Adoption center 'dating' - does being spayed matter?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 14sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 6 months ago by Q8bunny.

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- 08/16/2016 at 12:44 PM
  Quartz
  Participant
  60 posts
  I have a neutered 2-year old boy bun, and I’ve been looking for a good match for him to keep him company. To help both bunnies find each other, I’ve inquired at my local shelters if I can bring in my rabbit for some ‘dates’ on neutral territory, and they are very receptive to that, which is great. I know that it won’t give a complete idea of whether two rabbits will get along, but at least it will give some idea whether they like each other right away (good sign) or just really hate each other right away (probably shouldn’t risk it in that case).
  
  What I wonder about is the spaying status of the girl date. Until now I’ve been looking into only already spayed female buns (or neutered male buns). But I have no idea how much spaying changes a female rabbit’s personality and scent when it comes to meeting a long-since-neutered boy bun. It further limits my options, since most buns coming in have not been spayed (or neutered), and one of the shelters only does the surgery once someone signs papers to adopt. The other shelter spays/neuters as they get openings in surgeons’ schedule.
  
  Can I introduce my bun at a shelter to a non-spayed female bun? Or will results of such a meeting be insignificant, since if they do like each other right away, and after she’s spayed, she might decide she doesn’t like him anymore? Or does the spaying status not strongly affect dating sessions?
- 08/16/2016 at 7:02 PM
  bpash89
  Participant
  307 posts
  If they get along okay before she’s spayed, I don’t think that wouldn’t change in any significant way after she is. They may need a little time to re-adjust as she will smell different when she first gets fixed (being at the vet/anesthesia ect) but I wouldn’t think it would make a difference in the long run.
  
  I just took my spayed female to the shelter last week and she picked out an unspayed female. The new bunny spent a few days with us before she was spayed and she just got home today after her surgery. I haven’t noticed any significant change in attitude from either of them now that she’s home and fixed.
- 08/16/2016 at 7:07 PM
  Quartz
  Participant
  60 posts
  Thank you, that’s very encouraging!
- 08/17/2016 at 12:01 AM
  Q8bunny
  Participant
  6345 posts
  At our shelter we frequently have the opposite experience. Spaying can impact a bond in a big way.
  
  We recommend always spaying and waiting at least a month first, and then starting to look around for a neutered husbun.
- 08/17/2016 at 8:14 AM
  Quartz
  Participant
  60 posts
  Posted By Q8bunny on 8/17/2016 12:01 AM
  
  At our shelter we frequently have the opposite experience. Spaying can impact a bond in a big way.
  
  We recommend always spaying and waiting at least a month first, and then starting to look around for a neutered husbun.
  
  Thank you for sharing your experience!
  
  How did it manifest that the bond was affected? Was it noticeable with rabbits that were paired within the shelter, or did owners bring back a rabbit saying that at first it looked like it got along with the original rabbit, but then it didn’t after the surgery? Was it something that was noticeable right away or after a month or two following the spaying?
- 08/17/2016 at 9:39 AM
  Q8bunny
  Participant
  6345 posts
  In I would say 7 out of 10 cases, after alteration, the bond either broke irreperably (vicious fighting and grudges) or the buns had to be bonded all over again and it took much longer (the bond did not cement well). Buns that seemed to easily accept a submissive role often insisted on dominance after the alteration – we never kept bonded buns physically separated except by a fence just until the altered bun started eating and pooping ok again. Bickering usually began within a week of the surgery.
  
  We finally decided to make it policy that no buns would be bonded until after both were altered and chilled (the period for hormones to spike and then settle for good).
- 08/17/2016 at 9:48 AM
  Quartz
  Participant
  60 posts
  Super helpful, thanks so much! Going to stick with only “dating” fixed buns at the shelters! Does unfortunately mean missing out on a lot of great potential candidates, but my bun free-roams, and space is an issue if I will end up with two rabbits who dislike each other.
- 08/17/2016 at 10:44 AM
  Q8bunny
  Participant
  6345 posts
  The crazy thing is, adult buns’ personalities don’t change much after altering. But bun-to-bun dynamics sure can!
- 08/17/2016 at 10:53 AM
  Quartz
  Participant
  60 posts
  That’s for females, right? From what I’ve read, male bun personalities can change in the sense that they “calm down” after neutering.
  
