Hi, I am a new member. My name is Laura

[Domino&Ash]

Hi !

I’m from the US and I am a first time rabbit owner but I have a lifetime of experience with them.

After a childhood spent at my mother’s animal sanctuary and teen years spent pet sitting and shelter volunteering, I finally have a home I can offer bunnies a safe, fun place to live.

I grew up with only cats at home and bunnies at all my outside animal experiences (among other animals).

I was even in charge of the Bunny Cabin at my (then) local animal shelter 

My Two Boys:

2 from the same pen, not same litter

7 week old Bucks

*Ash *(Dwarf Lop/Lop mix)

“The silly snuggler” 

He loves snuggling, arranging blankets and playing peekaboo. He also bathes his brother a lot!

*Domino* (Netherlands Dwarf/Dwarf Lop mix, according to the pet store. Mini Rex with possible Hotot, according to the vet)

“The gregarious adventurer”

This guy is going to be a big time jumper. I am going to have my work cut out for me.

He also has no fear.

He loves playing chase ( again : my work cut out for me!)

TODAY:

Day 3
The boys have doubled in size, I think !
They cuddle and bathe each other  and love sitting under my chairs where I am sitting.

Yesterday, My second day with them, I sat on the floor in their play area and they came to play around me and sit with me. When I returned to sit and hang out later, I  played music too, they loved it ! Especially Domino. He seems to like Soul and Funk, especially Bootsy Collins!

I *will* get a video of it *haha*
They also have started jumping.
The first day when they were playing, Ash (Lop) jumped and kicked his heels!
Yesterday they were jumping in and out of their baskets and boxes and up on top of their boxes.
I’m happy to say they seem to be thriving.

Myself, I am beyond blissfully happy 

[Luna]

Hi! A “Bunny Cabin”?! I’m jealous lol. It sounds like your boys have settled in well . A snuggler and an adventurer definitely sounds like a fun/interesting mix.

[Domino&Ash]

@Luna

Yes ! You called it 

Although Ash (the snuggler) has become progressively more daring.

I grew up with cats at home, bunnies at all my volunteer jobs.

My two boys behave like my cats did !

At their favorite times of day, they tear around, binkying and playing  hide and seek. It’s awesome.

It’s also so fun to watch them become more and more daring climbers and jumpers…although,again: a little worrying.

I’m already planning a suitable play structure to deter unsafe acts of bravery *haha*

Thank you for your sweet reply(:

I’m happy to finally join the Mom club.

-L

[Domino&Ash]

UPDATE May28

New Bunny Mom Lessons Learned
(30 year bunny volunteer. First time owner)

*They prefer to be with me/humans
*They prefer free run of the home (not cooped up in one room/cage…I kept them in the bathroom and front hall their first week and have since when needed)
*They definitely prefer their natural warren order and rituals
(Domino is the Alpha, Ash is the sentinel and groomer…Domino leads, Ash copies)
*Bunnies are a lot like cats in personality and play, but more like dogs in their social rules

My Boys:
*Love Kale and ‘bunny herbs’
*Love to forage and climb more than run or throw (grass stalks go in their dig box and they love it)
*Recognize their own names
*Like to scare me to get my attention:
with repeated noises that make me react when I’m sitting alone in a room or play chase by my feet until I follow… usually to play, sometimes for food or to change the litter box (sometimes they pee more and don’t like it in the box)
* Pee in one box poo in the other
* Domino loves greetings (rubs, purrs,dances) Ash loves baby talk (purrs,closes eyes)
*Both loooove having their necks and jaws massaged
*Domino is more a Superman sleeper (and a deep sleeper, dreamer…I think he dreams about eating) Ash is a Flopper but these are def. their usual positions

[Luna]

They will only pee in the one box and then only poo in the other box? Well that’s a new one to me lol.

[ThorBunny]

Welcome!

Seems like you have two wonderful scamps on your hands

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Welcome Laura, Ash and Domino

They sound lovely! And yes, you are correct: rabbits are very social animals just like dogs. They’ll use their body language to communicate with you, and as you become more acquainted, you’ll recognise their behaviour as if they were speaking. Don’t think that they won’t be studying you as well: rabbits will adapt to their owners and approach each member of the household differently. For instance: our rabbit Breintje has a tendency to groom me on painful places at my body when my illness is acting up. It’s really cute ^_^

[Domino&Ash]

@ThorBunny

Oh boy that was the half of it…or maybe more like the 1/4 of it as they have grown A LOT more than I anticipated ! And their personalities have really flourished.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY ((:

JUNE UPDATE

*Ash (mini Lop)*

 Ash has come into his own. He is a prolific marker. I am reading about techniques to prevent that, such as cuddling him ASAP when he is out playing and giving him a quick acknowledgement when I pass him.(He was a snuggler in the beginning and I’ve read excessive marking can be attention-seeking or nervousness which love-ups can calm). When he is scared -at the vet or when the vacuum goes on- he comes straight to me and makes a ball, I pick him up, he nuzzles in and does not want down…clings to me until he is ready to jump down.)

