Can bonded pairs lose intrest in human companionship?

[New Blue]

After months of studying rabbits heavily on them, Ive decided to foster my first rabbit and will be getting him shortly. I got everything ready for him. House is rabbit proofed, got a special diet set up for him and will spend many hours a day with my rabbit. (Minimally 5).

 

If everything goes well, and decide to  adopt after fostering, will my bunny need a partner? Its depressing to ask this but do rabbits really have a weaker bond towards humans when they got a partner? Not speaking for all rabbits, It doesn’t always happen.

 

I just notice that rabbits by themselves commonly have a very strong bond for humans. , and when you get him a partner, that bond may still be there but will be somewhat weaker maybe.

 

I do plan to foster for a long time, also in paired rabbits so I shouldn’t worry too much, but this question has been on my mind for a long time…

[NewBunnyOwner123]

I know exactly what you mean! I am SO attached to my Sally and she is to me too. And I recently gotten a male to bond her to in the next month or so and I’m afraid she won’t give me as much attention. BUT I know it’s for the better so she will have a pal at all times instead of being alone all night and when I’m at work.

I don’t think they will forget you, I feel like they will still come by and say hello to you

Now, with that said, our names are very similar lol! :p welcome to BB!

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Not to mention Harley is in her plain site and she doesn’t pay him much mind… She still prefers to hang with me for now… Of course they aren’t “bonded” yet. they just interact through the bars but Sally gets bored and leaves him to play and hang out with me while also giving Harley frequent short visits.

She was OBSESSED the first 2 weeks I brought Harley home. She would sit outside his cage ALL day and I was getting discouraged because I missed my pal… But he seems to be old news for now lol.

[New Blue]

Its good to hear that! I wouldn’t mind a bonded pair, I’m sure your rabbits love you, though not was attention hunger from humans.

 The only thing I’m really worried about is if they become reclusive towards humans. where they may dislike human companionship all together, I dont think it really happens, only in rare cases

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Oh no I can’t see that happening lol they know where the good stuff (as in treats and food) comes from :p

[BinkyBunny]

How funny — two display names so similar! Newbunnyowner — if you want to change your display name (to avoid confusion), message me and I will help you do that.

As far as bonded rabbits becoming reclusive or disliking human companionship, I haven’t seen that happen. A rabbit would have to be like that in the first place. I have had just one bunny twice, (currently I only have one bunny). And Vivian is no more or less affectionate than she was before her mate died — the only difference is that I spend more time one on one with her and therefore there is more trust coming from her side. (She is a feisty bossy bunny with a sweet soft side) She was like that when she had a buddy and she is like that now. When she did have a bonded mate, Jack, he would actually get bossy about making sure he gets pet. So if I would pet Vivian, he would run over and nudge is nose over as if to say, “me too, me too!”

The other bunny I had many many years ago, Forrest, was a sweet adventurous bunny who loved to be pet. Having a buddy didn’t change that.

I think that you will find that attention is divided, but not less in the quality. If you had a friendly bunny before, you will have a friendly bunny who now has a bunny friend. It’s rewarding to see them play together, groom and snuggle. And I have no problem being accepted in to offer affection for both. I found that though yes, they may go off and play and snuggle together, but I don’t feel like I am left out. I think sometimes when there are two, it can be easier to hang back and watch when I’m tired etc, where when I have one, I feel it’s a must to give more attention. With that being said, how close a bonded pair is to me, also depends on how much time I put in. It’s less about the fact they spend time together, and more about how much time you spend with them. : )

[New Blue]

You’re post just made my day, I was wondering this a lot. I thank you for all the help.

When I foster my rabbit, and his personality is to my liking I can adopt him and maybe find him a partner, If not i can take care of him till hes adopted and foster in pairs of rabbits if my dad allows it.

 

My last question is how much do you spend time with you’re bun? I can spend 5 hours minimally, and my brother stays home most of the day. I think i can get him interested in giving him some attention.

 

[BinkyBunny]

When you say you spend five hours — do mean giving the bunny one on one attention? If so, WOW, that’s impressive. I mean it’s hard to find five hours to even spend for ourselves. If you mean that you will just be around five hours minimum and can offer some attention within that time frame of five hours, that’s great too. I have a bunny room where Vivian has lots of room to play all the time so she always has plenty of time and room to exercise and chill, and now that there are no other animals in the house, (our cat died last year) as of a month or so ago, she is pretty much free range in the house. Note: She is perfect with her litterbox habits and she never chews on things that she shouldn’t. She’s older and less mischievous.

