Bonding a Nethie? Update? Progress? Help?

[Tate]

 I posted quite a few times on here about Fievel and Velvateen’s bonding. It’s going well in the bathroom where it’s neutral and they get lots of loves and treats when they are together…. out of the bathroom and in the hallway where they frequently go, is a different story. Much more work to do. 

I’m more asking a general question… is it harder to bond a Nethie to another rabbit than any other breed? I wanted a Nethie before I got V so I did some research on what was characteristic of the breed and while most people agree that they are awesome, I’ve heard that they are much more high strung than other rabbits. Fievel is a Holland Lop and while he’s a bit neurotic at times, he’s a big ball of love and affection and I can tell he misses having his bunny buddy. Can two rabbits at opposite ends of the spectrum get along? 

I haven’t noticed how high strung/anxious V is until a few days ago when we started actual bonding sessions. He CLINGS to me like a baby. I put him down on the floor and 2 seconds later, he’s on me and trying to climb up my shoulders. He’s also fairly protective of me and will nip at Fievel if Fievel tries to get on my lap. I will say that V frequently flops all over the place so I don’t think he’s totally uncomfortable. He binkies quite a bit as well.

I feel so bad for Velvateen and I do think that he would benefit from having a rabbit to snuggle with. He’s so concerned with being the big bun man that he’s become anxious. I think that this is what’s holding him back from being in luuuurrve with Fievel again. They share one xpen that’s 4 ft x 6 ft but it’s divided down the middle so they each have 2 ft x 6 ft, plus a little loft thing that gives them an extra 2sq ft. They frequently lay side by side and wash each other through the divider. 

V is also much much tiny than Fievel- V is just over 1 lb and Fievel is closer/probably over 3 lbs. Maybe the sheer size difference is causing him stress (side note: how adorable would it be to have a little bunny weight room with a barbel with apples for weights and a little carrot juice bar? Hehe!).

Anyone have experience bonding a breed known for being a little high strung to one that’s not? Or, any tips for easing V’s stress? 

[Monkeybun]

Well, Monkey is a nethie, and she bonded quite easily to Smudge She did have problems with Moose, when I tried to bond them, but that was more Moose being obnoxious than Monkey.

Monkey is 1.5lbs, and Smudge is close to 3lbs, so similar sizes to yours.

I’d say don’t try int he hallway until they are closer to being bonded, if its territory they both have. Stick to neutral stuff for now

[Tate]

Did Monkey have any “characteristic” Nethie personality traits? I know that it’s kind of a bad generalization to make but the more I read about them, the more it does seem like Nethies are more likely to be high strung. Anything I can do to calm him down?
It’s odd because instead of closing the bathroom door now, I just use a baby gate to block it off. That way they can see out to where they are able to run but still in neutral territory. V freaks out at will do anything he can to get out of the bathroom when I do this. I’ve gone back to shutting the door closed and while V still wants to get out, he’s much more relaxed with the door closed.
I don’t think Fievel is being obnoxious… he’s such an… oaf.

[Sarita]

Well, I once had a netherland escape from her pen (she was small enough to fit through and I was stupid enough not to figure it out) and she bonded herself to another rabbit I had. He was super laid back. She just went into his pen and ate his food and that was that.

I’m not so sure that the netherlands I have known have been particularly high strung, but they sure are fast and hard to catch compared to my big bunnies.

[Tate]

So it is just Velvateen! Haha lucky me..

[mia]

What behaviors do you mean by high strung? Since I’ve never had any other rabbits, don’t know if this is normal behavior or not but my female will grunt / growl at at anything that gets near her (stuffed animal, vegetables, treats, the male, etc) and they both start shaking when in a closed carrier even if the carrier is still at home. Any car, motorcycle, trunk, train, door closing noise will stop them in their tracks.

[Monkeybun]

Monkey? High strung?

…you could say that, and it would be an understatement

[Beka27]

Posted By Sarita on 06/04/2011 03:27 PM
Well, I once had a netherland escape from her pen (she was small enough to fit through and I was stupid enough not to figure it out) and she bonded herself to another rabbit I had. He was super laid back. She just went into his pen and ate his food and that was that.

That must have given you a heart attack upon first discovering that.  

[Tate]

Posted By Monkeybun on 06/05/2011 12:27 AM
Monkey? High strung?

