Rabbits do love to have a rabbit bond-mate. Edie Sayeg of the Georgia House Rabbit Society likes to call them “partners in crime”, and swears they COLLUDE to play tricks on the humans. No matter how much we love our rabbits, we can never replace a rabbit bond-mate. A lot of folks have trouble with rabbit bonding, though, so we're going to take an in-depth look at the process.
We need to remember that rabbits are prey animals. We always need to start from that perspective. Try to imagine what it would be like to have a deep seated instinct that there is a constant danger of being lunch. A danger from not only ground-level, but from above. You are smaller and weaker than almost everything around you. The world is a scary place, and you must stay on alert. Draining, eh?
Rabbits who live together are more relaxed, since they have help and support in watching out for dangers. We understand – there may be no dangers in your home. But the instinct remains…and is strong.
Think about how big and strong even the calmest and friendliest dog must appear! Or maybe some neighborhood children visit, and pick up your rabbit. They smell like strangers, and come at your rabbit from above, removing the ability to run…danger!
Even if your rabbit is not confronted with anything at all that may be seen as a possible danger, you as a human still can’t engage in grooming quite like another rabbit can. You may cuddle with your bun, but your arm won’t fit along your bun’s body quite the same way another rabbit would. You may dance, but you can’t binky.
Never worry that bringing another rabbit in to your home will lessen your rabbit’s affection for you. Your rabbit will be generally happier, and calmer, and more confident. If, that is, you find the right bond-mate, and get those intros done right…
Let’s get ready to enter the dating scene! But before you start...
Many thanks to Edie Sayeg of the Georgia House Rabbit Society for contributing to this series!
