How to lessen aggression in dominant bunny

[Pizookie&Penelope]

Background:

Pizookie is a 1-year old, male, neutered, lionhead mix. We’ve had him for 4 weeks now. At week 2, we decided to adopt a second bunny so he can have a friend. At the shelter, we did some speed dating and he ‘chose’ Penelope. Penelope is a 3-year old female, Holland lop. At the shelter, it seemed like it would be an easy bond: they sniffed each other, mostly ignored each other, were not aggressive, they were both very calm. 

First week of bonding: We did a few sessions of stress bonding/forced snuggling, then putting them in a neutral zone together (small kitchen). Understandably so, Penelope was pretty scared since this was a new home for her, so the first week was mainly Penelope getting used to her new home, sitting in the corner of the neutral area, and working up the nerve to explore. Pizookie in the mean time was more comfortable and explored the neutral area. He mostly ignored her. There was one night this first week where there was a MAJOR FIGHT. It was so scary! Lots of fur pulling. We broke it up, calmed them down, then put them back in their separate cages. There was another night where they had long ‘head wars’ (face to face – asking to be groomed). But neither gave in! Pizookie usually was the first to lose patient and wandered off. During every bonding session, which usually lasts 3-4 hours, we gave them shared food to eat and pet them. We also switched their cages every night.

Second week of bonding: Penelope is definitely much more comfortable. In fact, she’s so comfortable that she’s gotten territorial. We moved the neutral zone to the bathroom with an x-pen set-up. We normally snuggle them together first then put them in the neutral zone. Penelope often lunges, nips, and chases Pizookie – sometimes it’s because she wants to be in his spot, other times it looks like it’s for no reason! Pizookie runs away scared and is very alert during this whole bonding session (ears up, sitting). Penelope looks more comfortable (she lays down – not caring about Pizookie). Sometimes when Penelope just moves (not being aggressive towards Pizookie), he would just run away scared anyway! When we feed them (lettuce or pellets), Penelope often gets ‘first dibs’ and Pizookie waits until she’s done before he eats. Sometimes they eat together if we spread the food far apart enough. It’s very discouraging to see Pizookie so scared because I think he just wants a buddy! I’m afraid that Penelope is a bachelorette for life and doesn’t want company. No major fights this week though. How can I get Penelope to be less aggressive (less lunging, less aggressive nipping)? How can I get Pizookie to be less scared? I keep reading that we’ll see humping during bonding, but that has not happened yet. Is Penelope the dominant bunny and just needs to establish this? Is Pizookie being stubborn and not giving into her dominance?

Thank you for your help!

[Sirius&Luna]

Penelope getting territorial is the reason why most people advise you give a new bunny two weeks to settle into their new home before starting to bond. It’s pretty normal for a new bunny to be scared and submissive, then when it feels comfortable it turns into a whole different bunny.

I think you’re rushing. I would go back and do some prebonding, so swap them between cages every night, and get to know Penelope a bit. It’s probably a bit overwhelming for them both, they’re both pretty new and now they’re being thrown into a stressful situation for 4 hours a day. Prebonding will definitely lessen the aggression. Then I would also start with much much shorter sessions. If Penelope starts lunging at the 10 minute mark, do a few 5 minutes sessions to show pizookie he can be around her without her getting aggressive etc

[Pizookie&Penelope]

Thank you! We will try this more prebonding and shorter sessions!

[Pizookie&Penelope]

I have an observation that I hope readers can provide some insight on.

During individual free time, Penelope, the dominant bunny, shows all the signs of being very happy and very content. I saw her doing binkies the other day! She runs and sprawls out – it’s very cute. I’m wondering, if she is this happy as an individual bunny, does this mean she may be more of a bachelorette-for-life kind of bunny? I know we’ve only been bonding for 3 weeks, so it’s definitely too early to tell. I’m just concerned that we go several months into bonding and it turns out she’d be happier as an only bunny.

Since adopting Penelope, I haven’t seen my poor Pizookie show signs of content or happiness. In fact, in my head, he looks a little more stressed and disheveled. He actually looks sad that he isn’t friends with Penelope yet.

Have any other owners experienced this behavior in non-bonded bunnies?

[Sirius&Luna]

Lots of bunnies can be content by themselves, but would be happier with a friend. A bunny that doesn’t want to bond is very rare, but they do exist.

However, Penelope being happy while not being bonded isn’t really a sign of anything. She might even be happier that there’s another rabbit nearby, it’s hard to know.

Pizookie – what do you mean by disheveled? Has he stopped grooming himself? Some bunnies are more susceptible to stress, so he could just be finding the situation very stressful. Is he eating and pooping normally? If it’s affectivng his eating, pooping or grooming you probably need to take him to the vet – it could be a completely unrelated issue but those are indications of a serious health problem.

When you say he looks sad, what do you mean? I imagine that’s just from a human perspective – both my boys were always desperate to groom and be nice to Luna, and would poke their heads through the bars at her, and she would always lunge and be aggressive back. I would feel sad that they were so desperate to be friends, and she was always mean, but it wasn’t making THEM sad in any physical or important way. And now all three are happy and bonded.

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