When bonding would this be considered cheating?

[Runestonez]

Tell me if this is cheating!

I was watching the boys interact last night. Dandi doesn't seem to understand bunny ettiquette. Bummy groomed him then put his head down and waited to be groomed in turn.He did this 3 or 4 times. Then he started to get upset.(this is where the nipping comes in) So I cheated a little. Dandi is moulting huge now! So the next time Bummy came up to get groomed I started to scratch Dandi's lower back/butt where he is always itchy. So he started to lick the blanket. I lifted his head and put it on Bummy and he started to groom Bummy. You could see the whole body language change. Bummy settled right in and they weren't as tense with each other. Bummy actually tried to spray Dandi's head but he missed. Usually if Dandi would run up to Bum...Bum would whip round and kind of go on guard...after that he just kind of ignored him and they went zipping off to explore together. So if Dandi didn't actually groom on his own...is it cheating or a case of 'anything in a pinch'?:?

 

[Haley]

lol. I did this when bonding Basil and Max. Max would lick Basil, but Basil didnt understand that he needed to lix Max in turn. So, I would scratch Basil's bottom, which I know usually makes him lick me or the carpet. Since Max was right there, he would lick Max instead.

I dont think its cheating, it just encourages them to bond better. Its funny how you can trick them though, isnt it?

Good Luck!

-Haley

 

[jordiwes]

No, you definitely did a good thing. I saw on a site once that you could put a bit of peanut butter on the other bunny to encourage grooming .

Jordi does not know how to groom but Wesley's okay with that.

 

[Runestonez]

Well last night I did the same thing again...scratched Dandi's butt to get him grooming. And by the end of the bonding session he was grooming a little on his own!! YAY!! The two of them are so funny now!! Dandi likes tagging along after Bummy like a bratty little brother!!! The scratching really seemed to help. As soon as Dandi returned the fav by licking Bummy you could see the tension go right out of Bummy. He flattened right out and started purring. The bonding has progressed by leaps and bounds since then!!:bunnydance::bunnydance:

 

[sheridan]

I need to start rebonding my 2 in about 1 week and am not looking forward to it. I have the same problem as Runestone but dont know where Ellie would like to be scratch Ellie so that she will start licking. She just ignores poor Furby.

Any suggestions? I just hope mine eventually goes aswell as yours!:colors:

 

[Runestonez]

I was petting Dandi just behind his little hip bones above his tailand when i started scratching that particular spot he started gnawing the air and then started to groom the carpet!! I found it by accident...maybe the next time you are petting the girls give it a try! I have to scratch with my finger tips to really get below the fur to the 'spot' but he seems to really enjoy it!! And it seemed to really help with the bonding. Bummy was getting really upset at not having the favor returned by Dandi! That's when the nipping would begin!

 

[sheridan]

I will def try that. Furby and Ellie are exactly the same as yours!!!DOH!!:colors:

Im sure they do this just to test us!!!

 

[Runestonez]

Yeah...but that is what makes them so interesting!! They wouldn't be half as much fun if they didn't challenge us at every turn!!

 

[sheridan]

I tried what you suggested with mixed results. I thought I would try it with Furby first to see what she would do. Anything in her path got groomed. Then I tried it with Ellie. After a long time she licked the floor a bit and then started grooming herself. After that I never got her to lick anything again!!!:?

 

[Runestonez]

:rofl: She's not going to make easy is she!! Well the grooming the floor and then herself means you were in the general area!! Maybe just keep searching!! It's possible she just isn't much of a grooming bunny!!

 

[sheridan]

Well I tried again and she just looks at me as if trying to say what the hell are you doing? I tried it again with Furby and after 1 touch she started. why couldnt it be the other way around???:foreheadsmack::bawl

 

[Runestonez]

Poor Sheridan!!! Those bunns are playing with your mind!!