Bonding Rabbits Bonding rabbits can be an easy, or not so easy process! Here's a one stop shop for all your bonding questions. This is designed to help both those deciding whether they should bond their rabbit, or for those in the process of bonding. We have had 15+ years experience with bonding and helping bond bunnies! First Things First If your rabbit hasn’t lived with another rabbit since you have brought them home please keep in mind: How rabbits act around people or stuffed animals does NOT determine how they will act around other rabbits. In 9/10 cases, your rabbit WILL be territorial towards another rabbit especially when your rabbit is in their home environment, this is normal and expected. Most bunnies enjoy having friends but they must be properly introduced. Does not matter how shy or well mannered your rabbit is towards you, majority of rabbits feel the need to “protect their space” from new rabbits. To them, it’s the equivalent of a stranger coming in unannounced and sitting on your couch. There are ways to ease them into the process so they can have a happy, beneficial bond/experience -- The first step is usually letting them choose their friend i.e speed dating. If your rabbit previously lived with another rabbit: *Most* should accept a friend easily, but it is not guaranteed they will. In most cases you will still see the usual dominance behavior but it may not be for as long. No matter if this is your first time bonding, or even your second the most important thing to keep in mind: Do not put a new rabbit in your current rabbit’s habitat when you get home. This will cause your rabbit to be defensive and may ruin the bond even if they had a great speed date. Please thoroughly read our tips/tricks on how to bond your rabbits successfully below: Why Find A Friend (Or Two) For Your Rabbit? Rabbit instincts are to live in groups, so the benefits of having multiple are plenty. From mental stimulation to mutual grooming, and who can resist watching two bunnies run and play or cuddling together? Having a buddy that speaks your language is a major comfort in times of stress and even illness too. Having a buddy may encourage an older bun to be a little more mobile, and a handicapped or older bun will probably get some welcomed help with grooming. Some people worry that their rabbit won’t like them anymore. While it’s true your bunny will be snuggling more with their new best friend, they will still look to you for affection - and treats! If your bunny is more reserved or shy, considering looking for an outgoing friend! Sometimes this helps encourage them to do more outside their comfort zone. Bonded bunnies tend to be “monkey see monkey do.” If they see the other rabbit exploring and getting treats it helps encourage them to do so as well. If your rabbit is hesitant to walk on slippery floors, but if he sees his new friend do it he might just be more inclined to try. Same with food habits, like trying new food or eating more hay. Many new rabbit families are concerned about more work or cost, but the work of feeding and habitat maintenance is nearly the same if they share much of their accommodations. There is still only one food bowl to fill, one habitat to restock hay, and possibly still only one litterbox to clean. The footprint of their habitat probably won’t change much either if your first rabbit had spacious accommodations. How Long Will It Take? Bonding may take just a day or go on for months, so be prepared to possibly put in a decent amount of time and effort. Try to do bonding sessions when you will be around for several hours at a time. For those who do speed dates with us, we try to send you home with the best possible match. Some rabbits only take a week or a month, others may take longer. It just depends on the bun and how much time you're willing to spend on it. Which Rabbit Do I Try? There are many factors to think about when choosing a rabbit for a speed date or trial run, from overall disposition to the manner in which they are introduced. While we find that personality often carries the most weight when choosing rabbits to speed date with, the best overall candidates are spayed or neutered* (preferably at least 4 weeks after surgery to let the hormones settle as well as healing), have lived with other rabbits (such as choosing one from a litter or group or a rabbit who just lost its friend), and are opposite genders. This is not to say that it will not be successful if one or more of these suggestions are not met as we have seen several male/male pairs, two dominant rabbits that came to love each other, and several long-time singles find a friend, it just might take more time and work. Or maybe not, as some rabbits choose who they want no matter who we think may be a good fit. A baby rabbit is often used to living with others and doesn't feel the need to be dominant yet, but that may or may not change as puberty comes - meaning if they get along now, they may or may not later. A teenager bunny between 3-12 months old is more likely to be a little feisty, but may not be too settled in its ways yet. An adult rabbit who has been a single for some time may be too accustomed to being spoiled and not want to share, but usually this resistance fades with a little time. When it comes to gender, male/female pairs tend to develop the deepest bonds. There are still plenty female/female pairs or groups, and while more uncommon, we have had a number of male/male pairs as well. Our ambassador rabbits Honeybadger & Blitz are a prime example of a successful male/male pair. Things that don't seem to matter (to the rabbits at least) are breed or size difference or gaps in age. One downfall of having a large rabbit with a much smaller rabbit is food, as it may be more difficult for the larger rabbit to get enough pelleted food