Life’s better with a friend
Rabbits are social animals. In nature, they live in large groups and work together to find food and protect themselves from predators. As a result, even domesticated bunnies tend to be happier and handle stress better with a friend. They groom each other, cuddle during nap time, and share meals together.
That being said, bunnies are also choosy about their partners. They are going to be roommates after all and similar to how humans search need to search for the best fit to share the other half of the apartment, not all bunnies are compatible with each other. The bonding process (speed dating) can be slow and nerve-wracking, but the end result is a happier and more well adjusted bunny. The packet below provides articles on what to expect on a speed date and once the new bunny is in your home.
We provide speed-dating services to help identify the best candidate in our pool of adoptables to bond with your bunny. When you take home your new rabbit though, there is still work to do, and we suggest the following tips for success:
- Keep both rabbits in separate pens/parts of the house, but able to see each other. Make sure they are not able to touch each other through whatever barrier you choose.
- Every day, bring them into a neutral part of the house where neither of them have left a scent so there is no territorialism. Let them explore and interact with each other for just a few minutes at a time, and then send them back to their respective living areas. Always supervise during speed dates and don’t let the rabbits get aggressive with each other. If they do, separate them and try again another day.
- After a few speed dates, swap the rabbits’ living areas, to include litter boxes, so they become familiar with the other rabbit’s scent. Over time, you can begin closing the distance between their respective living areas.
- Pet and feed them together so that they are enjoying food or affection in close proximity to each other.
If you are looking to find your bunny (or bunnies) a friend, please fill out an application on our Adoption page.
