stressed about the “unknown”…

[RexEnabler]

I have a “shy” (and now, spoiled) bunny. He was a stray, found living on his own under a porch, fairly set in his ways, I suspect. I took him in and gave him a home and love him to pieces. He has gotten very used to being the bunny overlord as well, but still tends to like spending time on his own even though I make a point of making sure we have interaction when I am home and he has been quite happy to play games and be social…but doesn’t necessarily go out of his way to do so. We have our own rhythm set up, but I am worried about him being so very alone.

 

Since I have read so much about rabbits doing better in pairs and since I am gone for 10-12 hours/day (long commute to and from work), and since I have the funds and the space and there are lots of rabbits in need of a home at the shelter I got my guy from, I think that it would be a good idea to get a bunn-friend for my guy…but in his first (and so far only) speed-dating session, ended up being a little traumatized by the meeting of 5 potential bunn-friends. He seemed like things would be OK at first with his first potential bunn-friend, but things went from good to neutral to REALLY BAD (the candidate, known as such a sweet friendly bunn, eventually ended up biting the staff member who was conducting the date). After that, my guy pretty much went into his mental “happy-place”, hunched in the corner of the pen or else playing “King of the Hay”, giving the bunny-butt to any bunn wanting their hay-supply back.

 

I am contemplating trying to find him a friend again at the shelter, but am wondering if it really is a good idea. My little shy-guy is the king of the house and I do not want to force him into a friendship, especially since he seems to be finally coming into his own and is now finally settling-in for long snuggle sessions, the two of us flopped next to each other on the floor. I keep reading about bonding issues here and am constantly doubting myself and my abilities as far as possible bonding goes. However, the whole health and mental well-being of my bunny possibly improving with a friend is a huge plus…but he is so shy and spoiled…I start getting really tense about just thinking about it, not wanting to make him lose any progress he has made toward being a happy binkying bunny.

 

Does anyone have any “tells” regarding whether or not a rabbit would be OK sharing his space with another bunn? Is it really as difficult as it seems from all I have read to bond rabbits? Am I just over-reacting?

 

*sigh*

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Bonding for my 2 took a LOT of time, and was a ton of stress (mainly cleaning up 2 cages and making sure they stayed apart, watching them stress and fight, ugh).
I’ve read of plenty of bunnies who are happy solo as long as their humans love and tend to them, and since he’s just now really getting to know you and getting comfortable with you, I personally wouldn’t recommend rocking that right now. However, if you were able to take him on bunny dates rather than bring a stranger in, and he found one who made him happy, sometimes their personalities can balance the other out, if that makes sense. I vote, keep bonding with him, wait a year, and reassess. There is nothing saying you have to get a friend in a certain time frame, and honestly some bunnies just sleep 10-12 hours, play for 4, and then eat and poop for 8. So you and he may not be missing anything.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I would probably continue with the speed dating. He may get used to meeting new buns. If you find the stress is way too much for him and that he seems unhappy, then maybe it’s best to let him be a lone bunny. If he’s getting a lot of attention from his humans, I’m pretty sure he’s happy.

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