How’s Vivian?

[MimzMum]

Hi BB…not wanting to be nosy, but I’ve been wondering how Vivian is doing? She’s been on my mind and I wanted to create a quick post to check up.

Hugs to you! ((((((((((((((((((((((((Vivian & BB))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[kralspace]

same here, bb. Hope you’re all doing ok.

[BinkyBunny]

I was actually going to start a post about her tonight. She is doing well and settling into her own Queendom to rule. She also has a new bunny toy since she destroyed the original BB that she snuggled with. I was planning on giving her one of our store bunny surrogates, but I saw a duplicate of her original toy bunny at Toys are Us. So I bought it, slept with it for a couple of days to get my scent on it and now she hangs out by it and grooms it.

I also bought her new girlish bedding (though not too girly for a tough gal like Viv). She loves to lounge on it. She did a full binky the other night too.

I watch her on the cams (only internally) and so I can see how she is doing while I am working at my desk in another room. I can also watch her from my phone. She sleeps in the window box during my working hours.

She loves to cuddle and spend time with me. She definitely has felt more free to express her opinions — I remember one time she felt she had enough petting in the window lounge box and she literally opened her mouth and gently took one of my fingers with her teeth and pushed it away, and then further pushed my hand away with her nose. So I realized she wanted to sleep and for me to stop hovering over her.

She does head binkies when I bring her evening food in.

I’m pretty sure she knows Jack is gone as she has stopped looking for him. Interestingly though, she likes to go to her area in the foyer every night like she used to when Jack would just bother her too much. I think she just has a habit of feeling more secure there late at night.

She still spends every day lounging in the window box and though it makes me miss Jack to see her there by herself, she is adjusting well. I usually will put the toy bunny up there to keep her company, and she likes that as she will snuggle and groom with it.

I make sure she gets alot of time with me. I give her pets throughout the day, and then in the evening, like now I will bring the computer in the bunnyroom and watch on movie, or read and pet her at the same time. I actually have found it helpful as it forces me to slow down and just relax. Steve has been gravitating to the bunnyroom since I am in there quite a bit lately — though Vivian is beginning to spend more time out in the living room too.

The only problem is Steve has always been a bit scared of Vivian. She did bite him really hard and left a scar after all, so he has a right to be. But she knows he’s scared of her and uses her forceful bunny super powers to control him. This happened when Jack was around but now he is trying to make an effort to get on her good side now that she is alone. She will huff, charge at him, growl and box his legs if he comes in— I actually have some video of this from a few months ago when Steve had to fix some of the webcams. I think though part of it is that he smell more like our cat since our cat loves to hang out with Steve. The other part is Vivian will be rougher with anyone she doesn’t know. So when I try to tell them that she really is a snuggly sweet bunny, they think I am crazy.

She is softening slightly to Steve since he is spending more time in the bunny room. He is following my direction to not pet her but just let her get used to his presence, and then later, once she trusts more, try to pet her.

The way she reacts though by whipping around to make sure she faces you and has zero trust for new people gives me an impression that she was picked on at one point in her life. She really is just so sweet, it feels like a defensive reaction based. That part though has always been that way — nothing different now.

But in general, she’s doing very well. She’s been so good with her litterbox habits too. As she always was. I just figured she may mark more during this time. But she is absolutely 100% perfect in that department. The only time any poos are outside the box is when she jumps out of the box and one or two come flying out.

Vivian really is an amazing bunny in her own right, and I will have more to share about her in time. I miss Jack like crazy and Vivian’s spunky personality and ability to snap back after such a rough go is amazing. I think we have helped each other a lot in process of mourning Jack.

[lashkay]

I am glad things are going well, as you grow together accustomed to not having Jack around. It sounds like they are and I am so glad to hear you are able to snuggle and cuddle Vivian…until she takes your fingers in her mouth and pushes it away! LOL Keep up the good work and thanks for the update! More healing vibes to you, Steve, and Vivian…

[MimzMum]

Posted By BB on 07/09/2011 08:22 PM

I was actually going to start a post about her tonight.

     Love those koinkydinks!

She also has a new bunny toy since she destroyed the original BB that she snuggled with. I was planning on giving her one of our store bunny surrogates, but I saw a duplicate of her original toy bunny at Toys are Us.

     That’s so sad to hear that…is it completely unsalvagable?  I was going to offer my BB doppleganger if it would help, but I’m glad to see you were able to find her one of her own. How sweet that she is doing so well with it.

So I realized she wanted to sleep and for me to stop hovering over her.

     That sounds like a girl who knows what she wants alright. ^_^ She could give Pippi lessons on how to gently remove a finger or hand. MImzy has once in awhile only gently put his teeth on me, but his time limit for me to move the offending appendage is significantly shorter than I can actually retreat. Ouch.

Interestingly though, she likes to go to her area in the foyer every night like she used to…

She still spends every day lounging in the window box and though it makes me miss Jack to see her there by herself, she is adjusting well. I usually will put the toy bunny up there to keep her company, and she likes that as she will snuggle and groom with it.

     That makes me happy and yet also brings just a little tear to my eye.  Sweet girl.

in the evening, like now I will bring the computer in the bunnyroom and watch on movie, or read and pet her at the same time.

      Ahhh…my best evenings are when I can just sit with the bunnies. Fiver always wants a storybook read though. ^_^

The only problem is Steve has always been a bit scared of Vivian. She did bite him really hard and left a scar after all, so he has a right to be. But she knows he’s scared of her and uses her forceful bunny super powers to control him.

