I have posted before about my young buckeroo, Gus, before in the bonding forum. However, I have a couple questions now pertaining to behavior…
Alrighty. So I’ve hang Mr. Gus for a couple months now. I’m guessing he’s around 7-8 months old (dutch). He was neutered exactly a month ago today. Gus has proven to be a very unique little fellow much unlike the other two buns I’ve had.
When I first got Gus he was very friendly. Loved snuggles and pets. However, he had a bad habit of spraying and chewing on EVERYTHING. I know these are both young bunny / un-neutered rabbit habits. After neutering, the spraying and liter rabbits have died down and fixed themselves.
As he’s gotten older, I have noticed that he has gotten a lot more aggressive. This normally is triggered by me walking past him too quickly (or really doing anything too quickly around him). He will strike, lunge, and honk at me, sometimes even running after me. Usually if I can get my hand over him to pet him and calm him down he will, for the most part). There have been times though that he has gotten in a tiff with the bun he’s housed next to (another neutered male that I am attempting – so far unsuccessfully – to bond him with), and when I go to intervene he will chase after me and has even bit my hand. I understand that in this scenario he is merely going after me thinking that it’s Oliver. However he even lunges after the spray bottle stream when I sprits him for chewing on something, and if I attempt to interact with him too soon after, he will then go after me. Again, I understand that all of this is “Hey! I don’t like that!” but it just seems so aggressive! I will note that when he is in a calm mood, he is still quite affectionate and I can tell that he still enjoys my company. He just seems so easily triggered.
Oliver, a now 4 year old Netherland Dwarf, I have raised from a young baby as well. He has never been one, at any point in his life, to be so aggressive (especially towards me). I didn’t even get him neutered until he was around 1.5 either! Maybe I just got lucky with Oliver, but I just don’t have experience with a bun that is so aggressive and triggered so easily. I have never done anything (except spray him with a little bit of water) to be mean to him.
From what I have read, it seems like this aggression may be a typical “teenage bun” type behavior. But I just have never seen it. Will he grow out of it? This dominant behavior is also VERY much getting in the way of my two boys bonding as well. I love Gus, but I want Oliver and Gus to be able to be housed together and this has made for the most difficult bond I’ve ever experienced.
1. Is it likely that Gus will grow out of this aggressive behavior? If so, around what age does this type of thing work itself out?
2. Could the fact that Gus and Oliver are closely housed be creating tension for Gus? They’ve been next to each other before, and directly after, and since his neuter. I’ve also done cage swaps pretty consistently to pre-bond. They seem to enjoy each other’s company sometimes, laying next to each other and hanging out in their respective cages near one another. But at least once to twice a day (that I see), a tiff will arise and they will box as much as they can between the cages (they’re far enough that they can’t get to each other).
3. That being said, would a break with cages apart maybe be beneficial for a week or so?
4. If his dominant behavior does not subside, could it be possible that Oliver and Gus may never bond? Oliver is not particularly dominant, but in the event that Gus picks a fight, he does fight back. I just want my babies to realize their lives would be so much better if they would just settle their differences!
Thank you to whoever takes the time to read my always-too-long posts. But do know that your advise and knowledge is GREATLY appreciated!
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