Keeping Dwarf Bunnies in Pairs
by Lindsay in Dwarf Bunnies, Dwarf Bunny Care
Flower & Thumper - Dwarf Bunnies Together
Dwarf bunnies, like all rabbits, are very sociable creatures and they enjoy the company of their own kind, in fact they thrive on it. A pair of ‘bonded’ bunnies will appear inseparable, in that no matter what they are doing, be it sleeping, eating, running around or just lazing in the sunshine, they will be together. One of the best things about dwarf bunnies is that their size makes it so much easier to keep them in pairs.
Why Bunnies Are Happier in Pairs:
Mutual Grooming
Bunnies need a companion to help them clean hard to reach places on the top of their heads, behind their ears and around their eyes. While mutual grooming is part of the bunny bonding process it is also necessary for a bunnies overall happiness.
Grooming each other is a natural part of their ongoing social activities. It is a way of bonding and communicating with each other.
Keeping Each Other Amused
Dwarf bunnies are very intelligent and inquisitive animals and they can become bored easily. Boredom will lead to depression and even some destructive and aggressive behaviour. Offering your bunny toys to play with are a must, but having a companion to play games with will double their fun and excitement.
A pair of bunnies will follow each other around and want to know what the other one has found of interest, which keeps them active and exercised. They may even end up trying to eat the same tasty plant in a friendly race to eat the most before it is gone. Bunnies communicate with each other throughout the day in ways that we cannot understand or replace for a single bunny. The reassurance of the presence of their own kind is irreplaceable.
How to Get Your Dwarf Bunnies in Pairs:
With Baby Bunnies Litter Pairs Are Best
Mars & Jupiter - Dwarf Bunny Brothers
If you are getting baby dwarf rabbits it is best to get them from the same litter. This way the sibling bond they have with each other is already very strong. Both of my first two pairs of bunnies were males from the same litters and they lived long and happy lives getting into all kinds of mischief together.
One thing to consider when choosing an opposite sex pair of bunnies is that they will be able to mate before they are mature enough to be operated on to be neutered or spayed. This will mean that you’ll have to house them separately until such time.
Getting Your Bunnies From a Pet Shop
It is not recommended to get animals from pet shops as they are often more concerned with profit than the current and future welfare of the animals or giving you correct information. If you do choose to get your dwarf rabbits from a pet shop make sure that they keep litters together so that you can choose siblings. Do not trust in the pet shop staff sexing the bunnies correctly, even it if means taking them to a vet to be certain. A vet will charge you a small fee but it will save you the upset of an unwanted litter if they turn out to be a mixed sex pair.
Some pet shops recommend keeping bunnies on their own, these are the kinds of places you need to walk away from. They are usually giving you this false information to make their lives easier as they will not have to sex the bunny or be concerned about the off chance of a pair not being compatible.
Dwarf Bunnies From Rescue Centers
Animal shelters, or rescue centers, will usually have already paired up their bunnies and taken care of having them neutered or spayed, which makes them ideal pets. Many people who give their rabbits up for adoption have got bored with them very quickly, so you can often find young rabbits looking for homes. There may even be baby rabbits from surprise litters, where the mother was pregnant when bought or from a pair of rabbits that were sexed incorrectly. One great thing about re-homing a rabbit is you have the expertise of the animal shelter staff to help you find the best bunnies for you.
Then take a look at this: "How To Train, Care and Build Trust With Your Pet Rabbit"
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12:50 am on April 3rd, 2009
I would really like to get my first dwarf bunny or two…where is the best place to buy them?
thank you
10:43 am on April 6th, 2009
There are several places you can get dwarf bunnies:
The most commonly thought of is pet stores. They usually have all kinds of bunnies available, but you need to be careful when choosing a pet store. Some mix the litters of bunnies up, this may look like it offers you a greater selection, but it can be stressful for them. Also mixing bunnies with other litters can spread disease. So if you do buy from a pet store try to find one that keeps baby bunnies with their siblings.
Breeders, these can be a great place to get your bunnies from as you can find out about the bunnies history and their parents. You can also see if they have been well cared for and had lots of human interaction. A bunny breeder should be happy to answer all your questions about their baby bunnies as well as any general bunny advice you may need.
Animal shelters are often full of bunnies looking for new homes. As well as older bunnies you will also find baby rabbits from accidental litters. Adopting bunnies is a wonderful thing to do and you will also get to play with all the rabbits and learn about their personalities to find exactly the right bunny for you.
I will be writing more in the future about the different places to get dwarf bunnies, but until then I hope this helps.
Lindsay
3:03 pm on April 8th, 2009
Hi.
I am new to owning dwarf bunnies. I Have purchased 2 males from different litters. one is slightly older than the other and I have just introduced the younger one to him.
He started to hump him initially and I was wondering is this normal. I haven’t seen the younger rabbit eat or drink anything and I am concerned is this also normal.