without having the smaller one become overweight. Age is a concern to some since they worry about one being left without a friend or activity level as they age, but not all rabbits slow down at the same time, so a 2 yr old and a 5 yr old could still do very well for a long time, in addition to probably helping keep the older one more mobile in its later years. *All MHRR rabbits are spayed/neutered prior to speed dates How To Set It Up For Success Many rabbits who have lived alone for some time can be territorial and aren’t willing to just let a strange new rabbit into their home turf. We may be friendly to other humans out in the world, but generally don’t let others into our own homes without meeting them elsewhere first. So how do we do this? NEVER try to just put a new bunny into a current rabbit’s habitat, as they are far more likely to fight and cause injuries, as well as make future meetings much more difficult. To prevent starting off on a bad foot, ALWAYS use a neutral area first. This would be some place that both rabbits have not been before. Suggestions may be your bathtub (this is also nice because the lack of traction makes it more difficult to do some damage if they start fighting), a playpen outside (make sure they don't get overheated in the warmer months), or possibly a small room with no spaces to hide like a laundry room. Bun has free range? Try a friend's house. A car ride before the bonding session may also put both buns less on the defensive side and give them more of a "hide me" mentality to hopefully hide behind one another for comfort. Small spaces will encourage more interaction, versus a large space will give them each a corner to sit in and ignore one another. A tiny space, such as a playpen set to just 2x4 square feet instead of 8 square feet, will also give them less space to stake out a territory and defend. You also may want to remove any litterboxes or hideouts so they don't defend that either and incite a turf war. While you will want to be nearby of course, try not to interject too much. If you sit in the pen with them, you can create blind spots or be something to defend, so stay outside the pen. Your emotions can also affect your rabbit’s response as they can pick up on your nervousness and believe there is reason to fear the new rabbit. Stay close to start, but eventually you’ll want to move further and further away as signs improve. Things To Note: If the rabbits scuffle and are 'rewarded' with being separated - they *will* continue to do so, especially if they do not want to live together. Ideally if the scuffle is *small* and due to something like simply being spooked or dominance issues (and NOT aggressive) then instead of separating you may need to distract them by putting together in a carrier and walking around the house for a bit before trying together in a pen to help them learn the other bunny's scent and get used to being around them in a non-scuffle/fighting environment. They might need to swap spaces for a while before trying again if the scuffles are consistent, but keep in mind you may need to try a different bunny. If they are ever trying to seriously injure each other it is not likely to be a good fit. The 'right bunny' for your bunny should not be a battle. How Long Do I Try? Previously bonding methods suggested that we do several brief intervals (i.e multiple dates), but many rescuers have found that marathon sessions - as long as they are going well - are much better. This usually works because it gives them time to sort it out before being whisked away. If they have small scuffles then are good to go for a while, then let them be in the groove for as long as possible - hours, even days! If they are separated quickly after starting a scuffle, they are rewarded for being defensive (oops!) and each time they are reintroduced, they think of it as going in the boxing ring every time they go into the bonding spot and get even more defensive, which is not what we want. Good and Bad Behaviors To Keep an Eye Out For In a perfect world, they would sniff one another, snuggle, and begin grooming one another within a few moments. Unfortunately this only happens in 5-10% of cases. There may be some chasing, probably some mounting, and probably some ignoring. Mounting is normal, whether it happens right away or days down the road. Females and yes even altered pets will still do this for dominance. A milder form of asking to be the dominant one is a rabbit sticking head under the other, asking to be groomed by the submissive one. Many first time bonders will misinterpret this as snuggling, but it is actually the opposite!! This "Face off" is what often happens when we're told 'they weren't doing anything and then they started circling.' Great signs - grooming one another, snuggling, lying down together (this is what bonded couples do!) Good signs - grooming self, lying down, relaxed postures (these indicate that they aren't concerned about the presence of the other rabbit) Neutral signs - ignoring one another Scared signs - Eyes wide, breathing rapidly, hunkered down, thumping - This is NOT what we want to happen! Negative signs - Ears back when other rabbit passes, lunging, they need a distraction or need to try somebun else! Get ready to intervene - rapid chasing, slow circling (usually trying to mount) Time to separate - Biting, lots fur being pulled out, "furnado," racing away to the point of running into walls Some fur being pulled out when they try to be dominate is common, but they should not be terrified and trying to escape. While watching rabbits try to establish dominance can be nerveracking, rabbits will need to sort out their relationship in one way or another, but care needs to be taken so that they don't injure one another or themselves. Be careful when reaching for rabbits that