Old man + New baby

[Noel_dee]

Ive posted a topic about this before Ive bonded my 2 boys, but now that we are in the bonding process I think its best I start a new topic!

Basically I have a 7 year old neutered dwarf mix Theodore(grey), free range, best boy Ive ever met. We had 2 girl Holland lops that have bonded beautifully with him, super easy, 1 week max bonding process. Unfortunately my 2 girls passed and I couldn’t bring myself to get another girl so I adopted a 5 month old male named Toby(orange). He was neutered about 4 weeks ago so we started the bonding process a few days ago.

Theodore and Toby can smell each other through Toby’s pen. Theodore can come and go up to Toby’s pen as he pleases so they are used to each other’s smell. Ill switch their items, letterboxes ,toys etc. Ive done the car ride bonds, I’ve put them next to each other, I’ve given them treats around each other, we bond in mutual territory but we are at a standstill and the problem is…. Theodore.

We bond in the bathtub, Toby will give him a nip or 2 on the booty here and there but nothing signifying fighting. Theodore has mounted Toby a couple of times (finally trying to be the alpha after living with so many bossy girls) but it doesn’t seem like Theodore appreciates Toby’s sudden movements? Toby will binky and play even plop down and Theodore will groom him. But once Toby gets up or runs by him Theodore nips in the face, sometimes even boxes with his hands here and there, gets super tense. Ive broken up a few fights before. Or they’ll sit with their faces smooshed together like a standoff.

Is this a sign that they can’t be bonded? I knew male to male bonds were difficult but Theodore is usually so easy going!

Has anyone else bonded 2 boys? how long did it take? Any tips!? 

[Sirius&Luna]

I haven’t bonded two boys, but I would say go back to a smaller space. You need to get them comfortable with each other, and clearly Theodore is a bit scared of Toby. If you can confine them to a smaller space again then maybe they can get used to each other without the sudden movements that freak Theodore out. If car rides are working, keep doing that! Basically, whatever you’ve found that works, go with it.

You must stop the boxing, preferably before it escalates to boxing.

Stand offs are fine, as long as they don’t escalate into fights. Hopefully one will give in soon.

PS, they’re very cute!

[Mikey]

I had a trio of boys. The sex of the bunny doesnt matter, what matters is the personality

I have to agree with Sirius&Luna, it sounds a bit like Theodore is a little scared of Toby. I would suggest a week or two longer of prebonding (cages side by side, but far enough that they cannot reach, swapping their toys/bowls/used litter boxes every other day) to help Theodore get used to Tobys smell in a close area.

[Noel_dee]

Thank you guys! I blocked off half of the bathtub so its a smaller space, but they still do those awkwardly long stand offs with their faces smooshed against each other. They’ll nip each other in the butts or side still. I always thought these butt and side nips were just to see “whats this” but it seems like every time they’re together someones butt gets bit.

[Mikey]

Nips are ok, but biting is not. Nips are quick and not really painful. Biting is when the bunny bites with the intent to break skin, and often holds on or rips fur along with the bite. Awkward stand offs with mild nipping is perfectly normal I suggest, if they really refuse to groom one another, that you add a bit of mashed banana onto each of their heads to encourage they both groom one another.

[Noel_dee]

Theodore (old man) grooms Toby. But Toby will never groom Theodore back! He puts his head down for it only to get nipped! It’s back and forth jumps and startles! I will try the banana trick to get this little man grooming his brother! Thank you!

[Noel_dee]

He sits and waits. Unfortunetly they got in a fight right after this. 

Has anyone else tried other bonding methods? I’m starting to lose hope real quick with them in the tub everytime   

[Boymom4]

Toby may still be a little more active/aggressive due to the short passage of time since his neutering. I’ve noticed that it generally takes about 8-10 weeks for the majority of those hormones to finally wear off. Perhaps Theodore is a little unsettled by his energy because he is aware of this and that makes him defensive. The fact that he will groom Toby is a good sign that he doesn’t hate him. And to be fair, Toby may never groom him back simple because he is a bit greedy (we have one like that LOL. He adores his mate but always insist on being the one getting groomed). Give them time and relax a bit. As long as you are calmly persistent, eventually they will just be used to each other. With the “newness” expired, they will eventually get the hang of being together, what to expect and how to react.

[Noel_dee]

Thank you everyone fo the advise!
update: my inner mom woke me up early this morning to find that somehow Toby has gotten out of his pen and I guess Toby was ripping Theodore’s fur out because there’s fur tuffs everywhere Both boys are fine but it looks like Theodore keeps walking over to try to see Toby and Toby is all riled up. I definitely agree with Boymom4 in that Toby probably still has some hormones left in em! Hopefully Toby holds no grudges after this I will keep trying

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