Bonding Struggles

[TaylerP]

I’m in the process of bonding my male minilop, Louis, with my female lionhead, Rosie. Prior we had tried bonding and Louis was pretty aggressive so went back to prebonding for 3 more weeks. All the cage aggression went away so I started bonding again and it’s been about a month and we’ve been doing sessions in the bathroom. This time he was much more curious about the space then in her. For the most part they don’t interact much but will lay beside each other if they’re being pet. I think Louis will try and present his head to be groomed but she hasn’t yet. If he’s been doing this for a while he will sometimes turn quickly and bite her. It never escalates further because I push his head away. Rosie is very passive and it seems like she just wants a friend to cuddle. He will sometimes come up to her quickly and bite but I’ve learned to stop him from coming up to her unless they’re both being pet.

They will lay and relax a few feet away from one another, and they often groom themselves in front of one another.

If anyone has had a similar experience, especially with the quick bites, I would appreciate any advice on how you got past this. It feels like we’re stuck.

Thank you in advance!

[Asriel and Bombur]

I have a few questions. Is it a full one bite like fur pulling draw blood bite? or is it a nip? A nip is totally fine and it’s how bunnies communicate with each other. A nip is typically quick and it’s done before you even notice it happened. Because it sounds more like he’s nipping to get her to groom him. As long as she’s not escalating it, I’d say it’s fine.

When you say you stop him from coming up to her except when they’re both being pet, is that like in general? Like do you never let him approach her? I know its scary, but they won’t make any progress out of the bathroom or to longer sessions until you let them physically interact. Unless she seems in distress or like it’s about to get aggressive with a full on bunny fight, you need to let them do their thing and figure themselves out and how they work together.

It sounds like overall things are good, so I wouldn’t be too worried about any nips. It’s a good sign they groom themselves in front of each other and are comfortable enough to lay relaxed in front of each other.

[TaylerP]

I would say it’s more like a full bite, it’s never drawn blood, probably due to her really long hair around her neck and face but on at least one occasion he bit a clean chunk of her hair off. 

When I do let him go up to her without petting him it seems like more often then not he attempts to go in for a quick bite so I’ve not been very comfortable letting him approach her especially when she’s sitting in a corner. I will try and let them interact more though and sort it out! Rosie is just so gentle and timid around Louis that I don’t want her to be terrified. 

Thank you for your advice!

[Asriel and Bombur]

I would just always be at the ready to separate or intervene if need be. I agree when she’s in a corner I’d be hesitant, but when they’re out in the open, see how they handle the situation.

Bombur has quite fluffy fur that’s easy to pull out, so whenever Asriel nipped him it would look like they had been fighting. So it does look worse than it is.

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