Lulu and Zeppelin

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Luluznewz

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Location
Santa Cruz, California, USA
I decided to finally start a blog! I didnt really think my day to day interactions with just Lulu were really noteworthy enough to write about on a regular basis. There are only so many times I could write about snuggling while watching doing homework... :)

In case you are just tuning in I got Lulu about 9 months ago. She is a 1.5 year old spayed Lionhead female.

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Zeppelin just came home yesterday (July 13, 2010). He is young, only about 4 months old they said. He is neutered (obviously he was neutered a little bit on the younger side...). Zeppelin is some kind of lop. He's actually smaller than Lulu who is a Lionhead. That seems strange to me.

Zeppelin is technically just a foster. I decided against adopting outright because Lulu has been a really tough rabbit to find a friend for and insists on biting everyone. She seemed to do well with Zeppelin in comparison.

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This is there TEMPORARY bonding set up. Both cages are way too small, I realize, but I'm really hoping this isn't going t be permanent. Lulu used to be mostly free range, but she and Zeppelin are still gong to get a ton of free time. If the bonding takes too long I'm going to have to buy two super pet giant cages, but I'd prefer not to have to do that.

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(p.s: They cant get to the cords, I promise. Its hard to tell but I made sure they cant.)

If you want to check out the thread about their first meeting here is the link:

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=59383&forum_id=1

And here's a picture of my dog (who lives with my parents) for good measure. Isn't she pretty!

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I thought I would make a second post about the first bonding sesh since the initial introductions.

I'm determined to just not let this bonding thing get too under my skin. I feel like again today there was a lot of good and a lot of bad. Unfortunately probably more bad today then good.

Zeppelin is starting to get a little bit bolder about defending himself. He is yet to actually nip her though. It was going fine, they were ignoring each other.

Then the litterbox became a problem. I was in an ex-pen and I put one in there because they did at the shelter. Zeppelin hopped in and wouldn't hop out. Then Lulu hoped in (because i think she really needed to go) and Zeppelin wouldn't hop out.

Then Lulu nipped him and he leaped out. I decided it was time for the litterbox to go.

After that both bunnies were starting to get a little too lively so I put them in a carrier and dragged them around for a while.

When they got back in the pen they ignored each other for a while. Then they came nose to nose and both completely froze except for a bit of nose twitching. Zeppelin lowered his head slowly and they stayed frozen.

At that point I wasnt sure what to do so I stroked them both gentely which eventually made them hop off. I think that was the most successful part of the session.

There was some nipping and a little chasing. I ended the session then because I wanted to try to find a good note. I push them together and stroked them both and they were relaxed. I separated them.

Do you guys think this much nipping from Lulu is really abnormal? The shelter people seemed concerned even though they approved the match given Lulu's attitude. What do you guys think?
 
I don't think it's abnormal, they have to figure out who is dominant and nipping is one way that they do that. I think you did the right thing by putting them in the carrier when you felt they were getting too lively. I wonder if someone else could give advice about what to do when she nipps, I don't know if you can verbally say NO to put her off or if its best to let it run its course. If he's not fighting back then I would try not to worry about it too much.

With them it sounds like you need to keep the space very neutural and keep the litterbox out for a while. It's weird because I have seen a bunny bonding tutorial thing on youtube which says to put in a litterbox, but I think it's just asking for trouble, especially early on. so follow your instincts on that one, you saw it as a problem and removed it so I think that's the best thing to do.

I have found food to be a good ice breaker with my two who are in the process of bonding (I hope)... I think it gives them something else to focus on while being close to each other. if they are comfortable enough then they will eat together. I'm not sure if yours are ready for that, maybe it's one to keep up your sleeze for future when you feel it's time.

keep it up and I think you will see progress :)
 
Round two today went better! I put them back out in the pen for 15 minutes and there wasn't a single nip.

There wasn't any nipping because they didn't actually ever touch each other though. For a while they totally ignored each other on opposite ends of the pen, but as time went on they got closer.

