Behavior Changed After Bonding

[Frostyleo8]

Hi everyone.  I’m new, and SO glad to have found this website!

I have an unexpected situation with a new rabbit.  I adopted a female rabbit, Gwynny this past summer as a companion to my male rabbit, Hudwyn who I had had for almost a year prior.  They are both spayed/neutered.  Initially, when she came home Gwynny was kept separated from Hudwyn, and allowed me to pet, kiss, and pick her up.  But, within a week she found her way out of the pen and when I came home the two of them were cuddling. (Lucky bonding experience for me!) 

The problem is that, ever since then she has been skiddish, shy, and avoids me except when I’m giving her a treat.  I’ve read it’s because she didn’t have enough time to bond just with me, and now sees me as an outsider.  Hudwyn’s affections toward me decreased a little too due to his new girl friend (which I expected) but he still lets me pet, kiss and cuddle him.  I’ve tried getting on the floor with Gwynny and spending time with just her, but it hasn’t made much of a difference.  Any suggestions??

[babybunsmum]

i don’t have experience with bonded buns BUT i was wondering…

since i recently took my bun Baby for 3 vet visits she’s been WAY more affectionate than ever before.  she’s 7yrs old btw.  i’m able to secure the carrier in the front passenger seat so when we were stopped at traffic lights i’d open the carrier door & pet her head.  i’ve read here that car rides can be a technique trying to bond bunnies together.   is it possible to bond a bunny to a person by going for a car ride too?  if so, maybe you could put the two buns together and go for a ride, stopping somewhere to give them pets & cuddles?  i could be way off here… hope you get some tips / ideas.  so sweet that they were fast friends   good luck!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Frostyleo8…How long have you had your new rabbit? I’d say you just haven’t totally bonded with the new one and don’t worry about her being a little skittish. I’m sure she’ll come around, it takes time with bunnies and I found it took more time with my second one…Maybe try some time with all three of you, just lie down with them while they are eating and talk to them and pet them. Whenever I’m on the ground the bunnies emerge and climb all over me, and food is a good way to bond!

Also, provided they aren’t the type that get distressed when seperated, try taking one at a time and spending some time with them on a one-on-one basis. I try to take each of mine for a ten-fifteen minute cuddle/groom session each night.

Babybunsmom I totally agree with your thoughts on car rides bonding bunnies to people…I let Kokanee ride in my boyfriend’s arms one night and she climbed right up on his neck and KISSED him for the first time ever! She was even talking the whole ride. Since then they are sooo totally better bonded!

[Gravehearted]

Hi Frostyleo8 – welcome to Binky Bunny! 🙂

I think your assessment is right, that Gwynny may not feel bonded with you yet. I think that Kokaneeandkahlua is right, it just will take some time and patience for her to come around. I’d keep at laying on the floor with them and continue to try and bond with her. My bunny, Pandora is skittish – so I sneak in pets whenever I can! When I feed them in the morning, I sneak a pet – when I give her a treat I sneak a pet. 🙂 She’s so busy that she doesn’t complain and I think it helps. My roommate gets pretty silly with our bunnies. She’ll lay on the floor and shake the bottle of papaya tablets. As the bunnies come running over, she’ll hide it in her hands and put her head down on the floor. The bunnies go nutso sniffing and poking at her, while trying to get to the treats. They seem to have a lot of fun with it! You also can try holding a stick or paper towel core or hand feed veggies since bunnies love that.

[Frostyleo8]

Thank you all for your good advice, and encouragement.  Never thought about the car ride, but you might be on to something there.  I have already been hand feeding her papaya and other treats, which she will take from me, but when I try to sneak a pet she runs away.  I won’t ever give up, so hopefully time will change things between us.  I do need to spend more one-on-one time with her too which can only help.  Thanks again!!

[Gravehearted]

let us know how it’s going 🙂

[Frostyleo8]

I haven’t tried the car ride yet, and so far my attempts to hang out with her more have done nothing.  What’s worse is we’re leaving town for four days soon, so they’ll be mad when I get back and I’ll have to start over.  Not giving up, and perhaps things will progress in time.  Thanks again!

[Sarita]

Don’t give up – it may just be her personality too. It’s at least good she is bonded with Hudwyn and who knows what kind of life she had before she came to you. It may not have been ideal so it’s could take a longer time for her to trust you. Have you tried the treat trick with her? Does she like treats?

I have a rabbit Emmy who came to me a total wreck – she would growl and whimper and even nip at me, it was pretty sad. She eventually got over her fear although it took awhile. I didn’t do anything different for her though than my other rabbits that I can remember – it has been awhile since I’ve had her – she actually got adopted and came back to me recently too. I got her initially in 11/2003.

[Frostyleo8]

My husband and I rearranged the furniture in the downstairs area where the bunnies run around, and we even moved their main cage, litter boxes, etc.  I was afraid it would upset them, but since the rearrangement gave them more room, they actually both started binkying more!  I think they had become bored with the same space and the rearrangement was refreshing for them.  Still haven’t tried the car ride, but plan to when I have more time.   I have been sitting on the floor with them more, and Gwynny  take treats from my hand.  She still will not let me pet her, AND she continues to poop outside of the litterbox which is frustrating.   She’s not going on the carpet, but inside the cage, right beside the litter box!!  Hudwyn, of course is an angel and always uses the litter box.

[BinkyBunny]

As far as your stubborn Gwynny goes – Try a couple of things:

1. Get another litterbox and put it right next to the first one and/or
2. Keep healthy snacks, like rosemary and mint in the box and be sure to put it in the far corner, or sort of bury it so she actually has to get in. Do you put hay in the box?

[Frostyleo8]

I tried putting two litter boxes in the cage awhile back, but nothing changed.  They have a second litter box available to them in another area of the room, and I put Timothy and Orchard hay in both, along with some shaved carrot, parsley and/or cilantro sprigs.  Gwynny will use both of the boxes, but she also keeps going on the paper inside the cage, BESIDE the box.  It’s a mystery, and seems like she’s trying to tell me something, but i don’t know what.  I just keep cleaning the cage, and hoping she’ll get with the program.  Thanks for your suggestions…they’re very good ones!

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hmm, it sounds like she is confused. You say that you have paper outside the box? I am thinking she believes that the outside of the litterbox is O.K. to do her business on as she is having trouble associating what is appropriate. Perhaps if you change the surface outside the litterbox her habits may improve. Do you have paper in the litterbox too? This would explain the association problem.

[Frostyleo8]

I have Feline Pine in the litter box and paper in the cage.  But, you may be onto something…She may have originally learned to go on paper, and may prefer it to the pine.  I adopted her from our shelter this past July, and don’t know her history. 

I could try switching to yesterday’s news in the litterbox, and try to come up with an alternative covering for the cage floor.  Any suggestions for this?

THANKS!

[babybunsmum]

my vet uses small patches of a thin baby fleece-type material… maybe 2′ x 2’… to make a bunny burrito if needed for an exam.  i think this type of material would be great because its soft & doesn’t have lots of stringy bits even when nibbled on. if you could find something similar in a dollar store, or remnant pieces in a fabric store so you have several it would be easy to give a fresh clean one as needed & then shake out & launder dirty ones.

[Frostyleo8]

Thanks !  I’ll look into this.

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