose has not known before, washing in vinegar sometimes doesn’t fool the rabbits enough. Also, use a tarp to put underneath, a new one.

[Monkeybun]

Not sure my hubby will go for buying whole new cage stuff, when we have more than enough for one already

[Deleted User]

no need. I saw your picture

[TARM]

Is there a reason you would have to rehome Moose if you aren’t able to bond them? You can build a cage that has two separate areas for them to live in like the ones I have. It would mean separate play times but mine all get out for two hour intervals in the evenings (I have the bunny room and the hallway to use so two sets are out at a time). That seems to satisfy them.

[Monkeybun]

We just don’t have the room in the apartment to permanently house them separately. And the hubby is pissed at Moose and doesn’t trust him. But, I did convince him to give it another shot. We’ll start over with cube sessions, and we’ll wait to try the pen again til after we come back from our cabin trip at the end of the month.

[TARM]

Awww man, that sucks. :0( Poor Moosie. I’m sending over <<>> vibes.

[RabbitPam]

I was wondering if the new set up brought out the territorialism in him. Please remind me – they’re both speutered, right?

I’ve read of many setbacks on this site in bonding, only to have the pairs ultimately be together. It definitely means stepping back a stage or two, even starting over, to get there. Maybe a carrier car ride, or a basket on the washer/dryer would be less challenging. A visit together in the tub, with a screen and water bottle to stop a fight before it starts would be good to try also. He may have spring fever?

{{{{{{{{{{calm down vibes to Moose and hubby.}}}}}}}}}}}
{{{{{{Snuggles Monkey}}}}}}}}

P.S. As I type, Sammy has been staring at me, facing me like a statue, for about 5 solid minutes. Bunnies are just weird!!!

[Monkeybun]

Oh yeah, both of em are fixed. Moose was neutered by the Rabbit Advocates. They don’t adopt out unspeutered buns

[RabbitPam]

How’d they do last night and this morning?
It seems like Monkey may be in love with Moose, but he’s not enamoured of her. I think time and patience will fix this one. Frustrating, though.

(Don’t rule out aggression if he isn’t feeling well. Watch him in case he’s got anything wrong, like a toothache or something.)

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