are chasing or circling, as you can easily be bitten when they are caught off guard and think they are being mounted by your hand! It may be easier to use something like a broom to separate or turning on a vacuum or clanging something on the playpen to distract, whether briefly while they settle for a moment or until they stop chasing so you can pick them up safely. Remember that tip about using a small area vs a large area? It’s also much easier to intervene or separate them when they are in a small space. Following another bunny around a playpen is not the same as chasing. If a nervous bun is hopping around quickly and the other is following trying to check them out, it can look very similar to a bun who is trying to chase another bun. Watch the chaser - are the ears back, head extended with mouth open, tail straight up in the air, and lunging with gusto? Or are the movements more slow, cautious and curious? A keen eye that is familiar with rabbit body language would be most helpful to help determine in this case. Mounting will happen at most speed dates, sometimes right away, within a few minutes, or once the curiosity has overcome the fear and they finally venture over to one another. Most males will tend to mount for much longer than females, but both genders will usually try at some point. The one being mounted may sit and take it (this is good - that means they’re OK with being the submissive one), they may run away, they may turn around and try to mount instead, or they may choose to fight the other. If the mounted bun hops away, leave them be. If the mounter follows, you may see where it leads, but if they are chasing each other in a mad dash, time for a pause. Mounting can go on for about 10-15 minutes until a bun wears itself out. If it seems incessant, try one of the tips below. Mounting can reappear when rabbits are moved to a new location or another rabbit is introduced to even the same room. This is completely normal. If at any point one begins kicking wildly, pulling fur, or continuously lunging, it’s time to separate. When separating, if it's not an all-out brawl, try just splitting them up just momentarily by stopping the fight, but leaving them in the same space and distract them. This way they aren't "rewarded" for fighting and think they have won so that they think the next time they meet, they can do the same thing and get the same result. Even if it’s a rough bout, there are still some other things that can be attempted after they’ve had a little time to settle, our top suggestion would be space swapping for a week before trying again. It can sometimes be hard to decipher “grooming” vs “finding a place to grab on to mount” when one rabbit is sniffing over the other. Most often in the beginning it is the latter, but if it is closer to the ears or on the face and only in one spot and you see the rabbit’s head nod as they lick, then congrats - you’ve got grooming! If you’ve given it a go or are just still very nervous about it, see if your local rabbit rescue can help. They may have a volunteer who is willing to help translate what’s going on between your rabbits as it is happening. It can be hard to describe, so you may try sending in a video, or ask if a volunteer can join you for the next speed date. Here at Magic Happens Rabbit Rescue we do request that if it's your first time bonding rabbits, that you do bring your rabbit to their speed date so we can try to find the best match before sending you home. Baby Steps/Tests to Try To Make Sure They're Ready To Live Together When they are ignoring one another or having good signs, try to keep them together for as long as possible. You don't want to hover and interfere, but stay nearby and watch from a distance or listen for the playpen clanging. If things are going well, gradually try various activities to test their friendship and move at their pace until the final move: • Offer veggies so that they can eat together • Offer a litterbox to see if one defends it • Make their neutral area larger • Try going into a new neutral area to see if they try to re-establish dominance • Still going well? Move them to the first bun’s regular play area • Final test - put them back into the main habitat. Try these little tests slowly if one is very nervous or still doing some grunting and lunging - it’s OK to stay at one stage for a few days rather than going too fast and creating more tension to overcome. You may get lucky and go through them all in one or two days if they are lying next to one another or are already grooming. Even if you do everything “right,” it’s still possible for them to take a step backwards, just like human relationships often have some hiccups in the beginning. If you’re able, spend several hours or even a day or two at each step if you’re seeing only a few positive signs or only neutral signs. If they aren't having big spats, try to keep them together and don’t put them back into individual spaces at all, even if you have to sleep on the couch with them next to you. It’s also OK if they live in the kitchen or hallway for a week working on their relationship before moving to their eventual permanent room. If it’s hard to tell if they’ve made any progress, look for other more subtle signs. If they are grooming themselves (meaning they aren’t feeling so defensive) or are lying down with their tail laid out flat instead of only loafing in the corner with their ears up (more relaxed), that’s progress. It may not be enough to go on to the next baby step just yet, but after several hours of it, it can be time for the next step. If they keep backtracking or running into obstacles, it’s time for some extra steps. This Isn't Working - What Else Can I Try? (Distraction Bonding Tips) There are several things we can do to help either speed things along or get out of a