In January 2003 Maggie and Spike and their dad moved into a new bigger warren. In the new warren Maggie and Spike had their own room, which seemed pretty deluxe... until just over a year later. In February 2004 they moved into an even bigger brand new home they called Warren Peace. |
And what's up with this handsome brute? Well, Spike was feeling a little hurt that I was spending so much time with Maggie. After all, for the time being I am his "mate." I made sure to spend more time with him and he's back to his normal self again. His experiences with Maggie are much friendlier now; she doesn't seem as terribly threatened by his presence and I often see her lounging while Spike is visiting her little area. A real turning point was June 18 when I was first able to pet both of them together at the same time (Maggie with the left hand, Spike with the right). It was as if they gained a mutual acceptance and regard. Spike certainly has more respect for the banging noises made by Maggie's bowl while she throws it around. She is unaware of the noises, but knows that she looks pretty powerful throwing around that big bowl! Spike occasionally even jumps and runs a few feet at the sound of her ruckus - a big contrast to the "Mr. T" attitude he started out with! Never the less Spike is spending more time in Maggie's room now and they are working out more of the rules of their relationship. Look at him! It's hard to imagine that she didn't fall in love at first site with this guy! |
Maggie's Diary continues! |
What a beautiful smile! You can see her mix of colors pretty clearly here - but how can you tell a rabbit is smiling? It's all about body language. Note that her eyes are almond shaped rather than big and round. She has one paw folded under, and one of her ears is folded flat along her back. These are all signs of relaxation and an "I'm OK with you being so close" feeling. Note that Maggie still prefers to keep her back to the corner - this way she knows that nothing can sneak up from behind. She feels confident enough to step out of her security zone briefly now on a regular basis, even when I am sitting on the floor nearby. She usually comes out when Spike is in the area. |
July 11, 2002: The time had finally come for a good thorough cleaning of Maggie's safety zone. Her little safe area gets a brief cleaning every day, but this was the first time I loaded her into her carrier, moved her out of the way, and did everything including shampooing the carpet. I gave her a new area rug and laundered her big chunk of cotton "sheepskin." By arranging the furniture slightly differently I gave her more room but also made it a little more private. This morning she was a bit alarmed about getting into the carrier, but was having no part of coming out of the carrier this afternoon! She decided she liked it in there! I even turned the carrier on a 45 degree slope but she braced herself in and refused to budge! I ended up having to remove the top of the carrier and gently nudged her out back into her safety zone. After all that reluctance she felt right back at home, and even had a nice new soft (and clean) floor. I gave her a nice slice of organic apple for being so brave. July 13, 2002: Maggie has discovered that the new, more spacious area of her warren allows her the space now to kick up her heels and place some almighty thumps on the bookcase next to her. This is apparently a much more effective demonstration of her power than throwing around her bowl. She does this when Spike is nearby... and some other times too. She knows it gets attention, and now she thumps when she's alone and wants attention! Maybe she's not quite as private a girl as she sometimes appears to be. Now she has found a way to communicate with us, and I am trying to let her know that it is effective by coming to her each time I hear it. I need to make sure she won't become a screaming baby though, so will pay a lot of attention sometimes but not always. Spike has learned to use his thumps wisely as a warning or complaint, so when I hear them I go to him and try to sooth him with a good petting. I'll do the same for the mighty Miss Maggie. July 15, 2002: Last night we had our first big monsoon storm of the season. We've had only four days of measureable rain so far this year, so this was Maggie's first super-heavy thunder and lightning storm in her new home. Spike and Maggie both thumped and needed some comfort through this prolonged storm. I went back and forth between the two, sleeping for a half hour in one room then the other, then back again. For me it was just like having two little kids in their bedrooms scared of a storm. Some day soon Spike and Maggie will have each other for comfort too! It was great to have Maggie "call for me" with her thump; I would give her a nice shoulder massage and she'd grin until the next bolt of lightning cracked and thunder rolled through the warren. She seemed comforted by my presence, which I took as a great compliment. Spike says THANKS for all the compliments of his picture! A few comments were also received that mentioned words like "rotund," "fat," and even "blowfish." Jealousy can be so ugly. |
July 16, 2002: Spike and Maggie say a big "honk" to everybody! This web site reached 3,000 hits today! July 31, 2002: The warren's human had to attend some meetings out of town. That meant a few days of interaction with a great human bunnysitter. Maggie and Spike both accepted the bunnysitter graciously - after all, she had CARROTS! August, 2002: Maggie has virtually shredded to bits her fake sheepskin and has begin to tunnel underneath her area rug. This is a great sign of her feeling comfortable enough to relax and experience an instinctual rabbit habit: burrowing. I find her spread out in a full relaxed position far more often now, and she is willing to remain that way while I move in and out of the room. This is an amazing contrast to when she first arrived! I've noticed that everytime I enter the room after she has kicked the bookcase (making a loud thump) that she has just peed, which makes me wonder if the big kick may not be communication but rather a way of helping to groom herself. That kick would fluff-up her fur and help to eliminate any moisture left behind. When Maggie stretches out she has to tuck her feet under the edge of the microwave cart that provides one of the walls to her area. Maybe it's time to move out of the safety zone and into a larger area... September 8, 2002: After a few weeks I found the perfect large area rug for Maggie - it is cotton (not synthetic fiber) and has an interesting color and texture. The time has come for her to move. I set up a new larger area for her in the living room - near the action and in Spike's turf! I layed out her new area rug, then for familiarity used her microwave cart again for a wall and put the remains of her fake sheepskin on the floor too. Her new place has both a front and back door and she can see much more of what's going on. Will Spike feel invaded? |
