Bonding basics

Many animals, including rabbits, are happiest with a friend of their own species. They speak the same language and provide company, support, and a playmate. Bonding rabbits is a process and we’re happy to share our best tips and tricks!

A friend for your rabbit?

Rabbits often enjoy having a friend. They understand the unspoken quiet moments between them like no others can. They provide companionship and emotional comfort to each other that is unparalleled. This is especially important if you have a shy rabbit who does not engage as much with their human family. This rabbit personality generally prefers to spend their life with a rabbit buddy. Having a rabbit friend is also important if the humans in the home work long hours, leaving the rabbit home alone a lot. Rabbits do get bored and lonely even though it looks like they just sleep all day! Boredom can also be a recipe for destruction (RIP baseboards!). A friend can help that.

However, if someone is home all day, and the rabbit prefers being around people, then finding a rabbit friend is more a choice of the family. Rabbits who spend a lot of time with their humans, or with a companion of another species such as a cat friend, can thrive in their homes.

If you decide you would like to look for a friend for your rabbit, remember that bonding rabbits is not always an easy process and takes time and patience. A quick bonding can take several weeks while the more difficult ones can take 3-4 months. On rare occasions bonding can take six months or longer. Every bunny and every pairing is different and there is no “one size fits all” procedure for how to bond every pair. We’ve put together some tips to help families with bonding.

Bonding FAQs

One question people often ask is if their bunny will change their personality once they have a bondmate. The obvious answer is “yes”, in that they will be much happier! If you already have a rabbit who is friendly with people, they will remain friendly with people. If your rabbit is shy, and the new rabbit craves human attention you may find that your rabbit will start to mimic the new rabbit and become friendlier. Often the new rabbit can bring the shy rabbit out of their shell. Rabbits can also teach each other new tricks, such as how to dig all the contents out of the litter box, as well as giving their humans kisses.

Other questions asked are whether size and age matter. Size does not matter. We have bonded dwarf rabbits with giant rabbits and often the dwarf is the boss in the relationship. Age matters when there is a large age gap between them. If you do not want a survivor rabbit left long after the original rabbit passes away, this is a factor to be considered. You will also need to consider age if one of the rabbits you want to bond is too young to spay or neuter. This can be done, although all rabbits adopted through Triangle Rabbits are already spayed and neutered.

Health can be a factor if one of the rabbits has a disability or an illness. This would need to be discussed both with a vet and also with Triangle Rabbits prior to bonding.

The most important factor in bonding success is the personalities of the rabbits. Two dominant personality rabbits will have a much harder time bonding than one dominant personality rabbit with a submissive personality rabbit. Triangle Rabbits works with potential adopters to assess the personality of their rabbit to help make the matchmaking process go as smoothly as possible.

We’ve put together some tips to help families with bonding.

Bonding set-ups

Side by side enclosures are recommended for bonding. Crates and pens can be placed with a spacer between them to prevent nose nips.
These side by side enclosures are separated by untreated wood boards. Double fencing can protect rabbits during playtime.
Fence bonding can be a great way to start introductions. It helps resident rabbits get used to having someone else in “their” space.
A divided room can be a good solution for rabbits that are used to free roaming or having a lot of out time. Untreated pine boards make great spacers.