Hi everyone

We have a 10 month old, female, spayed dutch (Willow) and we're trying to bond her with a 5 and a half month old, male harlequin (Barney).

We haven't had Barney neutered yet and we're trying to decide when to get it done. We have had no behaviour problems with him, he's litter trained, doesn't spray and is generally a very good natured bun. Would you recommend leaving the neutering until he displays these signs? Or getting it done asap?

We've been trying to bond them for about 4 months now, but Willow is moody and often feisty. We've been making slow progress but recently she's started laying out fully with him around. So far we've met them on the kitchen (tiled) floor and the bathroom (lino) floor and they are both very well behaved with the very occasional nip from Willow. As soon as we put them on carpe she lunges and attacks him. Any advice on what to do?

Sorry for the essay!

Neuter asap. Once he begins these behaviours, neutering him may not stop them...

I would neuter him then rebegin the introduction. It needs to be in a small, neutral space. Has Willow previously been allowed out on the carpet? it may be that she sees these areas as 'hers.'

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Will neutering change how he is at the moment? We're just worried that he'll change as he's such a lovely bun!

We let the rabbits play in the lounge (separately at the moment) but we've tried meeting them in the bedrooms where neither of them had been before and she still attacks. We're thinking of moving into the garden as the next step but rain has interrupted us for the past few days

No but not neutering him might cause territorial aggressive behaviour Currently he is not ruled by his testicles, and if you neuter him he will continue not to be ruled by them

I introduced my two in the bathtub. They were some chasing and slightly scrapping, but they need to establish dominance. They will also hump each other (sometimes girl on boy!) I dont separate humping unless it is on the face as they can bite the underbelly which is sensitive (also the willy :P )

There are many ways people advocate bonding but this is how it worked for me. I put them together, and I sat with them, for hours. I dont believe 'date bonding' works very well ie half hour here, an hour there and then splitting them back up)

I sat with them until I was confident that they were happy together (snuggling, grooming etc)

Then I moved them into the hutch/run that they would be living in, which I had cleaned and neutralised so it didn't belong to either of them. The chasing and dominance behaviour will begin again as they want to work out again who is boss of this new space.

As long as there is no bloodshed or fur flying, it usually goes quite well, but I would neuter him first.

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Ok, thanks for the help.

We've had a couple of blood shed/ fur flying fights as we've haven't be able to separate them quick enough and their teeth have been locked into each other.

All the more reason for the neuter then. Hopefully the removal of any hormones he may have may change his smell slightly. The separation for the neuter may also help (as rabbits can forget their bond if separated) so she will hopefully forget the negative time she last met him.

The bathtub might be a good way to try it as you are very in control of what goes in there. i got the idea from an experienced rabbit owner on here and I was very nervous about bonding, and it went really well. (Quite boring for me sitting in the bathroom all day, but very worth it!)

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I certainly would not attempt to bond an entire buck with a doe, he'll pester her constantly and will end up in a fight. Definitely neauter him, it will help with his behaviour and wont change his personality dont worry. Give him a few weeks for hormones to settle after

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