What to Expect

You Want a Bunny!

Bunnies are amazing companions. They can be trained, love to snuggle, and make great family pets. But there are many considerations to take into account before going out and buying a bun. It takes some time and effort to keep them happy and healthy, so we have compiled as much information as possible to make raising a bunny an easy process for the both of you! The more consistent you are with your bunny in the beginning stages will truly give you a better outcome with them as a whole in the end.

Here is what to expect when you are thinking of getting your first bunny!

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 You Want a Cuddly Bunny?
You want a cute, cuddly bunny to constantly pick up & take with you everywhere? First things first. The amount of time, effort, and love you put into your bunny is exactly what you’ll get in return. The more time you spend with them, the more social & confident they’ll likely be. Bunnies are incredibly resilient; don’t be afraid to slowly introduce them to new things such as going outdoors, on car rides, shopping, etc. If you have the expectation that they will instantly be 100% trusting and wanting to be picked right up and snuggled, it’s a bit unrealistic. This does not mean that it’s impossible, but like anything else the relationship that you will build with your bun takes time, patience & consistency. Bunnies are extremely social creatures and they will bond to their humans as long as they get the right amount of time to get to know you. You will know when your rabbit is bonded to you because they will be comfortable, relaxed and more confident with you! Buns must be trained just as if you were bringing home a new puppy! It will take time for you bunny to become accustomed to its new surroundings and schedule. Be patient and the work will pay off!

Can Your New Bunny Be Litter Trained?
Yes! While babies may be incredibly tidy and clean, they will have accidents, just like when you bring a new puppy into your home! Most buns will continue to have the occasional accident until they are spayed or neutered. Accidents can ranged from a couple poop nuggets left behind to puddles of pee. Read more about litter training here.

How Much Grooming Is Involved?
Grooming is going to be different with each breed- long hair buns require grooming every 1-2 days max, while hollands only need daily brushing when they are going through a molt.

When it comes to long haired rabbits, their fur tends to collect everything they go near from hay to veggies & even poop! With certain wispy thin haired breeds mats can also happen very quickly. A quick 5-10 minute brush out daily helps avoid all of this! If you don’t remove the old hair from their coat, then they tend to ingest too much hair and this can lead to GI stasis which puts your rabbits health at serious risk. It is always good to closely monitor your furry friend and ensure that they are always consistently using the bathroom as that is a HUGE indicator of your buns health!

Short haired breeds may only need to be brushed out once a week, depending on the season! All breeds molt 1-2 times annually and will fully lose their old coats as their beautiful new thick one starts growing in! During molts there can be lots of hair everywhere, no matter the length, so always be sure to remove as much as possible from both their body and enclosure so that they don’t ingest it! Your bunny may even develop bald or bare spots as their mew coats fully grow in!

Your rabbits nails should be clipped 1-3 times a month, depending on how quickly they grow.

Information on how to groom your bunny can be found here.

If you find that you are struggling to get your bun and yourself comfortable with the grooming process, you can usually book a grooming appointment with your vet or a local groomer!

Bonding with your bunny?
Establishing a daily routine is key! The next biggest recommendation I give to people is hand feeding! Hand feed everything as much as possible. Treats, pellets, veggies after 6 month of age! This will establish yourself as the food source & help start your bond with your new bunny. Consistency will determine the outcome of your rabbits personality & bond!

Bonding multiple rabbits?
Prepare for the best and worst case scenarios. Some rabbits want a companion while others prefer to be solo. Have a back up plan in case bonds break or don’’t work out. I’ve seen siblings easily bond with no issues while others, months down the road decide they want nothing to do with each other. educate yourself on bonding techniques. Spaying/neutering/removal of hormones is highly recommended before attempting to bond rabbits. Read more about bonding here…