Hi! Meet Dusty and Shadow!

[Heuna]

Hello Everyone! My name is Heuna and I just joined as a new member! I actually have been basing a lot of my research and advice on these forums, but I finally decided to join today! I would like to introduce my two boys: Dusty and Shadow! They are both (supposedly) Netherland Dwarf breed. To be honest I have no idea how old they are exactly, when they were at the store the supervisor said that they get them from a breeder anywhere from 8-12 weeks of age. Although I was planning on adopting, my husband and I fell in love with Dusty (the grey bunny), and he was very affectionate/social to us. Dusty was there for about 1- 2 months or so. So we assume he’s now 7-8 months. 

We were pretty happy with Dusty, but I felt sad that he did have a companion and knew he needed one so went we looking. We got Shadow (the black one) from the same store a month later, and assume he’s only a month younger than dusty. We’ve got Dusty in October and Shadow in November. Dusty is the adventurous and curious type but very calm and social. Shadow was social when we first saw him, but he kind of turned a little shy, but is still very calm with us. He mainly acts like a little brother and follows Dusty everywhere. Sometimes he acts like a bratty brother and likes to take Dusty’s apple even though he has his own >! Luckily Dusty is all cool with it and eats the other apple slices. 

I am a first time bunny owner also . I am currently attending college, majoring in aerospace engineering and astrophysics (its a mouthful). I also have two jobs, oy . I have a husband, which this was actually his idea to get the bunnies, because he likes to stare at them forever whenever we go to pet shops. I’m more of a dog person and was hesitant of the idea of it. But now ironically I take care of them most of time, while my husband just looks at them and giggles. But in the end, I LOVE my buns to death. And wouldn’t be happier!

I look forward to meeting and talking to other bunny lovers!

I have more pictures of Dusty…well because he’s our first and shadow is kind of hard to see in pictures…

[unknownphoenix]

Aww omg they are so cute!! Welcome to the forums You really will learn so much by being on here. Its a great information resource and the people are so nice here. 

One thing though, you may want to re-think the harness. You may not know that harnesses can be a huge danger to rabbits. If they get spooked and take off running, the harness can snap their back. If you wish to take them outside its best to get a pen that they cant jump over and supervise them outside.
Not nagging or trying to be rude by the way. I know some people have had good luck with harnesses, but in my opinion, why take that much a risk.

[Heuna]

I actually only walked Dusty once so far and had him meet some of my friends, they actually were more cautious than I was, but I got the harness because the collar he would wear would come right off

. Or well he got kind of clever. The harness is pretty good though for Dusty, he doesn’t venture out too much and stays where he feels comfortable. And follow them pretty closely ahaha, people think I’m crazy. But thank you for the advice! I definitely take that into consideration the next time I decide to walk any of them, I don’t want to risk any of them or have them go through any pain because of something I did foolishly. 

Also do you know if I should be worried when taking them out to a park? I let them roam our apartment, but they mainly stay in their pen and cage area. And I would like them to have natural environment once in a while, where they really get to roam free. I’m just scared once they go on real grass I think of possible parasites, viruses, and other plants they pass by and eat. There’s this beautiful local park near our place, and I want them to enjoy it, but I’m scared of my babies getting sick .

[gk]

They are so cute! I believe you have to be careful about grass in that it’s not good for them if there are pesticides, etc. in it. I may be wrong but maybe someone with more knowledge will come along and help. Welcome to the site!

[Sindri]

Welcome! You have a cute pair of buns. As far as taking them to the park I haven’t done anything like that with my rabbits so I cant help with that info. Hopefully someone on here with the experience and knowledge can help. Perhaps you should post your question in one of the other areas of the forum for more help. =)

[unknownphoenix]

Yeah collars and harnesses are just a big no-no when it comes to rabbits. Their necks and spines are so fragile. I obviously cant tell you what to do and dont want to sound like I am repeating myself to be annoying, but I really suggest not using either in the future. I can of course see the appeal in it, I too considered using them before researching and reading horror stories on their use.

Pesticides and chemicals are definitely a real concern when taking them to public areas. Most of the time, cities spray the parks to keep them safe for people and its not animal friendly usually. Plus you never know if any sharp objects are in the ground that you cant see. Maybe I am just paranoid but I cant help but think it’s more danger than its worth lol

And its not even just pesticides and chemicals you have to worry about. Fleas and ticks are even more of a concern and its extremely easy for a flea infestation to happen. We had an issue with it just by a couple of em getting on our pants from walking outside. Luckily we caught the fleas in time before a full infestation happened.

If you want them to have a natural experience with fresh grass, and if you aren’t allergic to grass, you can always consider growing some. I have intentions of doing that in my apartment this summer

[Hazel]

Welcome! What a cute couple of bunnies!

I agree with unknownphoenix about the harness and collars, they are very dangerous for rabbits. Although that’s not the only reason not to take them for walks. Even if the harness was totally safe, being outside without protection is a bad idea for a bunny. A loose dog could run up and attack, a bird of prey could swoop down and grab him (they won’t be deterred by you standing next to him). In either situation there wouldn’t be much you could do to protect the bun. I would just advice you not to do it. Taking them to the park has additional dangers like pesticides and parasites as unknownphoenix has already mentioned.

Also, please post more pictures of your cute little guys! They are adorable.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

If it’s an apartment I would even be hesitant to walk the rabbit. Lose animals could run up and snatch him or scare him causing him to break his back or neck with a collar/harness. If you want him to Rome around and exercise, a play pen is best with a little hide house just in case something or someone came up to him too quickly he’ll feel secure.

Taking him to the park is another big no no. You have to remember, bunnies are not dogs lol their bones are extremely delicate. And they have a prey mentality so they can get startled very easily.

Dusty is so cute and photogenic! I second seeing some more pictures and a few member here say that for taking pics of black buns, it’s best to do it in natural light. It makes them appear more clearly on the camera. Lol it’s always hard photographing black creatures. They look like shadows… Which fits his name quite well

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Also parks might spray the grass with pesticides. So I’d just steer clear of unlicensed places. Buns love eating grass. I’d be nervous.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Public places. My iPad has a very bad habit of changing my words. It’s annoying really lol

[Heuna]

Ahaha at this point I think I’m not going to walk them, as I mentioned in my other reply, I had fears of parks that would just endanger them far worse. I have a weird apartment, it’s technically an apartment, but more of a house actually and I have pretty good size back area. I’m thinking of doing some garden work and adding grass like you suggested unknownphoenix. Maybe do a whole outdoor run type of thing. When I have more time (and money) I’ll go on the forums and see where I can go from there…I don’t even know what kind of grass I should get, or if there are types… My husband just laughs at me on these things. Thank you all very much for the great advice! I’d rather know now and avoid all of the possible incidents, then have the boys suffer b/c of my poor choices.

As requested more pics of the boys ! I tried to take more pictures of Shadow, he’s actually really great at posing and taking pictures, it’s just sucks that you can’t really see him…Dusty just wants to play ahaha.

And some shots of Dusty ! That first one was taken by my sister, I freaked out so bad and took out the trash can (it was used as a weight for the pen).

I hit the max file size for pictures ahhaa

[Heuna]

Just some pictures of Dusty and thats it ! 

That laundry basket one was an old one, but he looks like a toy, I can’t help it <3!

[JPetrucci84]

Welcome! They are absolutely ADORABLE!

[calipa_st]

they are so so cute!!

[Author]

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