Thanks
Nicole
5:05 pm on April 8th, 2009
Hi Nicole,
It is best to give your bunnies time to get to know each other before they begin living together. You should also consider getting them neutered as this will help alleviate any possible aggression and sexual frustration. Male rabbits can be neutered as soon as their testicles have descended, though your vet may want to wait until he is five months old. Though if hormones are becoming a problem many vets will operate sooner.
The humping is probably your older bunny showing his dominance. If he is not neutered it could also be a bit of sexual frustration as he becomes sexually mature and you may find him turning his attention to other objects.
If your younger rabbit is definitely not eating then this is a serious concern. If you are sure he is not eating at all then take him to a vet to get him checked out for any blockages. Bunnies’ tummies need to continually digest food to prevent blockages.
Was your dwarf bunny eating and drinking alright before you introduced him to his new companion? If he is feeling a little overwhelmed or the other bunny is being a bit bossy over the food, this may have an impact on him. You could try him with something yummy like a bit of broccoli of a carrot and see if he is tempted. If your bunny is playing happily and being inquisitive then I would give him a bit of time and try to tempt him with different foods.
Another thing to consider is whether you drastically changed his diet from what he was used to, as this can have an impact in a bunny, and any change in diet should be introduced gradually.
My dwarf bunny, Fawn, is very picky about his hay. He likes the expensive stuff and will refuse to eat what he considers inferior hay, so you may want to try a different type of hay for your bunny. Fawn will only eat Western Timothy Hay from Oxbow and then he is still fussy about that.
Lindsay
9:27 pm on April 10th, 2009
Hi,
I have a rescue doe bunny who is only 13 weeks old. I was planning on getting another bunny but should I?
4:46 pm on April 11th, 2009
Hi Fiona,
Bunnies love the company of other rabbits. Anyone who has ever had a pair of bonded bunnies will tell you how special their bond is. My first two pairs of bunnies were always together, whether they were nibbling grass, sleeping or grooming each other. Your bunny is still young so it should still be quite easy to introduce a companion.
Lindsay
6:30 pm on April 24th, 2009
Hi Lindsay,
I adopted my bunny back in Sept and the previous owners said she was about a year old at the time. I’ve been told that she is a cross between a Dwarf and something else, although I don’t know what. I have been thinking about getting her a buddy for a while now. Is she too old to bond with another bunny? Is it always a good idea to get a second rabbit? I’m worried she won’t bond with another rabbit. She seems happy, although I noticed in the past few months she doesn’t binky as often as she used to, so I’m wondering if she’s getting lonely or bored (she has ample toys though).
6:40 pm on April 24th, 2009
Hi Adriana,
Bunnies are never too old to bond, and a neutered male will probably be the best companion for her. Introducing two rabbits can take time, and you will have to be prepared for them to live separately until you are sure they are both comfortable and relaxed with each other.
I wouldn’t worry too much about your bunnies decline in binkies. As they age bunnies tend to slow down and get a little less excitable. Providing she is still inquisitive and her little nose twitches like crazy whenever something’s going on, she is still happy and alert.
Lindsay
1:30 am on May 8th, 2009
Hello Lindsey: I just acquired a baby dwarf bunny today. Normally, I am not spontaneous in any way. I decide what I want and then do major research prior to the purchase. However, I did not act normally today. I bought a little bunny who is about 7 or 8 weeks old. I am not sure of the sex and the person at the feed store where I bought her was not sure either. She was helping out a lady who had a lot of bunnies and acquired this small dwarf and several baby lop-earred bunnies. So now I am doing my research after the fact and discovering that they should be paired, that they play with toys, that they should be spayed or nuetered, etc. What type of toys do they like? Where can I get them? PetSmart? Also, is it true that bunnies like banana’s? How much should ou give them if that is true. What about carrots or grass that you can buy? Also, I just checked on getting my show dog spayed now that he is finished and it is $600 at my vet! I cannot imagine my husband will want to spend that on two rabbits. Is it preferable to have a male and female and just nueter the male and leave the female unspayed? Or?? I want to do the right thing by my bunnies as I have with all of my animals. Any suggestions you have are greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Jocelyn
3:16 am on May 11th, 2009
I just bought a dwarf bunny, just one. Do you think that I should go back and get another one for company?
10:35 am on May 11th, 2009
Hi Ashley,
If you have the space for a second bunny then you should certainly get a second rabbit. Bunnies love the company of their own kind, and while they are still young is the best time to introduce a new companion.
Lindsay
1:33 pm on August 3rd, 2009
Hi Lindsay! I’m thinking of getting a dwarf bunny for Christmas. That seems far away but I want to pay for it because it’ll be my responsibility. My friend had a dwarf bunny, I didn’t know what kind, but I was wondering what kind is the smallest? I’d like the bunny not to get too big :) I’ve done research and everything, having this website the most informative.
2:14 pm on August 3rd, 2009
Christina,
It’s good to hear you are enjoying the site. And taking the time to prepare for your new bunny is one of the best things you can do for a new rabbit.