When he is given run of the house, he finds a hiding spot (usually in our front room curtains) and stays there almost all day. Dommy prefers to be wherever I am.

In early June, we bought a huge bag of walnuts from a farmer and another bag of peaches. As they sat on the kitchen floor, Ash climbed the bag and grabbed a peach bigger than his head and brought it back to their rug to decimate with the help of Domino  Later that month, we left our paper bag of walnut hulls on the floor and came back to find it all over the floor. It wasn’t until we were shelling more during playtime that Ash revealed his passion of them. No gentle redirection was keeping him from “his” walnuts! After quick research, we gave him a bunny-bite-size bit of walnut meat…..he is really becoming the more active and challenging of the two!

He’s gotten a bit of a dew lap starting and doesn’t snuggle as much as bite his brother, usually when playing chase.

I’ve been separating them at night and when I leave the house. They are due for their neutering at the end of then month, when they’ll be 4.5 months of age.

Over the past three weeks, their legs have developed a lot and Ash jumps over the 2.5 foot gate I have put in the kitchen. We moved into a house at the end of May. They were happily in the bathroom, then got comfy in the kitchen which is where I keep and feed them. My bedroom has carpeting so I let them in here for play times. Unfortunately, I think Ash is highly hormonal and bored as he invariably pulls Dominos hair and sometimes skin out ! during what used to seem to be just hide and seek frolicking.

*Domino Netherland dwarf/ hotot”

 Dommy is still the social one. He was the first to come to me and let me hold him when I met them. He loves binkying around me when I bring him in my room and even naps in my bed with me. He is well trained and poos and pees in his box. I have discovered he is crazy for citrus fruits and apples. Before I’ve even bitten into one, he follows me, nose twitching and himself parascoping . About once  a week I give him the *seedless* leftovers…not of the citrus. I let him lick and nibble some skin of a lemon maybe once a month and he loves berries and tomatoes (no tomato greens of course) .I give him one or two of his fav fruits every other day. They both love grape stems but not so much grapes. They love mint, basil and rosemary. I got them alfalfa cubes at the local feed store which they love tearing apart at their leisure more than the pellets which I also give them.

Dommy is definitely a digger and nester. I’ve given him an old box full of mismatched socks which he loves and Ash sometimes snuggles with him there. I’m working on a  good dig box for him…a jumping set up for Ash although I’m sure they’ll both use both.

After speaking with a  breeder, I learned that even for babies, alfalfa should be given with caution, especially in hot climate. Alfalfa makes them very warm and I started noticing how much warmer they are after I’ve fed them their pellets which I now do not give them “unlimited” : just a cup per bunny and only for over night, when it’s cooler. I have been feeding them timothy hay since they were a month old, after reading many vets and the same breeder’s advice that they need alfalfa for growth but timothy is still healthiest.

They don’t like orchard grass unless mixed with my dried bunny herbs.

Domino still loves Bootsy Collins. If he is sleeping and I turn it on, he starts his visible chewing/purring and then his ears start turning around almost like they’re dancing. Sometimes he’ll wake up and start playing and eating happily.

Ash seems really sensitive to sound but does not like it…unless it’s one of us baby talking to him.

They’re becoming more challenging but also more spirited.

I’m still in love with my bunny babies (:

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

[BuckyLuna12]

I’m so glad you finally got buns. These guys seem to be very spoiled ?, and they seem super lucky to have you as there mum!

[Domino&Ash]

@BuckyLuna5678

Thank you! 

I’m glad for you and your buns as well…any happy animal deserves a loving owner to *safely* spoil them !

[BuckyLuna12]

I agree

[Domino&Ash]

@Ellie from The Netherlands

THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY

I am so happy your bun feels comfortable enough with you to care for you  as one of his own <3 <3

Isn’t animal language interesting?
I love sharing the fact that cats don’t normally meow . They learn we communicate with varied, inflected sounds and they mimic it. I have definitely had conversations with cats where they mimic my inflections back to me, especially questioning.