     Oh dear!  I just got a mental image of Vivian with a little black mask and a catwoman suit on. Poor Steve! My husband would empathize, as he’s been bitten by a few of our animals.

The way she reacts though by whipping around to make sure she faces you and has zero trust for new people gives me an impression that she was picked on at one point in her life.

     Fiver is just the same. Poor dear. How we wish we could erase these memories of less than happy times!

But in general, she’s doing very well. She’s been so good with her litterbox habits too.

     (jealous) lolz…Naw, that’s excellent to hear.

Vivian really is an amazing bunny in her own right, and I will have more to share about her in time.

     Looking forward to that. So good to hear that you are both doing well. We’re still thinking of you all the time and sending peace and healing (((((((((((((((((((((((((vibes))))))))))))))))))))))))))).

 

[jerseygirl]

I’d been wondering after her also. Thank you for the update. She sounds to be a strong girl and doing well.

[RabbitPam]

Gosh, she sounds ever so much better now.

I just love it when they use their teeth like a hand. I wonder if females are better at that than males? I’m reminded of how gently mothers pick up babies to move them with their mouths without breaking the skin or hurting teeny bunnies. She’s really attached to you now.

As a human who only trusts and warms up to people one at a time, she has my sympathy and understanding. Might want to check out the book, “Reaching the Animal Mind” by the author of clicker training. She talks about the deepest basic part of the brain where we all get taught a visceral reaction once we have experienced something bad, and it’s nearly impossible to eradicate. You just override it with good taught responses. Sammy acts the same way, and I know I’ll never change her now, but she also reacts much better to new positive reinforcements for new behaviors. (I think her fears may have started with a birthday party for 5 year olds I was told she ‘just loved’ before I met her. Gads! Poor girl was probably terrified.)

We know Viv was hard to get adopted because of her toughness, but she totally blossomed with Jack and you. I think Steve just needs to start loading his pockets with little treats (wear a banana on his head like Carmen Miranda?) for her to find. Those teeth may start chewing next.

[Michelle&Lolli]

I’m glad she is doing good.

Lolli really blossomed with me after Eddie passed away as well. It took her awhile, but she actually started coming up for pets while I laid on the floor. It’s such a double edge sword I guess – I cherish my relationship with her now, but it wouldn’t have happened if Eddie had not passed away. Sigh.

She’s probably being mean with Steve cause she knows he’s already afraid of her. Does she get cheeky like that? Lolli would. LOL

[Kate Monster]

Thanks for the update, I’m so glad to hear that Vivian is doing better! Katie just hopped over with a carrot, I think she wants Vivian to have it! So virtual noms and bunny snuggles to Vivian from Kate.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m glad to hear she is adjusting well. She’s been on my mind lately as well. Thanks for the update.

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By Michelle&Lolli on 07/10/2011 11:43 AM

She’s probably being mean with Steve cause she knows he’s already afraid of her. Does she get cheeky like that? Lolli would. LOL

Absolutely!  She knows how to control the man in the house!  If he just kept calm and didn’t jerk back his hand or run away, she’d just box and  growl, but then realize he is not threat, and vice versa. 

 

And that is part of her personality too.  I mean she is very opinionated with me too.  She won’t hesitate to huff or box if I make a move she doesn’t trust or if she is done being petted, or if she wants something like a treat.   If she does that I don’t flinch or move away. I just stay calm and lie still and do something else for the moment and let her decide what she wants to do next as I am not always sure why she boxed. I just observe her next move to see what’s really going on.  I think it’s become her form of communication that I think  developed from a fear defense behavior.  I then just give her lots of love and a treat when she calms down.

 

 Rucy was a little bit like that and it took her a long time too to really understand that I wouldn’t hurt her regardless of what she does. I just remain a big  calm loaf with aggressive or fear based behavior. That worked for Jack, Rucy and seems to be work for Viv too.  There is still fear and uncertainity though at times too – For example:  I can be petting her and if something startles her like some loud noise outside,  she’ll pop up and growl and box me.  Then it’s like she realizes nothing bad has happened to her,  no one is trying to hurt her and she then snuggles back under my hand to be pet some more.   

 

She is a real firecracker — a snuggly one.    And I need to train Steve to be a big calm loaf too and then all will be fine. 

[Monkeybun]

I am glad she is doing better We were worried about her!

Snuggles and nommies for Viv!

[Michelle&Lolli]

 And that is part of her personality too.  I mean she is very opinionated with me too.  She won’t hesitate to huff or box if I make a move she doesn’t trust or if she is done being petted, or if she wants something like a treat.

Lolli is generally sweet and will avoid me when she doesn’t want to be touched which is pretty much all the time. lol But if I continue to press her, she’ll growl and thump at me. And if I DARE put my hand in her box, she’ll growl and bat me. LOL And she’s possessive over her willow sticks apparently. Which is new. Normally she doesn’t care what happens to her stuff, but yesterday when I picked everything up to vaccuum her pen area, she growled when I touched her sticks. WTH?!? LOL She had them….right. where. she. wanted. apparently haha

And she wasn’t happy when my dad got back from vacation last friday. I got the dirtiest look. LOL So Vivian and Chacha must be giving rabbitude webinars again. lol

I am so glad Vivian is doing better.

[LittlePuffyTail]

She won’t hesitate to huff or box if I make a move she doesn’t trust or if she is done being petted, or if she wants something like a treat

I never realized how much Vivian was like Olivia!!! Olivia is also VERY opinionated but we love her as is. Rabbitude included.

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