would it be easier/better to bond

[renaelock]

an adult to an adult or an adult to a young bunny?  I currently have a 3 year old checkered giant and want to get him a friend (maybe boy maybe girl – he will help decide) I was curious it would be easier to bond him to another adult or to bond him to a younger rabbit?  Any advise or opinions would be great!!

[Elrohwen]

I think I saw your post on another forum. I’ll post my answer here for you as well:

You should really go to the rescue and do some bunny dating. Sometimes babies and adults will get along, but it’s not a true “bond”. As soon as the baby goes through hormonal periods fighting can break out and often re-bonding after fixing is like starting from the beginning.

I would 100% recommend bunny dating with adult already fixed bunnies for the best chance of success. If you get a baby, it will be hit or miss and you could potentially have two separate buns for a very long time (or forever). 

Male/female bonds are generally the easiest and most stable, but male/male bonds can work well too if one of the males is very laid back.

[renaelock]

Thank you, I thought I had the “email with new replies” checked but I guess I didn’t and I thought I wasn’t getting responses so I posted on this forum too – silly me. Thanks for the information, I do prefer a rabbit that is already fixed for my rabbit to become friends with – he’s neutered too.

[Elrohwen]

Spaying is a big operation and expensive, so getting an already spayed bun is really the best choice all around. Do you have anywhere nearby that you can take him bunny dating? You may find that he gets along with everybunny or that he is very picky about who he wants to be friends with.

[renaelock]

I do have a shelter near buy but I am still doing my homework on the place – I am hoping to visit there tomorrow. I completely agree that is adopting is the less risky “cheaper” way to go – if the rabbit is already fixed that is and that fact that you can bunny date. My rabbits previous owner said that he needs laid back companions so it sounds like he’s the dominant one – he’s been paired with a couple other buns with his past owner so I know it’s possible for him to have friends.

[Elrohwen]

That’s great that he’s had other companions! Sometimes rabbits have a hard time learning how to just be with other bunnies since they don’t have any experience. He probably already understand rabbit communication and will be able to get along with another rabbit.

If he is dominant, and the females he meets want to be dominant too (because females often do) try introducing him to a laid back male. As Petzy, a very experienced bonder here, told me “there’s always trouble when a female is involved.” 😉

[renaelock]

Posted By Elrohwen on 04/16/2010 05:57 PM 
… “there’s always trouble when a female is involved.” 😉

Haha, funny!

I do love the idea of having two boy rabbits instead of a boy and a girl – I like boy pets.  I have one female dog and 2 boy dogs and the female always starts the pointless “fights”.

 

[Elrohwen]

My boy is laid back and I could’ve easily got another boy, but I stuck with getting a girl. My girl turned out to be not too much of a diva, but she’s still way feistier than my boy!

There are plenty of boys at my local rescue that “go both ways” but not many girls who will put up with another girl.

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