When I was recovering from surgery in June, I was moving and smelling very differently..sleeping a lot. The boys didn’t want me touching them but sat with me in the corner of the room instead of staying in their kitchen set up. As soon as I was feeling better, I knew it was real because they started responding to my voice again and became more playful with me.
They tend to prefer to sit nearby without being touched in general, though which reminds me of cats.
Their tendency to follow me around and having very ‘polite/respect’ type mannerisms especially during communication reminds me of dogs or even wolves. They definitely behave better if I give them at least one nose-to-nose respectful hello on a day. They also remind me of training dogs more than cats (yes I was one of those leashed, trained cat cat owners).

Ash likes to sit and watch tv with us and seems calmer with the men. He also shows me what he wants by going up to it and back to me and leading me to it. Dommy has a very pronounced *politely waiting for food* stance which is adorable. Ash has a similar stance when I am talking to him.
Ash has watched us step over his barrier and has learned to jump over it !

Dommy is a thumper when he wants his space, usually when we need to get him to move him or when he is eating and feels he’s being crowded.

[Domino&Ash]

August Update

Neutering!!! Yay

Awesome pet hospital.
Here is my neutering experience:

– NO FASTING Buns don’t vomit and need GI health so they ate as normal. I saved their usual breakfast treats for the clinic to entice them upon wakeup.
-Dropped off 7:30 am
– Pre-op free exam, Vet tells me what to expect, I ask about after care. Quote:
“It’s a non suture operation, so no return visit. We use a medical bond with a cover which he may chew at so watch for that. If they don’t eat or begin to bite, come in. We will take them. We have pdfs of bunny collars to print out if you want or need one.”
“After care? They’ll be up and moving within a few hours, ready to play ball the next day. Just watch their eating and chewing but pain meds will help with that.”

-Buns given gas mask until asleep, half pain meds before operation and again upon wake up
-Picked up 2:30 pm

– I provided blankets and food from home, including their treats (strawberries, salad, hay cubes)
-Both buns transported separately due to recent fighting (Ash in a basket, under a towel = one of his favorite places to be)
-Carriers: bun sized pillow, towel, ice packs wrapped in towel, a treat
-Both calm but curious in carriers, even calmer coming home

Pick Up:

-Staff had all owned bunnies at some time and all loved them visiting as they don’t get many buns
-Staff immediately proclaimed “They did great. We were all so happy to see them.” and they really were all beaming ((:
– Staff gave me the full run down of the actions and time frame as well as corroborating paperwork.
-Both buns ate in the offices as they woke up

Return:
-Domino fully awake, just a sitting more than moving, sitting on ice pack
-Ash responsive when petted but otherwise verrrrrrry still (worried)
-Ash perks up when petted on the way home and given a strawberry, curious when put in his area, back home…jumps in his hidey cubby and stays the rest of the day. I lay some hay, strawberry and greens inside which he finishes over the course of the day

Behavior/Recoup

-Domino sits in his favorite spot in my room for 30minutes. Then, he explores,weaving in and out of every place he’s played, including the front curtains and where he’d been with Ash, in our kitchen. He stops and waits or comes to get me, to follow him. Then, he returns to our bedroom, periscopes a lot wanting to jump and lazes out on the floor. When he retires to his fav’ spot, I lay his food plates beside him and he eats, occasionally eating from his grass tray.
– Place Ash in his cubby in our half bathroom to prevent skittishness at night, which he is prone to. Place his food and water at edge and he pokes his head out to eat. When room mate wakes, I will go check on Ash
-Domino very active starting in the middle of night, jumping over and around me, licking me, sleeps beside my head when not eating. Bring him his treat (multi-vitamin) and first plop him back, poke his mouth which he opens and pop in his teeny amount of pain meds for the day. Then, he tries to open his vitamin bottle, as usual LOL. Add his morning salad which he devours.
Happy Bunnies !
Now the arduous process of re-bonding them….

Hopefully the boys will be back to their old relationship soon. I’ve already started holding Ash in my lap for snuggle sessions in my room where I have been keeping Domino. They did get into one kicking/wrestling match one day, the end of July when Ash was feeling comfortable enough to hop into my room to visit.

This was as perfect of a netuer as I could hope. I will defo’ be writing a positive yelp review.
I was even given an insight into Domino (the mutt’s) breeding. The vet tech who released us referred to him as a mini rex and I questioned her.
She said the pet store may have been right that he has some N.Dwarf but he has the build and coat characteristics of her mini rex, especially the ears.
From what I’ve read he has the personality of rexes and hotots. But, I can see from the rexes he has relatively common markings, coat and ears within normal rex . Maybe I should “show ” him and have the professionals try to tell me !

[Domino&Ash]

September Updates

If you can get a shelter rabbit, do it!
They need a good loving responsible and informed parent!

As far as our human need, shelter animals are usually neutered. Get one who is, even if it’s an adult. It’s worth the stress less bonding.

