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Expert: Lee Meyer (Mr.) - 12/5/2006


Question
I recently got my male lion head a companion.  they are separated for one more week, he was recently neutered.  since her arrival the male has become aggressive towards my two small dogs which he has been living with harmoniously for six months. He has actually attacked the dogs.  will he relax once his hormones dissipate?

Answer
Hi Shirley,

there's a couple things that may be going on.

One: your male and your dogs get along because they are both pack animals and understand group hierarchy.  However, you have thrown a female into the mix, and the rabbit want to fight off any other rivals for the girl bunny.

Two: your male views the female as a strange rabbit that is encroaching on his territory, and he is taking out his agression towards her onto the two animals he actually can get a hold of.  He's had six months of a house that is his (w/ the 2 dogs) ,but no other rabbit.

From your short note, I gather you have not done any bonding steps yet.  This will have to be done before there is any hope that the two rabbits will get along.

Also, you shold wait to start bonding 4-5 weeks after his surgery, not 1 week.  It takes that long for the hormones left in his system to be used up.  Don't try bonding the two rabbits before this, you will most likely end up with fighting and possibly injured rabbits.

Once his hormones go down, he should be more relaxed, but you will have to determine if he is reacting because he is defending the female as his own, or if he is taking out his aggression on the dogs he feels towards the strange rabbit.  It could also be that both are true.  The bonding process you need to go through should cut down his aggression in general.  

Keep in mind that your two rabbits may not bond.  Rabbits pick their friends.  One just may not like the other.  In this case you'll have to keep them separated.

Visit the House Rabbit Society web site for great bonding articles.  (www.rabbbit.org)

Lee  

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Lee Meyer (Mr.)

Expertise

I have 7+ years of experience with House Rabbits, rescue groups, and working with shelter rabbits. I have done many educational talks about house rabbits. I have advised potential adopters, supervised bunny 'dates', fundraising/educational rabbit events, and help rabbit owners with their rabbits. I will answer questions about: general behaviors, body language, housing, toys, bunny-proofing, diet, spaying/neutering issues, nail clips, preventative measures, diet, and health questions. I will not discuss: anything that deals with rabbits for fur, food, factory-style breeding, deliberate or casual breeding by pet owners, or experimentation.

My focus is solely on rabbits as loved pets. It's why I'm a House Rabbit Society member rather than an ARBA member. If you don't view your rabbit the same way you would a pet dog or cat, please ask another expert your question.

I am not a veterinarian and cannot conclusively diagnose your rabbit. My advice does not take the place of a good rabbit vet. IF YOU THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM, DON'T WAIT FOR A REPLY, GET TO A VET IMMEDIATELY!!! Sometimes what appears to be a small problem is life-threatening.

The House Rabbit Society has references on their site for vets they have researched. There are US and international links here for vets all over the world with rabbit experience: www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

I recommend the following resources to all rabbit owners:

House Rabbit Society - online rabbit info (www.rabbit.org)
Book: Rabbit Health in the 21st Century 2nd Ed. by Kathy Smith
Book: House Rabbit Handbook 4th Ed. by Marinell Harriman

Experience

House Rabbit Member since 2004 Discover Your House Rabbit organizer - 2006 Rabbit Adopter since 2004 HAWS Board of Education member (rabbits) since 2005 HAWS Rabbit Volunteer since 2004

Organizations
National House Rabbit Society, Wisconsin House Rabbit Society, Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS), Education Board Member for Rabbits, Friends of HAWS

Education/Credentials
BSEE, MSEE (Electrical/Computer Engineering), Marquette University

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