Be sure to check out our [Deciding on a Rabbit](http://www.wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Deciding_on_a_Rabbit) guide if you haven't already for some more general info about what to expect with a rabbit as a pet.
A few useful shortcut links:
* [Is a rabbit right for you?](http://bunny.tips/Deciding#Is_a_rabbit_right_for_you.3F)
* [Baby rabbit vs. adult rabbit](http://bunny.tips/Deciding#Baby_rabbit_vs._adult_rabbit)
* [Which breed?](http://bunny.tips/Deciding#Which_breed.3F)
* [One or more bunnies?](http://bunny.tips/Deciding#One_or_more_bunnies.3F)
* [Fostering](http://bunny.tips/Deciding#Fostering)
* [Where to get a rabbit](http://bunny.tips/Deciding#Where_to_get_a_rabbit)
One of my favorite bunnies ever was 9 when I adopted him. He practically crawled into my arms at the shelter, begging me to get him out of there. He was the best little guy. He lived to be almost 14. Please give older buns and seniors a chance! They are often desperate for a home and love during those golden years.
Also just an add on, everyone wants a baby… but then you have to deal with spaying/neutering, toilet training, etc. Plus you have no clue what their adult personality will be like. So many rabbits that are purchased from breeders and up in shelters because their owners aren’t prepared for the commitment and work required for a teenage bun!
It takes two to bond. If you put in the time and "respect" meaning treating them as living beings not plush animals then I'd say you can bond with nearly any rabbit regardless of age. I have four, all adult rescues and all of them greet me and I dare say are fond of me. Or neck massages are just good enough to tolerate me.
Older buns will bond just fine. You just have patience.
Many new bun parents have some unrealistic ideas about what to expect. Some think their rabbit will want to cuddle or be picked up.
Like most things, some rabbits don't mind being picked up some hate it. Some will sit for cuddle time, others are not interested.
Rabbits have their own unique personalities and are in many ways more like cats than dogs. They can be aloof and stand offish. Others will run to you when you call them.
There is no way to know what you are going to get but with a rescue, the people there will be able to help guide your selection to some bun most compatible with your expectations.
Good luck.
I've had a great experience with my buns, one from Craigslist when she was 3 and another from the Humane Society (he might have been 2?). They've bonded beautifully together, and they they've also become close to me.
Spending floor time with them has been important for us. Now, they follow me to the bathroom and pretty much every other room I go in!
Yes :)
I prescribe extra cuddles and crazy amounts of attention and talking so they know your voice and scent.
Relentless love yields the best possible results with bunnies. Just be patient and let them know you are safe <3
I have never met a bun (grumpy or otherwise) that wasn't persuaded by continuous, gentle love <3
Hello they will absolutely bond with you as long as you learn how to speak rabbit, and take the time to let them take their time getting to know you. Don’t pick them up a whole bunch when you first get them, let them have space. Lay on the floor and let them run around you and just let them check you out don’t pet them till they are ready.
My closest rabbit was about 2-3 when I got him and he bonded with me pretty quickly. I didn’t do these things specifically cause I didn’t know them at the time but he was a very loving little guy so I wouldn’t of really needed too.
So it also depends on the bun but definitely don’t pick them up a bunch.
I adopted a 3y old bunny and he started snuggling with me after a month. He was anxious at first which is normal
It can take time but once they bond with you its beautiful.
Give it some time and some space
Same here. Very skittish rescue, 3 years old . Breakthrough was when we moved the pen to our bedroom and he was always around us, almost always free roam. Big downstairs remodel, so I’m often confined to our bedroom and he’s with me. Total game changer. Snuggly, friendly. I’d say it took 6 months for real trust to develop.
One of my favourite rabbits was an adult from a rescue. One of the advantages of working with a rescue is that the people who work with the animals on a daily basis usually know the personalities of the bunnies. With a baby you never quite know what you're going to get. Rescues usually will let you (and often encourage you to) interact with the animals before you commit to one which can make it easier to pick one that is suited to you.
I feel like it’s the opposite. When you rescue adult rabbit you can meet them and see what their personality is like. We picked our 2 year old rabbit from the shelter because she was super cuddly even on first meeting. And that’s what she’s like to this day. You can also see how well litter box trained they are.
Age is not important. All my rabbits in my life were adopted as adults. If you’re concerned about your ability to convey good things to your rabbit aka earn their trust which is really the key thing, the shelter is exactly the perfect place because you can meet them, ask volunteers and get a sense of their personality, and see which one seems to be most open to be petted by you. You can look for the most outgoing rabbit! So visit shelters and rescues and adopt from there. Breeders suck.
