Lets Get Ready to Rumble!

First things first, I feel that bunny introductions are in order.  Hopsotch (the bunny-napped bunny) is jet black with a little white nose.  He is a sweet and loving bunny to me when he feels up to it.  His former owners really did a number on him and he has deep trust issues.  Whenever he wants love, he will ask for it and I happily oblige.  He always needs to feel he has an escape route, though, and will make sure you can never sneak up on him.  A lovely trait given to him from his last home. 

I went to find Hopscotch a female companion (again, reading that male/female combos have higher success rates) but Putter found me instead.  I went to a rabbit breeder due to the lack of better adoption situations.  I live in an area where the majority find it bizarre to have a rabbit as a pet and not a meal.  And once inside the garage stacked with metal rabbit cages, I saw many rabbits huddling toward the back of the cages due to fear.  Not that the owners were cruel, that I know of, but this is just bunny nature.  However, there was one tiny, gray, silky bunny that hopped right up to the front of the cage and when I reached toward him, he didn't back away.  And he even let me hold him.  It was bunny love at first sight.  I thought a sweet, loving bunny would be the perfect gentle companion for my skittish, trust-issued bunny.  And hopefully one day, they will be friends.   

For the bonding process, step one is to create a neutral zone.  I made a play area off the back of their condos so neither would feel territorial and will only let them in this space together.  Now, getting them out of their cages was very tricky on day one.  I used treats to lure them out but wasn't able to shut the doors behind them without scaring them back in.  Made it difficult because Putter kept running into Hopscotch's cage which in turn provoked Hopscotch to lunge after him.  But, very happy to report that no biting occured!  I can also report that both bunnies binkied a couple times.  Binky=pure rabbit happiness by kicking up in the air.  It is so great to witness knowing what it means.  I'm sure they were equally estatic that I had down blankets for them to grip on so the binky could occur.  But, I'll take it as a good sign, nonetheless.  (I would give them blankets all the time, but they have proved that they can't be trusted not to eat them and the digestion of fibers can kill them.)  They had a first meeting of approx. 20 minutes or so and then I let them back into their cages.  Ending on a positive note is key as well.  If no fighting has occured, keep it short and sweet and work up to longer times.  So, all in all, pretty successful day one.