Pixel is afraid of Zelda

[The Rabbit]

What should I do? He’s mostly been running away from her now. He’ll maked frightened noises, and hop away. even leap over her! She seems annoyed at this and has thumped when he does this. she tries to snuggle him, and when he runs away or doesn’t comply she will bite. Today we tried a technique from a bonding info guide and put banana on her. He wanted it but didn’t want to go near her to get it.  So, we put some on him. She started chasing him to get it, and had this odd look in her eye, he would run away.

 

 

What should I do? when he gets away from her he’s panting and frightened and wants to hide behind or on me. I don’t want him scared.

[Monkeybun]

It takes time. Just keep at the bonding sessions. You may want to try a cube session, with a small cube made of the NIC grids, so they can’t run and chase. Works great for my 2

[The Rabbit]

That’s a good idea. Might a small box, or maybe a launfry basket also work? or should there be a top?

[Monkeybun]

I like having a top to it, so they can’t try and climb out. But a laundry basket or box can work too

[Beka27]

Max was terrified of Meadow for a long time in the bonding process. Now he is the dominant bun (when Meadow lets him… lol!)

What worked for me was forced snuggling in the litterbox. Place them side-by-side and pet both vigorously on the forehead… I never did the cube b/c it did not “exist” when I bonded my pair, but I’ve heard others have good experiences with that. If they’re chasing, I would definitely try a smaller space.

[Elrohwen]

I agree that this sounds normal. Hannah was obsessed with being near Otto, but he was very unsure of her at first. It’ll get better – just keep doing the sessions, maybe use some stressing, and they’ll get there. I found that there were many changes from session to session at first so what you see in the first session may be totally different by the second or third.

[The Rabbit]

I Tried doing an upside down laundry basket, but no luck. No hay in the litterbox, right?

Day before yesterday, Zelda forced snuggled him herself. She cornered him. when he got up to leave they got in a fight but she repeated this. Last night however was awful. we wound up leaving on a terrible note. there was no keeping them together. Zelda kept biting him and pulling hunks of his fur out. He was so frightened, and wouldn’t go near her.

[Elrohwen]

You want to use the laundry basket right side up – put them in it and shake it around or carry it around the house so it’s stressful for them. Especially since they are starting to have scuffles, I think you need to do some stressing before you put them in the tub together.

[The Rabbit]

That part is hard. Pixel is an escape artist, he’ll jump out. we started with it right side up, and ended with it over them because he jumped out and ran away twice!

[Author]

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