But as far as one on one attention, that can vary from day to day, but as I sit and think about it, it’s more about lots of little moments. So in the morning, I feed her, pet her, give her a treat – That’s about 10 minutes. I am lucky enough to work very close to home — We made our garage into a really neat office space (which is separate from the house), and so anytime I come in for bathroom breaks and lunch, Vivian gets pets and kisses. All of these are short and may total up to 10 minutes max. Then when I am done working, which is around 6 -7pm (many times later), then have dinner, after that, from 8pm – 11pm, there is affection here and there. Most of the time, when she comes out to the living room while we are watching TV, I will just hang out on the floor and pet her while watching TV. I could pet her for a long while (depends on her) sometimes 10 minutes. sometimes 40 minutes. If she decides she wants to hang out in the bunny room or another room instead of coming out to the living room, then I will seek her out and hang out on the floor with her for 10 – 20 minutes before I go to bed. So if you it all up, actually the time I spend one on one, petting her, talking to her etc. is really only about hour and 1/2 max, but just being around each other is many hours. I can spend more time observing – after giving her things to do, chew on and play with. I also have noticed that “listening” is an activity for bunnies. Vivian will listen to things outside, listen to the TV, listen to me talking to her, to my husband or even on the phone. (her ears are always more active during this time) . I think as a prey animal, one with big ears, listening is one of those things they seem to “do” even if it looks like they are doing nothing at all. So as long as they have a decent amount of room, and they have things to do(explore, chew, etc) during the times they are most active, and have some daily love and attention, a bunny will have a good life – in a pair or as a single.

[tanlover14]

Quickly scanned through some of the replies but I can definitely say this is NOT true from my experience.

I have a bonded quartet and just rescued a fifth bun last night that we are possibly thinking of bonding to our quartet once he’s old enough to be neutered/spayed. I went from a pair – to a bonded trio – to a bonded quartet and NONE of them have ever been less social with more. As much as they love their bunny brothers and sister – I feel like my buns personalities haven’t changed towards me at all. If anything, they have helped my skittish girl become less fearful about me and new situations. I’m a firm believer that people have this experience of their bonded bunnies not interacting with them as much because many people get their bun a friend and then stop spending quite as much time with them as they expect the other bunny to be enough socialization for him. In turn, they spend less time with the bunny and so the bunny stops being quite as attached to the human. The last addition to my quartet LOVES grooms. And as much grooming as he gets from his three other bunny pals still doesn’t stop him from needing his love from me. He thrives on just cuddling in bed with me.

Hope this helped!

[Sam and Lady's Human]

My bonded girls are very affectionate (in their own way!) with all of us, being bonded has actually given Sam lots of confidence

[Jolene DuBelle]

My Boy has always been shy and never really liked that much affection.  I bonded him with another bunny so that he could get the love and affection he dearly needed but could not get the courage to get from me.  We did have a little bond, he would lick my face and that was about it.  When I bonded him I no longer receive affection from him except for when he is in the vet office he will lick me and try to jump in my arms.  I know he loves and trusts me, but I don’t think I’ll ever have that affection I used to get.  My bunny I bonded to him loves treats, but does not like to be pet.  She was from a shelter and picked up and had been living on her own for some time.  So in my case, bonding I think was the best choice, but I dont get to really pet them, but they do some tricks and Lady buns, if she has the space will tear up the place with jumps and is a little speed demon.  They still bring great joy to my house.

[sir-rabbit-pants]

Thumper has always been a people bunny and initially wasn’t too crazy about other rabbits but I didn’t like him being alone all day. He had several dates and was aloof on all of them. Flower however had a reputation as being very bossy but she feel head over heels in love with Thumper. They are completely bonded for six months now. Flower’s still not that crazy about me but Thumper’s love for me has never faded. If I’m giving Flower someone one-on-one affection, he runs up to make sure he’s getting all the attention he deserves. I think it’s more about each rabbit’s personality. I don’t expect Flower to ever be as interested in people as Thumper is but as long as they make each other happy, I’m okay with that.

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