What’s the next step?

[Sucre&I]

Since the vet sais Sucre couldn’t go to Japan with us I asked another rabbit lover I know if she would like to give him the forever home I unfortuantly couldn’t give him. She agreed and we started reading up on bonding her female rabbit and Sucre.

Our first few meet ups were at my place. Judging from what I’ve read with other rabbit bonding experiences they have been doing pretty good. A lot of smelling eachother then promptly avoiding eachother afterwards. Then she decided she wanted to be dominating and humped Sucre. Sucre took it for a few seconds then got fed up and hopped away. That was followed by some chasing and grunting.

Our next meeting didn’t last too much longer. Sucre remembered her and immediately decided he hated her and did everything he could to keep her away from his things. She ended up having a sneezing fit (we think he scratched her nose, but no blood). We ended the 2nd date with that.

Since the last time didn’t go so well we decided to try the bunny stunt double. We didn’t meet up for about a week in a half while Sucre worked out his feelings with the stunt double. Which he did… he was agressive and attacked it at first then he switched to loving; cleaning and cuddling.

Our past 2 meetings have been stressing them in a car ride to get them to comfort eachother. This has gone VERY well. No fighting either time. A little bit of cuddling the first time and more so the 2nd.

We are thinking of trying it again and using the banana on the forehead trick to see if they’ll lick it off.

Whats next?

Do we do this a few more times? Or do we go back to an open area? Do we bring him to her house where he will eventually be living?

 

Thank You for the Help.

[Elrohwen]

I would keep doing stressing sessions (either in the car, or the house) and then go to the bathtub and try sessions there. I wouldn’t worry about the banana trick until they’re able to be together calmly for at least some extended period of time. Once they are more comfortable they will probably start grooming on their own time. Just work up to longer and longer sessions in the first neutral area, then move to another area (probably a bigger one) and stretch the sessions out even longer.

[jerseygirl]

Just work up to longer and longer sessions in the first neutral area, then move to another area (probably a bigger one) and stretch the sessions out even longer.

Ditto that. Lengthen the session in the areas that are working for them. It can become boring but you want them to become comfortable around one another to start doing normal bunny routines like grooming themselves, loafing and napping. This would show they feel less threatened around each other.

Moving onto new areas can cause a small set back so avoid doing that too soon. That said, new areas can help if you find things deteriorate where you have been working with them.

Just want to say it’s sad you can’t have Sucre with you. I’m sure you’ll miss him! However, if all goes well, it looks like you’ve given him a lovely alternative. Hopefully you’ll be able to get update about him from your friend when your away.

[Author]

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