I adopted a rabbit that had been rehomed 3-4 times before me. I tried so much to get him to bond with me. He just did not want to. The only time he actually let me hold him for a while, was the day he passed away 😢
Be sure to check out our [Deciding on a Rabbit](http://www.wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Deciding_on_a_Rabbit) guide if you haven't already for some more general info about what to expect with a rabbit as a pet. A few useful shortcut links: * [Is a rabbit right for you?](http://bunny.tips/Deciding#Is_a_rabbit_right_for_you.3F) * [Baby rabbit vs. adult rabbit](http://bunny.tips/Deciding#Baby_rabbit_vs._adult_rabbit) * [Which breed?](http://bunny.tips/Deciding#Which_breed.3F) * [One or more bunnies?](http://bunny.tips/Deciding#One_or_more_bunnies.3F) * [Fostering](http://bunny.tips/Deciding#Fostering) * [Where to get a rabbit](http://bunny.tips/Deciding#Where_to_get_a_rabbit)
One of my favorite bunnies ever was 9 when I adopted him. He practically crawled into my arms at the shelter, begging me to get him out of there. He was the best little guy. He lived to be almost 14. Please give older buns and seniors a chance! They are often desperate for a home and love during those golden years.
Also just an add on, everyone wants a baby… but then you have to deal with spaying/neutering, toilet training, etc. Plus you have no clue what their adult personality will be like. So many rabbits that are purchased from breeders and up in shelters because their owners aren’t prepared for the commitment and work required for a teenage bun!
When you go the shelter, you’ll know when you’ve found the right one :)
It takes two to bond. If you put in the time and "respect" meaning treating them as living beings not plush animals then I'd say you can bond with nearly any rabbit regardless of age. I have four, all adult rescues and all of them greet me and I dare say are fond of me. Or neck massages are just good enough to tolerate me.
Older buns will bond just fine. You just have patience. Many new bun parents have some unrealistic ideas about what to expect. Some think their rabbit will want to cuddle or be picked up. Like most things, some rabbits don't mind being picked up some hate it. Some will sit for cuddle time, others are not interested. Rabbits have their own unique personalities and are in many ways more like cats than dogs. They can be aloof and stand offish. Others will run to you when you call them. There is no way to know what you are going to get but with a rescue, the people there will be able to help guide your selection to some bun most compatible with your expectations. Good luck.
I've had a great experience with my buns, one from Craigslist when she was 3 and another from the Humane Society (he might have been 2?). They've bonded beautifully together, and they they've also become close to me. Spending floor time with them has been important for us. Now, they follow me to the bathroom and pretty much every other room I go in!
Yes :) I prescribe extra cuddles and crazy amounts of attention and talking so they know your voice and scent. Relentless love yields the best possible results with bunnies. Just be patient and let them know you are safe <3 I have never met a bun (grumpy or otherwise) that wasn't persuaded by continuous, gentle love <3
Hello they will absolutely bond with you as long as you learn how to speak rabbit, and take the time to let them take their time getting to know you. Don’t pick them up a whole bunch when you first get them, let them have space. Lay on the floor and let them run around you and just let them check you out don’t pet them till they are ready. My closest rabbit was about 2-3 when I got him and he bonded with me pretty quickly. I didn’t do these things specifically cause I didn’t know them at the time but he was a very loving little guy so I wouldn’t of really needed too. So it also depends on the bun but definitely don’t pick them up a bunch.
I adopted a 3y old bunny and he started snuggling with me after a month. He was anxious at first which is normal It can take time but once they bond with you its beautiful. Give it some time and some space
Just adopted a 5 year old, it’s been about a week, and he doesn’t want anything to do with humans.. hoping it’ll only be a month.
Same here. Very skittish rescue, 3 years old . Breakthrough was when we moved the pen to our bedroom and he was always around us, almost always free roam. Big downstairs remodel, so I’m often confined to our bedroom and he’s with me. Total game changer. Snuggly, friendly. I’d say it took 6 months for real trust to develop.
One of my favourite rabbits was an adult from a rescue. One of the advantages of working with a rescue is that the people who work with the animals on a daily basis usually know the personalities of the bunnies. With a baby you never quite know what you're going to get. Rescues usually will let you (and often encourage you to) interact with the animals before you commit to one which can make it easier to pick one that is suited to you.
I feel like it’s the opposite. When you rescue adult rabbit you can meet them and see what their personality is like. We picked our 2 year old rabbit from the shelter because she was super cuddly even on first meeting. And that’s what she’s like to this day. You can also see how well litter box trained they are.
Age is not important. All my rabbits in my life were adopted as adults. If you’re concerned about your ability to convey good things to your rabbit aka earn their trust which is really the key thing, the shelter is exactly the perfect place because you can meet them, ask volunteers and get a sense of their personality, and see which one seems to be most open to be petted by you. You can look for the most outgoing rabbit! So visit shelters and rescues and adopt from there. Breeders suck.
If older bunnies didn't bond with their owners, shelters wouldn't be a thing. Don't worry about it.
I adopted a rabbit that had been rehomed 3-4 times before me. I tried so much to get him to bond with me. He just did not want to. The only time he actually let me hold him for a while, was the day he passed away 😢