TinysMom
Well-Known Member
I've alluded to this and even discussed this on a few different thread about flemish and about rescues. I've PM'd folks to talk about this too and I find myself going round and round in circles - almost like a dog chasing its tail.
Tiny is my concern right now. In the past he has snuggled with GingerSpice and Miss Bea and other does. He has not been "bonded" per se where he snuggled with only one doe. If a doe got loose and felt like snuggling or grooming...he was fine with that. He did have issues when they'd want to mount him (especially his head) and there were two different does that he never did like and I think it was due to their size and personality. (Drew just had too strong of a personality for him and he would chase her out of his room but never nip at her or anything...just chase her out).
As some may know, Tiny and Miss Bea were hanging out together a lot in the early morning hours in the living room (tiled). However, he was hanging out in the office a lot (where Amy's bunnies are)...which is carpeted. I had noticed the start of sore hocks and was treating them when he chose to start living mainly in the office.
Because he hung out in the office so much...he became very attached to Madilyn (Amy's rabbit). For about two weeks Tiny would lie beside her on the outside of the cage - then she would lie next to him and Mallory would like beside her. I wish I'd taken photos - it was so cute.
But about a week ago - Mallory suddenly got jealous and started attack Madilyn and Tiny too. I had to block Tiny's access to Madilyn completely.
Since then - he's not eating as much (he is still eating and no signs of him going into stasis - he likes his food too much). He's also exhibiting bad behavior like chewing on the carpet out of boredom and I constantly have to correct him and give him something else to chew on.
I see the frustration in him and the loneliness and it breaks my heart. He still comes to me for attention but he just looks so lost and lonely.
In the meantime - Miss Bea really doesn't want to have much to do with him. She doesn't fight with him or anything- but she is like, "You've stepped out on me one too many times big boy...you're history".
I think part of the problem comes from the fact that he spends about 90% of his time in the office (which was his before Amy came and so he feels he's simply reclaiming his space) and Miss Bea doesn't leave the living room.
The options I've been considering are:
a. Adopt a flemish giant doe that is young and see if she and Tiny would bond. From this forum I considered Gentle Giant's Lily (who I just ADORE) but I feel like she is too old (7 months) and too big (14 pounds) for Tiny to adapt to. I thought about Wabbitdad's litter but there may not be a doe in the litter and I'm sorta not totally wanting a black doe...as I'd just like to see a different color to make it easier to tell them apart from a distance. I have contacted Tiny's breeder but they really don't seem to sell does as pets and their rabbits aren't well socialized so I'd rather not go that route. I have contacted a breeder who does ship and I am seriously considering a doe from her - according to their website they have a steel gray doe and 2 white does that would be ready to travel by Christmas. If I did this - I'm probably looking at $300 total (yikes) and it would be my Christmas present.
I have also looked at petfinder but let's face it - many rescues wouldn't adopt to me since I breed lionheads or because it would require shipping.
I also LOVE Lolita from Midwest Rabbit Rescue (boy would I love her) - but I can tell she has too strong of a personality for Tiny and she is too close to his size.
b. Move Miss Bea into the office and see if Tiny will stay faithful to her if she is in the same room. This option is sort of appealing - except it means a lot more bunnyproofing. I know that they had a connection in the past.
c. Do bunny dates w/ Gracie, our Californian doe, and see if they are suited to each other. Not sure how I feel about having Gracie as a freeroaming rabbit though...which is my eventual goal. When we first got Gracie, Tiny was quite taken with her and would spend hours snuggling next to her cage.
(Did I mention he's an equal opportunity snuggler? He'll snuggle with almost any girl he sees..).
I don't feel trying to bond him with one of my other lionhead does is a good reason - mainly because they are so darn inquisitive and would not be likely to stay in the one room. When she was young, Titania once made it out of the rabbitry during play time and got up on the table and tried to shred the mortgage bill. I'm not willing to risk something like that again (Miss Bea is older and less likely to wander).
So I guess my questions and this whole thread is about...
~~~~
I really do appreciate any comments and thoughts y'all have.
I'm not looking to bring another rabbit into the house just to have another rabbit. I'm not looking to get a young flemish just for the "cuteness" factor.
But I see a loneliness in Tiny that I haven't seen before. And I'm concerned. I care about his future health and happiness.
