How to Bond Rabbits - Part 1Rabbits are unique animal companions that have captured the hearts of countless people all across the world. Many people will go to great lengths to ensure that their rabbits are living their happiest lives, and often that leads them to the challenge of finding a second rabbit. Having two, bonded rabbits is a really warming experience as the two cuddle, groom and socialize with each other all day long. There really is nothing that can replace the companionship that two rabbits provide one another, and it goes beyond anything our love and attention can give them. Unfortunately, simply adding a second rabbit in with your current rabbit right away usually leads to disastrous outcomes. These sweet fur-balls often will attack one another if not introduced properly. Before you add in a second rabbit, please take the time to research what bonding entails. And don't just read it here, read it everywhere and reach out to community pages for support and advice. There is no one way to bond a rabbit. Each rabbit has a very different personality, and they respond to the world around them (and other rabbits) in ways only unique to them. In part 1 of this blog series, you will learn:
Before You Begin Prior to starting your quest to find the perfect companion for your rabbit, it is absolutely critical that they have been spayed/neutered for at least three months. I recommend three months as it allows the sexual hormones to fully leave your rabbit's body, and allow for their incision to heal. Rabbits are very physical (humping, chasing, etc) during the bonding process and it is important that they do not hurt their incision areas. This is especially true for female rabbits who have a more complicated surgery and require a longer heal time than their male counterparts. It is important to note that adopting siblings from a very young age, before they have been spayed/neutered, and expecting them to stay bonded is unrealistic. There is the risk that they have been sexed wrong, which could result in an unexpected pregnancy between siblings. As well, once the young rabbits reach sexual maturity (3-6m old), their hormones take over and you suddenly have two rabbits fighting for dominance -- regardless of the gender pairing. Two sisters or two brothers may no longer get along and you're forced to separate them. If you choose to adopt two siblings, you should separate them until after they have been spayed/neutered for three months, then proceed with bonding them together. When you're ready to start looking for a new rabbit, reach out to rescue organizations and ask what their policies and procedures are when it comes to bonding rabbits. It is important to know what to expect before you commit to another rabbit. Find a rescue organization that understands the complicated process of bonding rabbits, and one that is willing to work with you if bonding is not successful. Some questions you can ask are:
How to Pick the Right Rabbit Before you jump on all the rescue pages and get excited about the thousands of adorable whiskered faces, you should know that looks don't matter when it comes to bonding rabbits. Personality and temperament are the leading factors to a successful bond between rabbits. Take some time to really evaluate your own rabbit's personality. In my experience, it is often best to try and bond more bossy, strong personality rabbits with quiet, gentle tempered rabbits. As they say, opposites attract, and it is often the case with rabbits as well. Some rabbits will have a drastic change in personality once they meet another rabbit, so don't be alarmed if your bossy bunny is suddenly fearful or if your quiet rabbit turns into an insistent dominant rabbit. By only reading the description of adoptable rabbits, you may not be getting a full sense of their personality. I strongly recommend speaking to a representative at the rescue and asking for their advice on the top 3-5 rabbits that may have the personality you're looking for. They will have a better sense of which rabbits may be the best match. Rabbit Speed Dating Rabbit speed dating is a technique I used during my time running a rabbit rescue. We found this to be extremely useful when trying to learn which of our adoptable rabbits would be the best candidates. If the rescue organization you are looking to adopt from doesn't offer rabbit speed dating, I recommend explaining this process to them and asking if they can take the extra time to do this with you. I will explain this process to the best of my ability, but please, if you have any questions at all about this process -- do not hesitate to contact me. I also offer my consultation services at a discounted rate to rescue organizations and adopters in London, Ontario where I would actively participate in the speed dating session to give you insight and advice.
Good Versus Bad Behaviours Knowing when to intervene and when not to with rabbits can be challenging. It is very important that the rabbits determine dominance and learn how to interact with each other; this can only be achieved by letting them figure it out on their own. You usually only want to step in to stop excessive or aggressive behaviours. Below I will list some common behaviours and provide recommendations on which ones need to be corrected.
There is a lot to cover when it comes to bonding rabbits. There are many different types of techniques that can be used. Bonding takes a lot of patience and commitment. Some rabbits will bond instantly, while others could take years. In my experience, when rabbits are a good match for one another, they can be bonded in about one month. While this may feel like a long time, it is absolutely worth the wait! Stay turned for Part 2 of the bonding blog series. It will cover:
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