Get a male and female if possible as they are the natural bond in the warren and rabbits naturally need a companion.
Human families love our bunnies but we can not spend as much time with them in their way as they need and we do not communicate in their bunny love language.

Now, about my boys:
Neutering healed well.
They were running and jumping the next day and Ash, who had become more “loaf-y” since puberty, jumped up on my bed for the first time, ever!

They have now slowly re-bonded, YAY
They now both live in my bedroom. The under-bed is their warren and they skitter out to eat throughout the day until dusk, when they explore and spread out, usually flopping down together after play time.
They do everything together, now just as when I first adopted them (before puberty)

HOW I REBONDED SAME AGE/SAME LITTER BUCKS:

Each step or two was over the course of 4 days to week. The first steps start when they began violently fighting and ends when they were rebounded.There is no formula, I just gauged their moods and reactions.

1.Kept separate, switched rooms/feeding box every day or two, placed towel with one to sleep on, gave to other during the next day and switched back, etc.
2. Held quieter bun (Ash) on lap in same room until one became restless/territorial
3.Kept one in room overnight in cage with other out, switched every night or two
4.Talked to and praised both at same time when together

**5.Allowed out together for as long as not fighting
6. As time together got longer and calmer, allowed in my room with me at same time

I think of this as Phase 2.
When allowed together in same room:

1. SEPERATE Food/litter at opposite ends of room, slowly moved closer as rabbits appear calmer
2. Redirect with moving to extra food or offered treat when stealing or pushing begins
3. Spray Bottle
1) Used same phrases with same intonations (ie:”Ash, be nice” with lilting but deep tone)
2) Used same preventative phrase,then warning phrase and then “No,no,no”
3) If chasing. stealing food BOTH sprayed with vinegar water until in opposite corners of room while saying name of instigator :
“Domino. No,no,no. No thank you. Be nice.”

7. “Bunny magic” petting both at same time while praising to simulate bonding grooming ritual
8. Placed dab of fruit jelly on each bunny’s forehead to instigate grooming
9. Unintentional mild stress bonding from spraying. Allowed and encouraged.

10: BUNNY BROTHERS BACK TOGETHER AGAIN: They’ve been eating, napping, sleeping, lounging, grooming together for at least two weeks now! I am a proud bunneh mama

They are still battling for supremacy but without the bloodshed of their pubescent months !
They even insist to be petted together !
It’s awesome.

I LOVE MA BAYBEHS!
Will upload pics/vids soon.

[Domino&Ash]

October Update:

Boys still in love with each other, more so than with me sadly. lol

Last summer, Domino began squeaking when he drinks from his bowl. He hasn’t outgrown it. It is adorable.
Ashy squeaks with annoyance when he is done snuggling or can’t get where he wants to go (behind a stubborn box, for instance). It is adorable.

Currently working on their Hallowe’en costumes.

[Luna]

I can’t wait to see their costumes! I’ve been scrambling to get Luna and Oreo’s costumes done in time.

[Domino&Ash]

Posted By Luna on 10/29/2017 3:15 PM

I can’t wait to see their costumes! I’ve been scrambling to get Luna and Oreo’s costumes done in time.

Domino was not having it lol but I did get a pic.

I’ll upload them eventually.

[Domino&Ash]

Here is a pic of a Hallowe’en tee I could not resist, for Ash. He and his brother are now 7 mo. old.

It says “Treat or Treat” which is very true of him. He loves ‘helping’ cook because he loves watching the action and getting a scrap or two.

  I knew he would wear a costume because he is such a calm, snuggly bunny who loves covering himself in the clothes or blankets he is sitting on. In late September,it had been getting cold overnight so I got this for him.

Domino, his industrious and high energy brother loves building nests so, the next morning the tee had some nips on the back where only Dommy would have reached. 

[Luna]

Adorable! He’s so tiny! How did you find a small enough tee? I like the “treat or treat” concept .

[Domino&Ash]

@Luna

It called to me!

But seriously, if ppl want bunny tees, I found his tee in the bargain bin of doggy tees. I think it’s for one of those tiny handbag dogs.

I think they were getting rid of last year’s to make way for the coming Hallowe’en season.

Now, this past season’s are in their bargain bin lol

[LittlePuffyTail]

Squee!!! His little shirt!!!!

[Domino&Ash]

The boys love to eat, almost always.

When it’s coming up on mealtime, they get the munchies.

When it’s my meal time they get the munchies.

When I exit and reenter the room they get the munchies (cuz, y’know, in their bunny brains I probably went off to retrieve a treat for them).

