HOW TO BOND BUNNIES

When your new rabbit arrives home, it’s important to leave him/her/them to settle in to
their new environment and establish trust in their new owner. For this reason, bonding
should not take place in the first 10 days.

During the settling in period and when the rabbits are not in bonding sessions, they need to
be house separately. It is extremely important the rabbits do not chase, mount or fight each
other.

Bonding sessions should be short periods of being together with supervision in a neutral
area. We recommend ‘Desensitisation Rabbit Bonding’ (Watch the Rabbit Sanctuary You-
tube Video on Desensitisation bonding). This provides an opportunity for the rabbits to
become used to each other in a safe and controlled environment. Once trust is established
between the rabbits, the fear is gone.

Positive Behaviour Negative Behaviour

- Sitting beside each other - Chasing each other
- Grooming each other - Mounting
- Seeking one another - Fighting
- Behaving normally - Growling

Basket Bonding
Basket bonding is a non-violent method done by placing both rabbits, side by side in a basket.
The basket provides a calm, controlled, relaxed and stress free environment.

The person should be monitoring the rabbits at all times and gently stroking them on the head.

Repeating this process throughout the day numerous times for at least 15 minutes at a time is
most effective.

It is important to not allow rabbits to display any of the negative behaviours listed above.