There was a lot of staring, then a lot of "other activities". They would do other things within a foot of each other, like eat or groom or yank on the bars. It seemed liked they would do anything to stay busy.

I'm taking that as progress. Lulu is picking up on my stern "be gentle" command. When she starts to move towards him in a way that seems too forward I kindly (but firmly) tell her to be gentle. She seems to understand.

I put a big pile of hay in the middle this time like suggested and that really seemed to help Lulu at least.
 
Bonding has been going SO well!

Considering how challenging everyone said Lulu would be to bond it has gone remarkably smoothly. I suppose that really says something about Zeppelin's character.

First off I built two NIC cages that share the middle wall. Each side is three squares by two squares.

I went on a long car ride with them twice this week and let them hang out after. There was no real fighting, and only minor nips and a bit of chasing.

Zeppelin has really started to show what hes made of. He wont bite her first or anthing like that, but he has been bold in asking to be groomed. Actually, hes been really insistent.

Today, for the first time ever he groomed her!! It was the sweetest thing. I thinking Lulu understands better what shes supposed to do.

So I took an unconventional turn at bonding. After then spent a long time together without any problems I put them back in their NIC cage and just opened up one panel.

Neither rabbit jumps, so its really easy for me to snatch them out if there is a problem, but so far its been all good!

I'm going to separate them whenever i'm not actually here to watch them, but otherwise I think i'll leave it open to see how it goes.

Here are some new pictures.

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This is a silly one my sister made. I thought it was really funny!

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THEY HAVE BONDED!!

There has been snuggling and grooming galore! All of a sudden Zeppelin started grooming Lulu and it was like a light went off in her head. Now they both groom and snuggle all the time. Its really really cute!

The odd thing is is she is still a little nippy. He will just hop around when she nips him, but i'm not really sure what to do about it at this point. They obviously really like each other, so i'm hoping they just need to figure it out.

I think im going to let them stay overnight together in the expanded cage. YAY! They are soo cute together.
 
hooray! congrats to them (and you).

can they share some of that light with my two... still no grooming here.

I hope you'll post some more pics of the happy couple soon :)
 
Aww, they're awfully cute together! My two buns cuddle like that as well!
For a while, I had to have the buns sleep in seperate cages
(cause I put them in cages for the night but are out all day)
but now they're sleeping together. :)
Zeppelin looks kinda like my bun, Solara, just in a boy-lop form XD
What kind of dog is that by the way?
She is very pretty :)

 
Jessica, your rabbits are Beautiful. They make a lovely couple. I LOVE your Lionhead Lulu, Zeppelin is so handsome. Is he a French Lop?

I'm looking forward to more pictures theHappy couple.

Susan:)
 
Luluznewz wrote:
I don't know if people are really reading this, but I'm going to keep posting pictures anyway. Look how cute they are!!

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What a CUTE pic of the 2 couple! Yes, keep posting pics.
 
I haven't updated in a while! So I suppose I have a lot of ground to cover. First of all I built an NIC cage for Lulu and Zeppelin. It is four cubes by three cubes and has a second story shelf on part of it.

They really seem to like it...except they make SO MUCH NOISE!! They sleep in my bedroom and they just crash around in there and run on the floor and make all kinds of trouble. They ripped up the foam mats I put down to make it quieter.

The cage is just too rattly for my bedroom. Unfortunately there isnt another place I feel comfortable putting them. So I think i'm just going to have to put them in an extra large dog crate or a "super pet giant" cage. They are free most of the day, but its still disappointing because that seems too small. I'm not sure what to do, but I haven't slept well in days so something has to change.

On a happier note I figured out a GREAT outdoor run for them at my parents house! I'm staying here for a few weeks. Our house has a long bridge with a gate on one side. I simply put up another removable gate on the other side. Now the bunnies have TONS of room to run. Here's a picture!

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And here is a cute one of Zeppelin. Hes a nice guy to let me hold him like that while I snapped it.

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So the three of us are outside on the bridge. The buns are running and hanging around me while I use the laptop. So nice!
 

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