My bonding technique

[Silverpaws]

My male, Merlin was neutered just over four weeks ago, and i’ve been thinking for a while to get him a friend. I get Luna from a shelter, and placed them in a neutral territory. Merlin is free-roam, Luna is in the xpen with some tings that smell of merlin – his bowl, his blankie and hide and a hide of her own that she can go in when she’s feeling stressed.

When I popped her in, she and Merlin both ran up to the bars to sniff and look at each other. They stayed like this for quite a while, and it seemed to be going well. There has been no aggression whatsoever, Luna doesnt mind the scent of males and actually prefers his hide to hers. I wanted to leave them tlike this for the first day or so, until they’re really relaxed with each others scent and the idea of another rabbit. Merlin was smitten from the word go – at first he did some honking, circling the pen trying to get close to Luna, but Luna is not so sure and would run away from him. Eventually Merlin gave up and sat outside her pen looking in.

After about 48 hours, they are comftable loafing in each others presence and i decided to do a one on one meeting. I put Luna in a neutral room first, with a few hides and grass. When she was relaxed, Merlin came in.

There was a lot of chasing, Merlin runs after Luna honking but Luna runs away from him. When he’s tired himself out, and is lying down, she’ll come up to him and sniff him, but if he makes a move she bolts again.

I gave them ten minutes or so, and after that they were loafing (a few feet away from each other, but still) and i decided to let it end and i popped Luna back in the pen. Today was more of the same, but I let them have a bit longer.

Luna WILL go up to Merlin occasionally, and will sniff him, but if he chases her she just runs and they end up circling the room! He hasn’t so much been able to lay a paw on her.

I read an article that suggested a small space – the bath tub, for example – should i try this? or just keep going as i am in the little room?

[LBJ10]

It sounds like things are going well. It doesn’t hurt to mix things up, but if they seem to be getting along and what you’re doing is working, then I see no reason to change anything.

[Author]

Messages