As for the smallest dwarf bunny breed I believe its the Netherland Dwarf, like my bunnies I have pictured on the site. They have sweet round faces and compact ears too, the are so cute. Both of my bunnies who I have at the moment (they aren’t on the site yet) are cross breeds and they are a bit bigger than my previous Netherland Dwarfs.
I hope you enjoy your new bunny when it arrives,
Lindsay.
4:44 pm on August 5th, 2009
Lindsay, first of all I would like to thank you for your website, it has been chock full of info for us. My daugher is in FFA (Future Farmers of America) and is getting a dwarf bunny the 16th of August. My question is after reading your website, I want to get her a pair, is it best to get two males? Females? or mixed (knowing that would require the male to be fixed). Also how much do they weight when full size? and lastly is it true males are much nicer tempered when they are fixed?
Thank you for your time.
9:36 am on August 6th, 2009
Sharon,
My preference is to get two male siblings and have them both castrated. A male and female is also a good choice, but like you say you need to get them fixed to prevent breeding.
I have not experienced, but have read, that two bonded females who have lived together happily can fall out and want nothing to do with each other. Like I say I’ve not experienced this, but I do have a female rabbit, Fern and she is much more bossy and demanding than any of my boy bunnies have ever been, so I can well believe females may fall out.
Personally I always get my bunnies altered. For the females it is beneficial to their long-term health, preventing them from ovarian cancer and infections. And with the males they are much happier once the need to reproduce has been removed, and even if they are the happiest calmest bunny on the planet it is a kind thing to do for them.
As for weight their is no hard and fast rule, it will depend on their diet and exercise regime. I think the average weight for a dwarf bunny is around 2 Kg but that will depend on their breed, as some dwarf bunny breeds are larger than others.
Lindsay.
3:53 pm on September 5th, 2009
How can you tell when two dwarf bunnies are compatible? I have one and we want to make sure we get a good companion if we do, but we want to make sure that it’s someone our Lily will like!
5:23 pm on September 10th, 2009
Hi Charli,
You can’t tell a bunnies personality, or how it will get on with Lily, without getting to know it first. Introducing male, female bunnies is usually the best combination, but nothing is guaranteed. There is quite a bit of advice out there about how to introduce bunnies, so you may want to read up before you get a new rabbit.
One other thing to consider is many animal shelters who keep bunnies, will let you get to know their rabbits and some will even let you introduce your existing bunny. They like to do this, so they can be sure the rabbit is going to a suitable home and reduce the chances of it being brought back because of bunny quarrels.
Lindsay.
10:23 am on October 19th, 2009
My husband and I have recently gotten a dwarf bunny. He has been living on our screened porch and seems to be very happy there. We have his cage on the porch where he eats, drinks, and soils (in one corner). He has lots of room to romp and run which is great but we are concerned about colder weather and if it is okay for him to be outside.
Thank you.
4:30 pm on October 19th, 2009
Hi Gloria,
Unless you live somewhere where you get extremely cold weather then your bunny should be fine. My bunnies even like having a little play in the snow, as long as they have somewhere cosy and dry to sleep afterwards.
Lindsay
9:49 pm on October 21st, 2009
Hi Lindsay,
I am doing some research on bunnies. I Will more than likely get one the first day of winter break. and i have TONS of questions for you. i hope you dont mind. to start off: 1)Where should i get the bunny from? (Netherland dwarf babie.) i herd pet stores are unhealthy.2)Can you maybe explain what you do daily with the bunnies routine wise? Because im afraid when i leave for school 6am-2:30pm The bunny will get depressed.and i need to know how other people take care of them. 3)Can you really walk a bunny? 4)I have four dogs, will the bunny get along with them or atleast not terrorize them? 5)I can only get one bunny, does it NEED a companion? Thats all for now :D Im sure i will have more questions when i acually recive the rabbit.
Thank you for your time,
kailah
9:46 am on October 22nd, 2009
Kailah,
Yes, that is a lot of questions. If you are that unsure of how to care for your new bunny I would recommend reading this book, My Dwarf Rabbit, it will give you a good idea of every aspect of caring for your new bunny.
Lindsay.
3:26 am on March 2nd, 2010
Hi,
We have a 3 month old dwarf bunny. When we take her out of her cage she uses everything as her own personal toilet (including me)! Is there anyway to train her to not do this?
Lindsey
10:46 am on March 3rd, 2010
You are going to have to teach your bunny that it is doing wrong. When a bunny goes to the loo it lifts its tail slightly, she may shuffle a bit too. Keep an eye on your bunny for signs she is about to go to the toilet. Pick the bunny up and take her to her littler tray and make sure she stays there.
You may also want to restrict the area your bunny gets to play in, this will ensure the toilet isn’t too far away, so it will remind her to use it. When she starts using the litter tray you can begin to expand the area she gets to play in. Bunnies are very smart and she will get the message, it will just take a bit of patience.