She Loves Him, She Loves Him Not…

[Dface]

So I know I posted about this recently, but Yumi seemingly hasnt been getting along with Sampras so well as of late
 She lunges at him a lot, but also cuddles with him and grooms him. Occasionally if he goes to hop away from her before she’s done grooming him, she’ll lunge at him then as well.
I’m not overly sure of how to progress with this one.
I could separate them and each would get half the enclosure, and just swap them over daily, so they could still see each other and ‘share’ a cage. Although I am reluctant to separate a couple that til now have been working so well(granted even the best of couples have their differences)

I’m pretty sure she’s acting out of anxiety of some form(what rabbit doesnt have some form of anxiety…)
But I honestly think her behavior is stress related, as opposed to just really hating living with a husbun -who she does pine for when I take him away.
She’s happy to binky and flop all over the room, dont get me wrong, she loves her environment.
But, even if I put my hand down, she will initially lunge at it, nudge it, then frantically lick me until I give her a nose rub(it’s like asking for forgiveness)

She’s been looked over by the vet, and they couldnt find any physical reason that she would be agitated. (I’ve been told her gut motility is a tad slow-but every vet she’s seen says that,and now they think it’s just her)

My mom swears by rescue remedies, and Im a bit out of ideas , so I’ll probably go out and try and find some of them to put in her water to see if it calms her- anyone have any prior experience with this stuff?

[LittlePuffyTail]

Is it just lunging (as in threatening) or does it ever escalate into more aggression/fights? Does he groom her as well? Who is the dominant bunny?

[Dface]

She’ll occasionally chase him , she doesnt actually bite the skin, then when it’s over she’ll go over and groom him.
He sometimes grooms her, but since his teeth came out he’s done it less, and also his perma runny nose, her fur gets stuck to it so he tends to only give her ears a bit of a wash.
I have noticed her coming over to him when he’s grooming himself, and asking for him to groom her. Usually he ignores her to the point she starts to groom him..
I never really figured out who was “dominant”. I think it may have been just that Yumi eleted to be submissive more than Sampras being dominant , if that makes sense?
Sampras has a very passive nature and during bonding I remember Yumi acting dominant(trying to hump and get groomed) and him just refusing it until she relented and started to groom him and follow him around. They really did seem happy, and well bonded and I knew it was odd that he didnt dominate, but the whole thing seemed to suit everyone. Like even now she’s been cuddled up grooming him for the last 20 minutes.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m by far not an expert in bonding bunnies having never succesfully bonded anybuns. But I’ve done a lot of research. It sounds like they are still working out who is the dominant bun to me and if there is no real aggression or fighting I would continue to let them work it out. Sounds like they are pretty happy just working out some relationship kinks.

[Dface]

Thanks LPT.
I’ll let them at it so! I figured they had their sh!t together because they were bonded in May, and it was all going ticketyboo.

I think they might enjoy watching me suffer..?

[Q8bunny]

It could be his smell has changed. He’s taking meds (which change the way we humans smell to others) and goes to vet (does she go with him?)

[Dface]

It could be his smell has changed. He’s taking meds (which change the way we humans smell to others) and goes to vet (does she go with him?)

Yeah I thought that might be it too, but I wasnt sure if I was just clutching at straws..
She goes to the vet with him, she gets really anxious if I leave her home alone and starts getting into all sorts of destructive behaviours. (Everyone always thinks its for his emotional support but I dont think he is really phased by the vet anymore)

[Author]

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