Bonding Breakthroughs

        If you are in the midst of bonding and desperate to move forward, read this to get your bearings: small acts are huge breakthroughs to bunnies. Stop looking for big dramatic changes and begin to focus on subtle nuances. Bunnies are cautious creatures always alert to evade capture by multiple threats from overhead and ground predators. They are experts at silent body communication, quick dart movements, and extremely careful maneuvering. When applied to the microcosm of a small bonding space, it can be difficult to see improvements even for the more discerning eyes. Some examples of positive signs from a bunny's viewpoint are simultaneous self-care, ignoring each other, slow approaches while keeping respectable distances, relaxed ear posture, lounging, simultaneous eating and enjoying food from the same platter, creeping to the other's bum and sniffing, nose touches, lowered heads while in close proximity, and touching lasting several seconds. Usually the first breakthrough is passing by one another without lunging or attacking. Often, the second breakthrough is keeping to the same part of the pen. Just being in close proximity without attacking is very encouraging. If eating together face-to-face or side-by-side occurs, the breakthroughs will continue. Change your focus from large macro evidences to tiny micro signs and you will not easily become disheartened.