Peg
Tiny is my concern right now. In the past he has snuggled with GingerSpice and Miss Bea and other does. He has not been "bonded" per se where he snuggled with only one doe. If a doe got loose and felt like snuggling or grooming...he was fine with that. He did have issues when they'd want to mount him (especially his head) and there were two different does that he never did like and I think it was due to their size and personality. (Drew just had too strong of a personality for him and he would chase her out of his room but never nip at her or anything...just chase her out).
As some may know, Tiny and Miss Bea were hanging out together a lot in the early morning hours in the living room (tiled). However, he was hanging out in the office a lot (where Amy's bunnies are)...which is carpeted. I had noticed the start of sore hocks and was treating them when he chose to start living mainly in the office.
Because he hung out in the office so much...he became very attached to Madilyn (Amy's rabbit). For about two weeks Tiny would lie beside her on the outside of the cage - then she would lie next to him and Mallory would like beside her. I wish I'd taken photos - it was so cute.
But about a week ago - Mallory suddenly got jealous and started attack Madilyn and Tiny too. I had to block Tiny's access to Madilyn completely.
Since then - he's not eating as much (he is still eating and no signs of him going into stasis - he likes his food too much). He's also exhibiting bad behavior like chewing on the carpet out of boredom and I constantly have to correct him and give him something else to chew on.
I see the frustration in him and the loneliness and it breaks my heart. He still comes to me for attention but he just looks so lost and lonely.
In the meantime - Miss Bea really doesn't want to have much to do with him. She doesn't fight with him or anything- but she is like, "You've stepped out on me one too many times big boy...you're history".
I think part of the problem comes from the fact that he spends about 90% of his time in the office (which was his before Amy came and so he feels he's simply reclaiming his space) and Miss Bea doesn't leave the living room.
The options I've been considering are:
a. Adopt a flemish giant doe that is young and see if she and Tiny would bond. From this forum I considered Gentle Giant's Lily (who I just ADORE) but I feel like she is too old (7 months) and too big (14 pounds) for Tiny to adapt to. I thought about Wabbitdad's litter but there may not be a doe in the litter and I'm sorta not totally wanting a black doe...as I'd just like to see a different color to make it easier to tell them apart from a distance. I have contacted Tiny's breeder but they really don't seem to sell does as pets and their rabbits aren't well socialized so I'd rather not go that route. I have contacted a breeder who does ship and I am seriously considering a doe from her - according to their website they have a steel gray doe and 2 white does that would be ready to travel by Christmas. If I did this - I'm probably looking at $300 total (yikes) and it would be my Christmas present.
I have also looked at petfinder but let's face it - many rescues wouldn't adopt to me since I breed lionheads or because it would require shipping.
I also LOVE Lolita from Midwest Rabbit Rescue (boy would I love her) - but I can tell she has too strong of a personality for Tiny and she is too close to his size.
b. Move Miss Bea into the office and see if Tiny will stay faithful to her if she is in the same room. This option is sort of appealing - except it means a lot more bunnyproofing. I know that they had a connection in the past.
c. Do bunny dates w/ Gracie, our Californian doe, and see if they are suited to each other. Not sure how I feel about having Gracie as a freeroaming rabbit though...which is my eventual goal. When we first got Gracie, Tiny was quite taken with her and would spend hours snuggling next to her cage.
(Did I mention he's an equal opportunity snuggler? He'll snuggle with almost any girl he sees..).
I don't feel trying to bond him with one of my other lionhead does is a good reason - mainly because they are so darn inquisitive and would not be likely to stay in the one room. When she was young, Titania once made it out of the rabbitry during play time and got up on the table and tried to shred the mortgage bill. I'm not willing to risk something like that again (Miss Bea is older and less likely to wander).
So I guess my questions and this whole thread is about...
~~~~
- Should I try to bond Tiny with someone else? Should I just let him mope for a bit and see if he decides on his own to go out and hang out with Miss Bea?
- If I should bond him with someone else...should it be a flemish? Miss Bea? Other suggestions?
- One person suggested that I really might be enough for Tiny and perhaps he feels like I'm enough for him. In some ways, I can see that - he is very very close to me now that I spend over 25 hours per week in this office. I could try to make time for him in the mornings, etc. But I can't groom him like the does do.
I really do appreciate any comments and thoughts y'all have.
I'm not looking to bring another rabbit into the house just to have another rabbit. I'm not looking to get a young flemish just for the "cuteness" factor.
But I see a loneliness in Tiny that I haven't seen before. And I'm concerned. I care about his future health and happiness.
Peg
