Making a bun more social

[hxkev]

I had the idea to get a rabbit friend for my bun Dante, because I'm not home all day and usually get back in the evening, so I thought that getting him a friend would make him happy and not bored. If i were to get a more social bunny, would that have an effect on my rabbit? Since he's not very social (meaning he doesn't come up to me when he wants pets, only when I give him treats, other times he just goes around where ever he wants).

My guess is that having a social bun interact with my rabbit could make him a bit more social or something. Could somebody please confirm this?

 

[Preitler]

Your rabbit acts perfectly normal.

Sorry to put it like this, but rabbits are not dogs. There may be exemptions, but rabbits are more like room mates than pets. That they are social animals means that they interact and live with their own, that they didn't evolve to live alone. Here it's even illegal to keep single pet rabbits (questionable law, imho creates more problems than it solves).
Although mine would pass as lifestock I got my buck a spayed cuddlebun, both are free range house bunnies. His attitude towards me didn't change much, he actually interacts somewhat less with me now, but just having those two around me, watching them cuddle and grooming, is totally worth it - for me.

Interacting with your bunny, training tricks or anything might get it more interested in you, but imho they are well aware that we are not rabbits.
As for your question, well, they learn from each other, to some point. A skittish rabbit will learn that I'm no danger when the other rabbits eat treats from my hand, after some time they'll come too. But I wouldn't expect too much of your plan.

 

[samoth]

There may be exemptions, but rabbits are more like room mates than pets.

This is a great way to put it, imo.

I have a buck who's exactly like yours: "doesn't come up to me when he wants pets, only when I give him treats, other times he just goes around where ever he wants."

His bondmate is a super gregarious, super sociable, loving doe who loves being pet for hours on end, runs up to me when I get home from work, and wants attention more than everything. Her personality is the polar opposite from my buck, yet she's had no impact on his behavior in the least.

Granted, my buck loves my doe, and begs *her* for attention, follows *her* around all over the house, and constantly asks *her* for grooms... it just hasn't impacted his behavior towards me. I guess we have a more hands-off, "bro" kind of relationship where touching isn't considered "cool."

It's just like Preit said: my buck knows I'm not "one of them." (But that's okay; he's still awesome!)