Bratty buns that refuse to get along

Question
QUESTION: Hey, asked you a question a few days ago and was happy with your help soo, another question for you! I've been trying to bond my male mini-rex and female Rex for over a month now, and the boy has fallen for my girl, head over heels, but she is just so stubborn, she's always mean to him! He's had a bald spot on his for a bit now that I thought must be from over grooming, cause while she can be mean and rip his fur out, she does groom him when he asks, but this morning I got up and saw her ripping his forehead fur out! What on earth is up with her? She has a very dominating personalty so I know she doesn't like that he's assumed the dominating role in their relationship, but one would think she'd be over it by now, and they have been at a stand still for a while now. I know she's not naturally just a cranky bun though because she's certainly bonded with me, she makes it obvious that she prefers me to him, while he's still shy with me but loves to cuddle with her. He's a year old and she's roughly 5 months. I've had her from babyhood and adopted him from my local shelter, the bunny date was really no good for seeing how they got along as she kept freaking out, thumping and running away from him, occasionaly she'd groom him but then if he moved she'd freak again. Soo yeah what's going on and any advice?

ANSWER: Dear Shannon,

I think she is bonded to him, if she is grooming him.  I've never seen bunnies groom who don't like each other.  She's just being too rough. This will likely change once she is spayed.  (He *is* neutered, is he not?  If not, then this must be done immediately, or you will have an unwelcome surprise very soon; she may already be fertile!).

Her behavior is consistent with that of a hormone-crazed teenager, which she is.  Once she is spayed, I am betting that the neurotic grooming will cease, and she will be a much calmer, nicer companion for him.  Please read:

www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html

and find a rabbit-savvy vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Hope this helps!

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey, I'm sure that would be the case if she wasn't neutered, but she is, and has been since she met him, she's been neutered for nearly 3 months now. And he is too. She's a little grumpy bunny, she's very loving with me but even I get bitten occasionaly for doing things like petting her wrong. And, she seems like she's bonded with him but then yeah does things like ripping out fur from his sides and his forehead. She even chases him occasionaly. And she tries alot to get him to do the grooming and generaly when she does he puts /his/ head down for grooming so she gives in, but then generaly follows with some fur ripping, he's also definately mounted her once, and tried a few other times, and seeing as he's been spayed since around december, it's dominance mounting. I had the same problem with her old friend that she had before they were both able to be desexed, she would rip her fur out after grooming her, and in the end I had to seperate them, which was good in a way because her friend had to be put to sleep because of a severe heart condition set off by desexing. But yeah I can most definately say desexing her /has/ calmed her down a huge amount, she was way more agressive than now before then, she was pretty bitey and pushy. I've spoken with the woman that runs the rabbit part of the shelter I got him from and she's suggested taking her out of her comfort zone or going on a long car ride, but the problem is she adjusts to new places very easily, and tends to bunny flop in the box on the way to the vet! I thought about a friends place but don't have any bunny friendly friends that I can think of. So what do you think?

Answer
Dear Shannon,

I think you have an Alpha Bunny, and there will be no easy solutions.  She may be like this for a long time, but as she ages, she will probably mellow.  Hard to say how long that will be, since you might not know how old she is, having been a rescue.

As long as the two don't get into knock-down drag out fights, this sounds like a fine friendship.  We have bunnies who sometimes snark at each other, too. But they work things out.  As long as the two have a very large space so that he can get away from her when she bullies him, and doesn't get cornered and pushed into retaliating, things should remain at least at status quo.

Bottom line:  You can't change her personality.  You can just love on her unconditionally, and hope she starts to mellow with age.  If you want to read the story of just how ferocious a bunny can be, please read:

http://dragonfly.cox.miami.edu/Bunz/klingon.html

and your bunny will seem like an angel.  :)

Wish I could offer more suggestions, but the best I can do is this disappointing reality check.

Good luck!

Dana