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- This topic has 34sd replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 4 months ago by
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So after Chuck passed I was going to bond Noot into a trio with Kahlua and Rupert. However Rupert can be quite aggressive (he’s fear aggressive) and he’s HUGE-he’s easily 3x Noots physical size and has about 7 pounds on him; and Noot was doing well-he didn’t stop eating like he had before and was still playing and acting normally-I thought-No, No I’m not going to put Noot through it. He’s doing fine and Rupert is a very bad boy.
Rupert is fine to bond with a rabbit who is smart enough to get out of his way when he makes a ‘snake face’ (that’s his lunge bite)-like Kahlua. They did fine together and it was a quick bond. But Noot is such a gentle soul and he won’t move. Also he’s blind or nearly blind now.
You might know that my set up is a bedroom with cubes dividing it in half. Along most of the divide is litter boxes on Rupert and Kahlua’s side because they still mark the territory. (Noot does not use litter boxes and instead his whole area is lined with puppy pads. So for a long time now they could be fighting through the bars but aren’t. They are very used to each others smells, seeing each other and eating dinner near each other (I put the ‘food stations’ for both right beside each other so they would eat together).
But today I peeked in and Noot had his head pressed through the cubes into Kahlua’s back fur while she was on the loo. It was such a desperte attempt at physical contact that it broke my heart.
So begins bunny dating again.
Did a session with Kahlua and Noot (who always do fine except sometimes Kahlua gets ‘bum nippy’ because she likes chase)-they did great and groomed each other. Kahlua seems to compulsively groom if something is near her face-so it may not be love just her nature. Fine by Noot.
Did a session with Rupert and Noot. I’m preventing pretty much everything by just petting Ruperts face so I can stop any nipping before it happens. He made two half hearted attempts at nipping (exactly as predicted when Noot moved a little) but other then that they were cuddled up.
It was sweet-Noot just cuddled right up with both of them as soon as we began
. IT also reinforced that YES I have to do this
Yikes I’ve never had a tricky bond before….
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Thank you!!!
I have a fear aggressive bunny as well, and I have come to the conclusion that perhaps stress sessions might not be the key when bonding him. I think positive encounters with mashed bananas and stuff like that work best for these types of bunnies if there has not yet been really negative encounters. Of course, bunnies are different, but just a thought.
That’s exactly what I was thinking.
I used a very similar approach with my parents dog-reactive dog (Fear aggressive dog)-the open bar method (I think it’s jean donaldson method)-which is make it really positive (you get treats always when the other dog is there, and not when the other dog is not there-wow that dog must be awesome
). It worked amazing and with a few other similar techniques as we went along, and their dog who is eleven and has never been able to play with another dog was off leash playing with my dog within a year! So I was thinking since Ruperts aggression is very similar to try that-kind of systematic desensitization/counter conditioning with him. That’s super to know you had the same thought and I’m not totally off base! Thank you!
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Yikes I’ve never had a tricky bond before….
Yes, you and Karla have used up your quota on easy bonds. It will be good to not have a divider down the room if you can get a trio. What will you do regarding Noots toileting though?
K&K, I know you’re savvy on clicker training, do you think clicker work could help in bunny to bunny bonding and with fear aggression?
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K&K, I know you’re savvy on clicker training, do you think clicker work could help in bunny to bunny bonding and with fear aggression?
Sorry missed that! Yeah I’ve seen it used with dogs and it’s definitely a consideration. I think here is the difference. You could certainly clicker an animal to tolerate another in it’s space (usually the clicker is being used to train a dog who is dog reactive to become dog selective…which is different from taking a dog reactive dog and making him a friendly dog or able to live with another) -to form a meaningful bond…I’m not sure if that can be trained per se. I’d have to think about that. Very neat idea….
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K&K, you write “nipping” – nipping isn’t so bad. I think you should try to give it a go with that trio. Petzy has gone missing (Petzy where are youuuu?), but once she is back she can help you on your way.
I am trying to bond bunnies who do much more than nipping, so to me nipping sounds like it will be an “easy” bond
Have you tried putting Noot and Rupert together in a small box with hands on both on them and petting them, so they cannot bite the other? That’s what my sessions are all about, and perhaps it might just be working. -
Oh gosh! You know, it ran thru my mind, another bun, but I resisted saying it. Not like you need encouragement. lol Truthfully I happen to think it would be a great idea! Even another senior bun if you can manage it.
Lol, when I read you are umming and ahhing about another, I thought “I guess she’ll have to check it out with Dave” but who are we kidding right?! lol !
LOL You know me
Yeah Dave actually said he doesn’t mind…He might even come to the HS with me on Saturday if he’s not too busy- That’s his blessing I guess I’ll be a devil’s advocate here, when it comes to getting a new friend for Noot. The ages of the bunnies will ultimately never match. So with Noot a senior, he might have a happy life, but when he goes to the bridge, you will have 3 again. And then again, if you get a senior who preceeds Noot at the bridge, will he be even more heartbroken?