  On a vaguely related note, my main fear with finding a friend for my current bun is that I end up with a “destructobun”. My current rabbit is just *perfect*–he doesn’t chew on anything, and he’s very easy to let free-roam my apartment. I’ve rabbit-proofed everything as much as I could, of course, but a rabbit who wants to chew will find stuff to chew if he or she tries. My current rabbit only exhibited behavior of chewing on pen bars and on a wooden log when he was locked up in his X-Pen. When I started letting him free-roam, he stopped chewing on his wooden log and would only chew on pen bars if I locked him back in. Now that he’s free-roaming 95%+ of the time, he doesn’t chew on anything other than food. Which tells me he chewed on non-food out of frustration.
- 08/17/2016 at 11:03 AM
  Q8bunny
  Participant
  6345 posts
  For both. I’m not referring to hormonal behaviour. I’m talking the actual personality of the bun (sweet and shy, feisty and licky, aloof and independent etc). All buns eventually calm down to varying degrees after desexing.
  
  I totally understand your fear. I also have a perfect bun I trust 100% free range and always wondered if a friend would be more typically bunny-like or lead Chewie into mischief. As luck would have it, Chewie seems to hate the very idea of a friend and refuses to share me.
- 08/17/2016 at 11:24 AM
  Quartz
  Participant
  60 posts
  I would be perfectly fine with a single bun myself. It’s just that I don’t want my bun to be bored. Though I am home a lot and try to interact with him when he’s up for it. I wish I knew if he’s good on his own or not.
- 08/17/2016 at 11:39 AM
  Q8bunny
  Participant
  6345 posts
  Yeah… my little guy seems happy, but I would love for him to have someone of his own kind to communicate with properly and snuggle with adorably.
- 08/18/2016 at 7:52 AM
  bpash89
  Participant
  307 posts
  Posted By Q8bunny on 8/17/2016 9:39 AM
  In I would say 7 out of 10 cases, after alteration, the bond either broke irreperably (vicious fighting and grudges) or the buns had to be bonded all over again and it took much longer (the bond did not cement well)
  
  perhaps I wasn’t clear in my original message so sorry for any confusion. I was in no way suggesting bonding with an unaltered bunny. I was only talking about speed dating with an unaltered bun with the intent of spaying and bonding in the future. for my personal experience, my buns haven’t shown any notable change in attitude now that my new bunny is spayed however, they are not bonded yet. so I am only comparing their attitudes towards each other on their original speed date (when she was unaltered) vs now (after her spaying surgery).
  
  OP – good luck on your bunny dates. I hope you and your little one find a friend to bring home.
- 08/22/2016 at 1:07 PM
  Archer
  Participant
  31 posts
  Posted By Q8bunny on 8/17/2016 9:39 AM
  
  In I would say 7 out of 10 cases, after alteration, the bond either broke irreperably (vicious fighting and grudges) or the buns had to be bonded all over again and it took much longer (the bond did not cement well). Buns that seemed to easily accept a submissive role often insisted on dominance after the alteration – we never kept bonded buns physically separated except by a fence just until the altered bun started eating and pooping ok again. Bickering usually began within a week of the surgery.
  
  We finally decided to make it policy that no buns would be bonded until after both were altered and chilled (the period for hormones to spike and then settle for good).
  
  This actually scares me. I currently have a very submissive rabbit who is a total sweetheart. She just had kits two months ago, and she’s an absolute darling. She’s scheduled to be spayed on Sept. 12th, and I’m terrified that she’ll be very different behaviorally afterward. I don’t want to lose my sweet girl, but I know it’s best for her.
- 08/22/2016 at 11:06 PM
  Q8bunny
  Participant
  6345 posts
  Like I mentioned somewhere above – the fundamental personality of a rabbit only changes with time and life experience. Altering can only change the way buns relate to and interacts with other buns (so bun-bun dynamics rather than bun-humans dynamics).
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