Bonding Session (with Felix)

So far, Lizhas been doing all of the bonding sessions. She’s been sitting with both Hugo and Cloudy, keeping them separated as needed, and then trying to encourage them to get together (carefully, without biting).

Tonight, we decided to change things up and let me sit in, instead. Their sessions tend to go longer, as it takes them some time to calm down. So probably an hour for them to settle, and then another hour to see if they’ll get along.

Cloudy, looking a little pensive and full of trouble.

Me with the pizza sieve. Partly to keep the bunnies protected from one another, partly to keep me protected from them.

Hey there buddy – easy now.

The two of them were fine for a while. And I even got them into position next to one another, and was giving them pets. And they seemed relaxed, sitting side by side, face to face.

And then – when I paused a little too long… Cloudy got impatient and bit at Hugo. And then I had to break them up again.

I hate to say it, but she’s been the instigator. At first, I thought it was Hugo… but she’s the more aggressive one. And it’s almost as if she wants attention, and when she doesn’t get it she immediately goes to biting.

On at least one occasion, she kind of ran/lunged at him. Try as we might to keep things calm and relaxed, she tends to amp things up with the biting.

Cloudy, the queen of mixed signals, flops and relaxes. One minute she’s all aggro and going after Hugo, and then next… she’s like this.

Late in the session, having diner side by side. It’s not much and not quite in the “win” column, but this is about as good as it got.

Bonding these two has been particularly rough. We keep thinking it’ll take a while, but things are not progressing past the wary/aggressive stage to where they are comfortable around one another.

Related:
The Biggest Flop Ever
Long Bonding Session
Hugo and Cloudy: First Bonding Session