Stormy and Bindi – Interpret Photos Please

[LittlePuffyTail]

These pics are from about a week ago when we were doing our sessions in the bathroom. They spend most of their time with their faces squished together (see photos)…looks like snuggling but I’m not sure. Sometimes they will stay like that for 10 minutes and occasionally, Stormy will just, all of a sudden, bite Bindi’s side. I’m pleased with how they are doing, it’s going much better than my last bonding attempt. Bindi has really cut down on the humping but Stormy is still agressive at times. Not sure if it’s a territory aggression or if it’s a trust issue, he stomps at Bindi quite a bit and tries to bite (thankfully he just gets a big mouthful of Bindi fluff so no one has been hurt).  Bindi just looks like he wants to snuggle and be friends. He will often lay down beside Stormy. I’m not doing more than 1 hour sessions per day right now since there is no point in having them perfectly bonded before Bindi’s teeth procedure and recovery.

Can anyone interpret these pictures?

 

    

 

      

 

Squishy faces:

                      

 

 

[Beka27]

I just love them to pieces. I want a white lop and a multi-colored mini rex! Can I have yours… post-bonding, of course… ;o)

Those pics look great. Anytime there isn’t aggressive, that’s good. Limited humping is okay. The smushy faces is each of them wanting the other to groom first… Have you tried a few drops of water or something to get them to groom?

[Sarita]

I agree with Beka – it’s kind of like a staring contest to see who is going to blink first but in their case who is going to groom first.

[Beka27]

You can also pet both their foreheads at the same time when they are having a stand-off like this to simulate grooming. My pair started to groom each other when they were placed side by side in a litter box. I think being side by side was better positioning than head butted.

[paulette79]

my buns did the same thing on their 1st date- the “you groom me.. no YOU groom ME 1st”. It was quite cute.

[Elrohwen]

I would agree with petting them both while they’re doing this. Now my pair will do this and quickly someone will give in and groom. When they were first bonding, these standoffs lead to nips and humping. Petting them while they do it at least gives them some satisfaction until they learn to groom each other.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I do pet them most of the time. They tooth purr. Sometimes I even lay down beside them for a snuggle. I love hugging 2 buns at once!!!

[Kiko13]

I started bonding mine last week (Lily and Marshall) and they have been doing the same thing. Lily will usually eventually groom Marshall, but Marshall seems selfish and won’t return the favor.

Beka27 – what do you mean about the drops of water? Like put some on their forehead or something?

[Lintini]

Oooo I missed this! How’s the bonding going? They look great together!!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Lintini- I took about a week off of bonding for Bindi’s teeth procedure and recovery. Will be starting back up tonight and will update. I think Bindi misses Stormy.

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