September 15, 2002: Maggie is really enjoying her new home! She settled in quickly and seems to like the larger space and the increased interaction she gets there. The spot I chose for her was a favorite of both Spike and Chloe so I know it is bunny-approved. From there she can sit stretched out and just poke her nose around the corner to keep an eye on the goings-on and close tabs on the potential invader: Spike. He has been very accepting of Maggie's occupation of this section of the living room, maybe because he was so accustomed to Chloe being there. He spends a lot of time sitting right outside Maggie's area, so the two are socializing a lot more now. Occasionally he leans into her area and eats some of her hay, but Maggie is far less likely to be defensive. The whole dynamic has changed; her punching and lunging has stopped, and when he is there she sometimes remains stretched out in a relaxed position with her back to him but her eye on him. She really is becoming more comfortable with him. Maggie is still defensive but her guard continues to slowly come down. Spike is still looking for someone to snuggle and is used to being the dominant one of the two, so Maggie has really thrown him for a loop. I hope that the increased contact they have will help them to build the trust and love needed for any good relationship! |
Maggie's new home in the living room! Lots more space, a mountain of hay, and a big soft box of Carefresh. She likes to spread out and relax along the side of the microwave cart (right side of the photo). Here she has just been given breakfast and is happily gnawing on a piece of celery. She enjoys the openess of her new home and the fact that she can spy on all the action (especially goings-on in the kitchen!) by just poking her nose around the corner. |
Spike and Maggie's big day! September 23, 2002: I glanced into the livingroom and finally saw the site we've waited months for: Spike and Maggie were relaxing together nose-to-nose! They are definitely building an acceptance and trust of one another. Not forcing a relationship on Maggie, just letting things happen at her speed, is resulting in what may be the first closeness she has ever allowed herself to experience. September 24, 2002: More good signs this morning. When we woke up Spike and Maggie were relaxing together again, this time cheek to cheek. Maggie still feels safest in her zone, so she lies on her rug and Spike lies just outside, each allowing only their neck to "cross the border" into the other's space. September 27, 2002: Spike and Maggie were spotted relaxing together nose-to-nose again. I'm hoping that this is happening much more often than I happen to see. The moments seem to be broken if I move in their general direction; allowing herself to trust both Spike and I at the same time presents too much risk for Maggie and she backs quickly into her corner. When I see them together now I know to stay out of the way! October 21, 2002: Another milestone! Tonight I found Spike grooming Maggie! This is a wonderful sign that Maggie feels comfortable and confident enough to allow herself the vulnerability of trust and friendship. November 2, 2002: Maggie is markedly more relaxed lately and will often remain in a lying position with me close by and even petting her. She is very sensitive to visual cues so I am careful to move slowly and deliberately near her, to turn my back to her when walking past, and to keep my eyes narrowed and mouth closed when near her. |
Another big day for Maggie! November 11, 2002: Right after lights out I heard some thumps and running around. I rose from my bed to see what was the matter, and what to my wondering eyes should appear but Maggie out of her little safety zone and sitting in the dining room! I sat down on the floor and she hopped towards me then away. I had a big lump in my throat thinking how much this was suddenly like Chloe. I tried to go back to sleep but there were more noises occasionally throughout the night. The following morning I saw Spike and Maggie hanging out together. She is still in the dining room now and is a little psycho with all the excitement but appears to be accepting of Spike's dominance. She is trusting both of us and allowing herself to enjoy her new freedom! She especially likes to run in and out of a big play tunnel and has found a new favorite spot next to Spike's tent. She has also spent time in the enormous cage/condo eating Spike's leftover pellets. |
November 12, 2002: Maggie and Spike have spent time genuinely together all day. Finally! This is so cool! The big "horse whisperer" (rabbit whisperer?) strategy has paid off! Spike has a beautiful girlfriend and Maggie is experiencing what may be her first love - that's awesome. |
December 2-6, 2002: Maggie discovered how much fun it is to play on the patio! Spike spends all kinds of time out there, and he must have shared his sense of fun. She got to tunnel in and out of some big piles of hay and tried to dig through the outdoor carpeting. The air outside must have smelled really fresh - not at all like the funny vegan food that human is always making! Speaking of food, a sign of Maggie's comfort with Spike came when she stole a slice of carrot right out of his mouth!! She went running off with it and he was right behind her in hot pursuit, until I distracted him with a new and improved carrot! A sign of her comfort with me came in the form of a big thump when I had to usher her back indoors off the patio. She grudgingly ran under the dining room table and (BOOM!) let me know exactly what she thought! Since moving into the dining room Maggie has shown no interest in her old comfort zone, so that has been removed. Her favorite place is Spike's tent, which to you and I looks like a dining room chair with a blanket draped over the seat. It's a very comfortable and protected place! |
In January 2003 Maggie and Spike and their dad moved into a new bigger warren. In the new warren Maggie and Spike had their own room, which seemed pretty deluxe... until just over a year later. In February 2004 they moved into an even bigger brand new home they called Warren Peace. |
Boy - talk about RELAXED! |
Spike lunges for the cameraman, leaving behind him a huge trail of destruction. I'm sure those baskets got what they deserved. (Maybe the camerman has a carrot?) Behind Maggie is what was once a big pile of hay. It's her job to flatten the hay into a big pancake and spread it over a large area. She's quite an expert - hay is EVERYWHERE. |