…you could say that, and it would be an understatement

Hahahaha

[Tate]

Posted By miaeih on 06/04/2011 05:41 PM
What behaviors do you mean by high strung? Since I’ve never had any other rabbits, don’t know if this is normal behavior or not but my female will grunt / growl at at anything that gets near her (stuffed animal, vegetables, treats, the male, etc) and they both start shaking when in a closed carrier even if the carrier is still at home. Any car, motorcycle, trunk, train, door closing noise will stop them in their tracks.

He’s become so clingy towards me. I’ll take them both into the bathroom for a bonding session and he’s all over me and acting like Fievel is going to turn at any moment and attack him. He’s also been lunging and growling at more more, but it’s not totally unusualy- he’s always letting me know when I’m not welcome somewhere. And he started PEEING! He backs his butt up to the divider in the xpen and tries his hardest to get it in Fievel’s pen. Those are the biggest issues. But then again, Fievel is soo unaware of what’s going on around him so he just kinda bumbles along… maybe he’s the weird one and V is totally normal. Haha

[Monkeybun]

Have you tried switching pens? Every day, switch which bun is which pen. It helped with my buns. They got more used to having the other bun’s scent around them all the time. And you may want to try another neutral area for sessions too

[Tate]

I have tried switching pens, but I don’t do it daily mostly because Fievel seems to get very confused I’ll start doing it daily now. I also got them both stuffed rabbits that I switch between them but they haven’t taken to them like I hoped.
I’m visiting my boyfriend right now and we’ve been here a month but back to my town again in 10 days. They are only allowed in my room there because of my roommate’s dog, but I’ll definitely being doing bonding sessions in the bathroom!

[Deb'sBuns]

When I bonded Mufasa and Lily I had a split x pen just like you. I also read on here to switch them daily. I did it and it worked. They love each other very much.

[Tate]

It’s so odd because Velvateen is great when he has his “space”. They are fine when they are in the bathroom and they love to snuggle between the bars of their xpen. I think that V feels terribly threatened by people or other rabbits encroaching on his territory. I will definitely switch their pens though!

[Michelle&Lolli]

Not really bonding related or anything, but is it possible V doesn’t like the floor in the bathroom? I ask because Lolli HATES linoleum. Whenever I had them in the bathroom for anything, Eddie would be circling the room to get out. Lolli would always climb in my lap. She still does. I was just thinking perhaps that’s why V tries to climb you. Lolli gets a bit stressed in the bathroom (with those darn floors) too. I even put her on the bath rug and she’ll still turn around and climb right back up on my lap. lol

[Tate]

 There is a big bath mat in there. He also crosses the linoleum to get to me! Haha. He starts to freak out near the door though. Like he’s worried he can’t see what’s coming. 

 

On a side not, I put them in the living room today and used 3 xpen panels and a wall to enclose them. Gave them some veggies and they were happy for a whole 5 minutes together! 

 

[Monkeybun]

Sometimes a new space does help Looks like the living room pen may work for you.

[Tate]

Ok- one more question. They can eat together just about anywhere. If I put a plate of veggies down, they will happily eat side by side and then once they’re done, they grunt and chase each other. Is this a good sign or do rabbits tend to eat first and fight after?

[Monkeybun]

It’s good that they eat together. Eating is a social thing for buns. Maybe put a pile of hay down when veggies are gone, see if they can nibble on that and not fight.

[Tate]

Had to share because it’s kinda funny…
I’ve been doing meals for the boys together… ALL meals. I’ve kinda decided that Velvateen gets far too stressed out when he’s confined in something small and unfortunately, I don’t have a neutral room for them to play in. SO, they have been eating side by side, butts touching, in UN neutral territory! I’ve been picking them up and putting them back in their cages immediately after they are done so that they simply just get used to the fact that one’s not going to hurt the other. I planned on letting them stay out longer and longer after meals…
This morning, I went into the living room where their cages are and… I guess their cages aren’t as bunny proof as I thought? Fievel jumped into Velvateen’s cage without a hitch. Velvateen did put his head down but his ears weren’t pinned back. They smelled each other and that was that… I opened the door to the pen and they both jumped out, Fievel following closely behind Velvateen and let them eat together. Whattt????
Velvateen still runs past Fievel very quickly… he doesn’t want to be hanging around him any longer than he has to be, but other than that, he couldn’t care less.
I did check them both over for any bite marks and haven’t found anything. No pulled hair in the cages either.
So weird.

[Tate]

Oh also, I am going to bunny proof their cages more… some extra zip ties should do it. I don’t want them living together yet because this could just be a fluke. We shall see!

[Author]

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