Questions about bonding?

[RaybundReddington]

My rabbit has this hot water bottle that’s got this black fluffy covering on it that we gave to her after her spray operation, and she’s so obsessed with it. She’ll flop next to it and groom it for what seems like forever, and it makes me feel so bad that she doesn’t have a real rabbit friend. I’m just not sure how to go about bonding. Our local animal shelter has suggested we do a ‘speed dating’ session to elimate any obvious bad pairings at the shelter and that from there I’d have to keep them in close but separate pens/hutches, and then do bonding sessions that gradually increase in duration. My question is how do I do this if my rabbit is free roam? She would not tolerate being kept in a pen and would go absolutely nuts. I tried to keep her confined after her spay and she was not having a bar of it. I’m just not really sure how to go about bonding her with another rabbit and would really love some advice she’s a sweetheart and I have a feeling she’d just absolutely love to have a friend. So if anyone has any tips on how to bond a free roam rabbit it would be greatly appreciated! Like is it impossible to have the rabbits free roam together and then to just do bonding sessions in smaller places every day?
Thank you!!

[Asriel and Bombur]

What do you mean by free roam together and doing bonding sessions in smaller places? You can’t just put them together and then take them elsewhere to work out their issues. Can you give them each a room while you’re letting bun #2 settle in and then move bun #2 into the same room with your girl and divide the room in half? You need neutral territory while you’re bonding them anyways, so it’ll really be for the best if they aren’t totally free roaming while you’re attempting sessions.

So let bun #2 settle in for at least a month away from your other bun before you prebond, this will help her to not feel overwhelmed and stressed from so many new changes and then smelling a new potential friend or foe. After a month of letting her settle in, swap their items around to get them used to each other. After a month of this, then you can begin short bonding sessions in completely neutral territory and increase the sessions based on how well they do together. To make neutral territory, you can spritz white vinegar over the area that you plan on using. I suggest having one room set aside that they take turns having play time in that way you have an area for semi-neutral area when you’re ready for that step.

I know you say she’s a sweetheart, but females can be aggressive and territorial when bonding, especially because she already thinks everything is her. So just warning

[BuckyLuna12]

As you may imagine, having two buns will triple the cuteness. I would completely suggest getting that second rabbit. For finding that second rabbit, I have always been critical of the whole speed dating process. I think it is a little stressful for your bun when they meet several rabbits one on top of each other. I would suggest spending some time at your shelter and meeting all of the bunnies. Pick the bunny that calls you: amazing personality, cuteness level, anything that calls to you. Also, another way to determine is to try and find a submissive rabbit so that bonding is easier. For the problem of your free-range rabbit having to be confined, I would first like to acknowledge how spoiled your baby is ! She must be one happy bun! But, I agree with Asriel and Bombur. You could divide a room in half with a puppy pen spread out. I would get those wire storage units that you put together and make your own divider with the wire squares and zip ties (it would be cheaper). Before you start the prebonding sess, keep the buns away from each other. While you tread water, you can spend some time bonding with your new bun. If you need more advice, please tell. I don’t know how much you know about bonding, and I don’t want to waste my time and yours explaining something you already know ! Hope you have success bonding, if you do decide to!

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