While they’re eating, they cannot control their munchy passion!
Don’t believe me? Then you’ve never owned a rabbit…but I have lots of pictorial proof for you.

I cannot figure out why my photos won’t load in my album so I am posting them here.

The files are all at least 500 pixels and have no special characters in the names.

I am saving them all and getting the computer prompt that they are saved.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

[Domino&Ash]

Ash attacks bags of fruit and nuts.

One day in August, I had thrown a pear core in the paper trash, while prep cleaning for the morning.

Ash revealed his passion for pears and my need for a trash bin lid.

In these photos, I am asking what he is doing, showing him where he should be and reminding him not to die in the multitudinous array  of ways a bunny can die ruffling through trash, especially nibbling on fruit cores. After a few more nibbles, I removed him and lidded the bin so don’t fret, Bunny Warriors.

[Domino&Ash]

Posted By LittlePuffyTail on 11/21/2017 6:15 PM

Squee!!! His little shirt!!!!

@LittlePuffyTail

Ash is the cool one, for sure.

So, of course he’d be stylin’.

Domino’s the daring one.

So of course, he’s usually rocking a messy Mohawk.

He’s got a type of style,too. 

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Awww, these pics are too adorable. I love the jarhead picture and Ash’s colouring is so lovely ^_^
Indeed, rabbits will get up to the craziest things if it’ll get them food. Raided bins are only the start. Happy to see that it wasn’t tipped, because some buns won’t hesitate to do so.

[Domino&Ash]

Posted By Ellie from The Netherlands on 12/02/2017 6:53 AM

Awww, these pics are too adorable. I love the jarhead picture and Ash’s colouring is so lovely ^_^
Indeed, rabbits will get up to the craziest things if it’ll get them food. Raided bins are only the start. Happy to see that it wasn’t tipped, because some buns won’t hesitate to do so.

@Ellie from the Netherlands

You have one like Ash, too, right? Ash is called a ‘ self-tortoise Holland lop”….

Do you just have the one ‘brainy’ bunny?

Ash’s coloring is special. 

In the sun it shows ‘ottering’ which I think is the name for the silvery tips.

 His little brown patches on his cheeks make him look like a cartoon character.

I love how his nose fur is so thick and dark, it makes his nose look like a plush toy’s.

Dominoes’ coloring is special, too: It inspired his name…I love Dommy’s  grey ‘slippers’ , his coloring on the fur pads under his feet.

When I first got Dommy, he wasn’t as obviously male so I though he was a female, especially since the two of them were always snuggling. Dommy was daring from day one and he had his special color patching so I immediately thought of (her)HIS namesake and

he started replying to his name after just a few days so, it stuck. It suits him.

 

 

[Domino&Ash]

Posted By Luna on 10/29/2017 3:15 PM

I can’t wait to see their costumes! I’ve been scrambling to get Luna and Oreo’s costumes done in time.

@Luna Here is D’s costume.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Yes, Breintje is our only bunny. We think it’d be best to keep the situation like this because of his strong character. He’s very human-orientated and always needs to be the center of attention, even when we have visitors. We fear that introducing another rabbit will lead to a lot of jealousy and fights. Breintje has strong opinions about things and will often thump or grunt if he has to wait a bit for cuddles or his dinner. If Breintje wants to be cuddled on the couch and I’m on my computer, he’ll hop onto the couch and starts thumping loudly until he gets attention. Same goes for any craft projects I’m working on: anything on the couch next to me is promptly thrown off the couch if he wants his cuddles. Because he wants his cuddles NOW!

I realise this may make him sound like a demon bunny, but luckily he isn’t agressive with food etc. But he is very insistent about grooming. It also works the other way around: if I’m in pain he will groom me all the time. It’s very cute and a real pick-me-up on days when I had a physio treatment. Breintje will constantly sniff, lick and groom the painful arm and shoulder. It’s amazing how strongly bonded he is to me.

Breintjes fur colour is cinnamon, I’ve never seen any silver tips in the sunlight. His hairs are mostly white, except for the tips of the hairs which are a reddish brown mixed with grey. He has a very dense coat which I’ve heard is typical for Netherland Dwarfs.

[Bladesmith]

Breintje sounds like a real prince.

[Domino&Ash]

Posted By Bladesmith on 12/02/2017 8:05 PM

Breintje sounds like a real prince.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Hahaha, that’s a cute pic ^_^ Only.. I doubt who’s in whose service
I think I’m on the poop-scooping, veggie-buying, and ear-rubbing end of the contract. But hey, at least I get cuddles, lots of giggles and all his antics to enjoy…

[Bladesmith]

Well worth the price of admission.  Daily.

[Author]

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