Bonding two males – a journal

[dusky2012]

So we adopted a new mini lop male today after a successful date. In the UK we tend to do fast bonding and have been recommended to do this by the rescue.

We had dusky and victor together for around two and a half hours today (the 1st meet). There was lots of humping from victor and dusky was fine with this. They were not aggressive at all and by the end they were snuggled up together asleep!

We did this in neutral territory so we ‘re planning to do long bonding session again tomorrow. The only issue we had was with grooming, they are both asking for grooms and dusky is now starting to thump when his requests are ignored.

All in all a very successful session!

[kcomstoc]

Try putting some mushed up banana on each of their foreheads, it might entice them to groom

[dusky2012]

Yeah we bought some banana tonight so trying it in the morning.

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

My buns were bonded for several months, before Boo would groom Baxter. Baxter, the surprisingly dominant bun would groom Boo pretty often. So unless not receiving grooming leads to scuffles – I wouldn’t be overly concerned.

[dusky2012]

Well I’m going to try them again today and see how it goes. They seem to have had a good night in their seperate pens, they will both flop near each other. Didn’t realise how cute two bunnies could be!

[dusky2012]

Well I’m going to try them again today and see how it goes. They seem to have had a good night in their seperate pens, they will both flop near each other. Didn’t realise how cute two bunnies could be!

[dusky2012]

Oops, double post! I was getting the error message so thought it hadn’t posted.

[Bam]

Congratulations!!!I’m struggling with my two belligerent males.

Did your buns hump backwards at all during their first session? Mine do that and since I don’t want them to bite each others penises off, I have to separate them. I feel like I’m getting nowhere.

[dusky2012]

Yes they do. Dusky seems confused about humping and goes to do it then suddenly stops. Victor is humping a lot both ways! I just gently pull him off then he gets the message that its wrong. By the end of it they were eating next to each other and totally flopped out asleep. I think I’ve just been really lucky with them.

[Bam]

My bunnies don’t get the message that it’s wrong. I think they consider it extra humiliating for the antagonist and therefore appropriate. What mummy says or does is of far less importance.

I think it’s perhaps a combination of luck and skill. Finger-top-sensitivity we’d call it in Sweden, the ability to know when and how to intervene. Great job!

[dusky2012]

Not easy is it. It doesn’t help us that victor was only neutered two weeks ago so is still hormonal. Started another session now, took all of two minutes for the humping to start and five minutes for dusky to thump over not getting groomed. Might have to use the banana trick

[dusky2012]

Hmm, they are now fast asleep on opposite sides of the bathroom. Didn’t expect that!

[dusky2012]

Well two hours in and the banana didn’t work, oddly enough neither of them liked it.

They’re both asleep snuggled up together, very cute.

Planning on going for another 3 hours or so, must say this bonding can get a bit dull when not a lot is happening!

[kcomstoc]

That’s a good thing when not a lot happens too bad the banana trick didn’t work

[dusky2012]

In the session yesterday, which lasted for five hours, I moved them into the hall, a neutral area which is really close to dusky’s area. Things changed here and dusky becameore dominant which victor wasn’t keen on. Any ideas on how I can continue from here if they are still trying to work out their hierarchy? I kept them together until they flopped together which took another hour or so.

[dusky2012]

Well two hours in and things are going great. Lots of cuddles and flops, even a bit of grooming!

[kcomstoc]

awesome glad things get settled down and they groomed each other

[dusky2012]

Decided to try a session in a non neutral area which has been dusky’s for the past 6 months. Lots of honking and humping, very happy to say it only took 20 minutes for them to flop together. No fighting or aggression. So happy!

[Julezypie]

Sounds like everything is going well!

[dusky2012]

Day four of bonding. We now have lots of cuddles, flops and even the grooming has started!! Humping has reduced to a minimum amount now. We are planning on continuing with this and hopefully have them live together from the weekend.

[dusky2012]

Oops double post!

[Bam]

I’m so envious. But happy for your boys! What a success-story! I have a bonding thread of my own about my two males and it’s turned into quite a warning example.

[dusky2012]

Hi Bam,

Yeah I’d heard your bonding wasn’t going so well, I really think I just got lucky with mine, hopefully yours will get there too!

[Author]

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