I know…I know -however the goal has never been to get ‘down to two’ or three or what have you. I think four is the max I can have in this space right now. I had hoped when we move that I can make a bigger bunny room that could accomodate one more pair-and was tossing around the idea of either adopting a special needs pair or fostering. I totally get you there though-in fact my mom said the same thing. My mom thinks one bunny should be my goal
A few facts I can’t get away from…
1) I don’t think I could trust Rupert with him-since he’s blind he can’t predict his advances. Rupert isn’t trying to kill him but I do have quite the scar from Rupert trying to get to Kokanee and he’s got a monster bite. Just don’t think I can trust him ever with Noot.
2) Noot needs somebody
3) When Noot passes on (and whether that’s sooner or later-he’s fantastically healthy aside from his eye which healed and his tooth which the specialist thinks is doing fine-his bloodwork and physical was great)-this bunny could (provided that one doesn’t go blind!!) bond with Rupert and Kahlua-or may need to shop for his/her own friend. Either situation would be fine.Again-I’m not for certain…well mostly for certain….I’m heavily considering going to the HS on Saturday to date…But I’m still thinking and I do appreciate both the votes for yes and for no.
We would require plenty of pics of potentials, have to be sure we get the best for little Nooty
http://www.edmontonhumanesociety.com/index.php?option=com_adoptions&view=adoptions&Itemid=6
They’re all gorgeous of course-but I was thinking Zepplin sounded very calm and affectionate and that might work… -
Gee, thanks, Karla. Now I just read your reply, K&K, and it does make a difference that you want no less than 3 at any time. I don’t agree with your mother to get them down to one LOL.
Kahlua has always been a sweet, laid back girl, and Rupert has given you a work out from the get go, so I see your concerns about him not getting it about Noot. But I can’t imagine him not being satisfied with being the alpha male bunny so easily, unless he hates when Kahlua gives Noot affection or if he objects to Noot’s smell, being incontinent as he is.
I think a healthy bunny taking care of Noot like he took care of Chuck is a real long shot. But I am wondering if you have another disabled bunny with him, separated from Rupert & Kahlua as usual, with their place in Puppy Pad decor and the other two as they are, if that might work. I’d hate to see a healthy bunny raised to Puppy Pads, and frankly you can’t stop that for Noot. So what about another senior bunny? The problem there is that you are assuming the most expensive era of their lives from the get go, as they begin to fail and need additional vet work. Noot can’t help a blind bunny now, but maybe one that is younger with a different kind of disability would work with him? He’s so smart and was such a good support bunny that he might be a comfortable snuggle friend now for someone who is limited. I don’t know – it seems like such a tough match. Maybe take him on dates?
I’d still get a bit of alone bonding time with Noot and Rupert to see if you can make any progress. Bring the strainer and water bottle and gloves. I’m optimistic.
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I would not put a senior blind rabbit through bonding unless the bonds are instant. I would go with a young rabbit to bond Noot with — when Noot goes one day, you can just bond his mate to Kahlua and Rupert then.
That’s exactly what I’m thinking-I mean you can’t let them ‘figure things out’ when one is at a disadvantage so I’d like an instabond with a sweet bunny and not really looking for senior-I had to literally stop myself from just getting a baby as those are easy to bond-becuase I just don’t want to go through the teenage stage! I think Zepplin with no litter habits is a fit too lol. And I don’t want to stereotype but lops are often calmer -anyways we’ll maybe see if anyone fits on Saturday.
Maybe take him on dates?
I’m sort of planning dates on Saturday at the HS. They are a pain but they do fix all their bunnies now and have quite a few.
Calgary has very many rabbits to choose from also right now. I always love the Calgary bunnies
Noot is a calgary bunny! I would-but looking to take Noot and I don’t want to drive six hours with him-it’ll be two (there and back) to get to the wes
t end for the HS as it is…if there was a ‘for sure’ in Calgary maybe… really think you should think it over very carefully and find it why you want a fourth bunny – is it really for Noot’s and the others sake?
If it was a bunny for me and not Noot I’d be getting a tricolored Dutch
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LOL I’m not selfless Petzy
I’d love anybunny but one day I will have my tri colored dutch!! hehe And my Continental giant who will bond with my dog (as they should be approximately the same size lol ok just a fantasy) Yeah I’m thinking the litter habits mesh lol (though I am planning IF I get another to offer a litter box) and they say he’s affectionate which might mean quiet bunny with no plans to stage a coup?
The way our HS works is you fill out an application form, and take the papers off the front of the kennel of the animal you’d like. So I think I’ll do as much of an assessment as I can from seeing them in person… and then you wait to meet with a counsellor and you get to meet your pick(s)-which is when we can sort of introduce them. I think I’ll know an instabond as that’s how Kokanee reacted to Kahlua, and that’s how Noot and Chuck reacted to each other! (and not how Rupert has reacted to anybun!). My soon to be sister in law is coming too….for my ‘maybe trip to the humane society’ which is sort of becoming a ‘trip to the humane society’
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Best of luck, K&K! And it is really exciting to get a new bunny, and I hope Noot finds his soul mate. My reason to stop you from it was purely based on my ongoing very difficult bond and that my view on multiple rabbits in a household is not the most positive right now
But with dating you don’t have to deal with that!
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