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Moving along the rabbit bonding

22 10:53:22

Question
I actually asked a question a little whie ago on the 27th. I've been taking it slowly keeping them in separate cages but close to each other, leaving the newer rabbit in the cage with the older one being free, introducing them in nuetral territories, like the bathtub, and this is where the question comes in. The attitudes of both rabbits have tremendously improved. The newer rabbit, whenever around the older one, gets up close, snuggles, and gets in the submissive position and doesn't even bat an eye until the older one moves away, and the older one has stopped grunting and boxing altogether and seems to ignore the newer one more often than not. The problem is this: when the older rabbit does pay attention, she starts by sniffing the newer one, then begins to, what looks like, groom the new rabbit, and a couple seconds in, the new rabbit goes crazy and jumps and backs up some or completely runs and then the older one chases. But the new rabbit never squeels or makes any noise that she's been hurt, or even hide for that matter. So I was hoping if you could tell me, after this very long winded explanation, what is going on. Are they playing, are they fighting, what is going on!?

Answer
Dear Doug,

Congratulations on the improved relations!  Things sound as if they are going pretty well, but the new rabbit is still afraid of the older one, and the older one is "playing" the new one because of that.

Dominant rabbits usually *get* groomed by the subordinate.  So it's possible that the older rabbit, while grooming the new one, gets progressively a little rougher and rougher, doing little "dominance nips" while she's grooming, as if to say, "Yeah, I'm grooming you, but don't forget who's boss!"

Eventually this freaks out the little one, and she runs!  I've seen this happen a LOT during early courtships, and it's actually a good sign that she runs away instead of nipping back.

Now might be a time to try this.  When the two are lying together snuggled, try gently rubbing the ears of the *new* rabbit between your fingers.  This often stimulates what we call the "licky response," (it's a reflex; if you do it to a lone bunny, he'll usually start grooming himself).  If we're lucky, the new bunny will start to lick the dominant one just out of reflex.  The dominant bunny will LOVE this, and it will gentle her attitude towards the little one.

Not all rabbits have the "licky reflex," though.  If the ear doesn't work, you can try scritching the bunny on the bum, just above the tail.  That also can elicit the reflex in some rabbits.  The problem with that is the bum is also the spot a dominant rabbit will usually pluck fur and nip.  So if the baby is already nervous, then having her bum scritched may send her over the top, running away again.

Rabbits can be so complicated!

Stroke both bunnies while they're lying together.  This, too, will make each one get the impression of being groomed and loved while close to the other, and will help them bond.

Stay the course!  It sounds as if things are going well.  You might be able to progress to the next stage, which is allowing them to be together (supervised) in a BIG BIG play area where they can check each other out without getting in each other's faces.  That can help, too.

Good luck!

Dana