rut. What works for one pair may not work for the next, or it may not work at first but will work next week. We have several options in our arsenal of things to try. There are a few things you can do to help break up potential fights and distract them from focusing on being overly defensive towards a new bunny. As always, monitor your rabbit for signs of distress such as flaring nostrils with rapid breathing - The goal is NOT to distress them, just distract them from seeing the other rabbit as a potential threat if they are being overly defensive in their turf. Here are some options to try if they are at a standstill or are having spats: If they are having spats: Loud Noises - within reason - as the goal is to DISTRACT not scare, try a loud noise near the bonding area or their habitat. A vacuum cleaner (a good excuse to clean!) or some loud tunes may help distract them from their quarrels. Taking a ride - A car ride is commonly suggested (because it does well!), but you don't have to waste gas or grab a friend to head down the road - you can also have them ride in a wagon around the yard or a stroller in the house. If you don’t have room at home or need to get away from the 'this is my territory' smells, head over to the pet store and bring a blanket to use in the bottom of a shopping cart (bonus - they get a car ride beforehand to chill them out a little bit too). The vibration can also be recreated by placing them in the carrier on top of the washing machine or dryer while it is running as well. For any of these, you'll want to use a carrier or small cage that is large enough for them to have a little wiggle room but not very much as you want them to seek each other out for comfort. Also highly recommended is to use one with easy access, such as a top loading carrier, in case you need to separate them quickly from a fight. If you do choose to hit the road, drive the highway instead of in-city to avoid several turns and stops that might ruin a moment. Also have someone with you to either distract them if a scuffle starts or drive you around so that you can watch them. Eating together - offering veggies in 2 separate but nearby piles can help distract from the other and also offer a positive reinforcement. Groom/pet both at the same time - If one thinks they are being groomed by the other, they are more likely to sit still and snuggle and get that positive reinforcement. This may stop a spat, but it will not settle the dominance war since neither has decided to become submissive. If they are at a standstill Smear food on one's head - This is a good one to break the ice a bit, but like above, it won't settle the dominance issue. They'll still have to figure it out at some point, but it may ease the stress a bit. Banana or applesauce works well. Swap gear - Helping each bun get used to the idea of sharing things that smell like the other may help a little. You can swap their litterboxes, their toys, and even which habitat they're in. New bonding spot - if one or more rabbits have decided that the bathtub has awful memories or that it feels like a boxing ring, try switching to a new neutral location. This can potentially cause a spat if they've been doing so-so, but it is usually brief. A whole new world - "Bonding Boot Camp" aka "a Couples Retreat" to work on their relationship at a trusted, bunny-savvy friend's house is sometimes the only thing that may work. It doesn't smell like home, no territory has been claimed, and they are generally less on the defensive side since they aren't sure where they are. If you don’t have a friend you trust with this, contact your local rescue to see if a volunteer is able to do this. They should do as many of the baby steps elsewhere to solidify their relationship before heading back home. Even once they are home, they should go to a neutral territory in your own home before going into the original habitat. One suggestion that many rescuers used to try was having them housed next to one another to get used to each other's smells and nuances. This can work if they aren't progressing or you are very limited on time to dedicate to observation, but may backfire if they are being aggressive as it can increase territorial tendencies. If you choose to house them near one another, try putting greens/food on the side nearest to the other rabbit to increase their desire to be on that side close to the other one. You may also want to put the litterbox on that side as there surely will be some poop wars. Keep at least 3” between the two habitats (place a brick between playpens) to prevent noses from being bitten or scratched. If It Doesn't Work, Can They Be Neighbors? Even if they don't want to share a space, it is nice to have a neighbor to interact with, "talk to," or just have for company/enrichment. If one of the rabbits seems unhappy about having a nearby neighbor, moving one over a couple feet or on the opposite side of the room usually is sufficient. If they are still unhappy after a couple weeks, as long as your first rabbit has plenty of socialization and exercise time, they can still be very happy as a single bun. How To Tell If It’s Absolutely Not Working If your rabbit is showing constant signs of fearfulness or aggressive behavior towards the other rabbit you’ve chosen, you may want to try a different rabbit or your rabbit may just not want a friend at this point in their lives. Some rabbits find “the one” almost immediately, but others it may take a few bunnies before they find the one they’re happy with. It’s important to be open to finding the bunny that your bunny wants, and not necessarily the cutest bun at the shelter that you want to take home. If your own rabbit is not comfortable around others in a neutral space, you may want to give it a break for a few months and try again with a different bun.