Bond Mate: Chosen By Owner or Pet?

Just wanted to know out of curiousity how many folks here let their rabbit choose their bond mate or chose one for them.

I'm with a rescue group. We usually tell people to bring their bunny and we introduce them to a few different bunnies. It's amazing to see how differently a bunny will act with different bunnies. If you want to make it easier on yourself, I would let your bunny decide.

I see you have a Flemi. We recently adopted out a 20 lb FLemi. She chose her bonded partner. Her bonded bun friend is a 2 lb Netherland dwarf. lol!!! It just goes to show that love really is blind

Aww Kim thats sooo cute! I've heard it's better for the bunny to pick their own friend obviously because they've picked her/him to be their friend so they will love them from the start. But i picked a friend for my bunny and they are getting along ok, but i think it probably took longer to bond than if i let him pick himself

I have had 5 bonded pairs. Only one of which I picked out the mate. It really is easier to let them pick for themselves. Sometimes we can't see a difference but there is a big one to the rabbits.

For example, when Houdini's bunwife passed he was deeply grieving so we took him to a rescue to meet a new mate. The first girl he met he charged and nipped, obviously not a match. The second girl was the first one's sister and looked almost identical to me, but he was instantly in love! He started to groom himself and wanted to lay next to her. They have been in love ever since. I have no idea why the drastic difference, perhaps the first girl said something rude?

I view it as letting the rabbits mary for love rather than forcing them into an arranged marriage. Sure, in time they may grow to love their arranged partner, but they are going to be much happier sooner if they get to pick.

I picked Agnes's husbun. I did take her to meet him before I brought him home. So i guess if they would have all out brawled I wouldn't have adopted him.
But we got through the entire bond process without even one little or tiny scuffle. It was so smooth and easy. And I swear they fall in love more each day I love seeing them together....they are pretty much like one unit and they are never apart. They eat together, sleep together, play together, even pee together! Haha. It has been such an enjoyable experience.

I took him to a shelter and let him choose. The first female totally dominated him, humping him angrily, chasing him around and pinning him down. Poor boy was terrified.

The second female he took a liking to... a bit too much. Starting humping, ripping out fur, she just sat and took it. When I tried giving some lettuce, Rascal boxed her away and wouldn't share.

With the third female, they pretty much ignored each other. Sat within a few feet grooming, sat together in the litterbox. Shared their veggies respectfully. It wasn't love, but it wasn't hate either. I thought I'd try it out.

They have never had a scuffle or disagreement. They're not very lovey-dovey, but they snuggle a few times per day, and give short grooming sessions. I have a feeling they are pretty evenly matched, in terms of dominance, so they're not quite sure what to do. But they get along and play and cause trouble together!

I'm really glad we went through that process. When I took them home I had a period where I kept them in neutral territory (my bedroom) and they had a "poop war" for almost two weeks, but then they were loose in the apartment and were totally fine. No nerve-wracking bonding sessions.

I picked my rabbits myself. I got Beauty and then a week later found out that the bunny I had been trying to get for many months I could go and get. I had only wanted one and my mom was not happy about me getting Shiny Things. (I had breed her and sold her when I got rid of all my rabbits for college. Then I decided that I could not live without a rabbit so tried to get her back from friends who had sold her a day or two before I asked them for her back). I could not say no to getting her back and the person I had gotten Beauty from would not let me return her, so I was stuck with two rabbits. At first the two HATED eachother and tried to kill eachother on multiple occasions. Then I finally convinced my mom to let me spend my own $ and get them spayed. They were living together 3 weeks after the last one got spayed (Beauty got spayed ~1 month before Shiny Things because Shiny Things had a medical condition and the vet would not spay her the day it had been scheduled). They live happily together now, though they have been having some disagreements lately.

MarilynBUNNroe said:

I see you have a Flemi. We recently adopted out a 20 lb FLemi. She chose her bonded partner. Her bonded bun friend is a 2 lb Netherland dwarf. lol!!! It just goes to show that love really is blind

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I think we need to see pics of this - sounds TOO cute!

I picked my rabbits, but that's because they were 7-8 week old babies (who will bond with anything) and I honestly didn't know any better anyway. when I lose one of my girls (which hopefully won't be for over a decade), I'll definitely look for a way to bunny-date.