The Burrow Retreat

Rabbit bonding can be tough, so let us handle it for you. Our 5-day bonding retreat* (10 days for fluffles of 6 or more) utilizes an expansion approach, with a heavy emphasis on using behavioral analysis. We do not use any negative behavior modifications (i.e. no water spraying, no stressful car rides).

This technique is different than traditional rabbit speed dating/side by side bonding, where rabbits are placed together for only last 15-60 minutes a day. This style of bonding can take months (while necessary for particular cases), but can feel exhausting to both your rabbits and yourself.

Our strategies and techniques are effective due to immediate positive reinforcement of wanted behaviors and extinction of unwanted behaviors. We are able to do this because of our 24/7 monitoring. A staff member will be present and alert at all times during bonding (yes, this means even at 3am or even at 9pm), which is a service you will not find anywhere else but here at The Bun Chia Burrow.

We are known to “bond the unbondable”, so you have our Burrow Guarantee** that your rabbits will be able to live their best lives with you when they’re returned from the retreat.

  • You may fill out the form above or call, text or email us. Please note that it may take up to 48 hours for a response.

    We will then schedule an in-person consultation to meet you + your rabbits. This consultation is $75 and will go towards your deposit if you choose to schedule a Retreat with us. At this consultation, we will determine your low + high end Retreat quote. This quote is determined based on your rabbits’ history, their temperaments, and if we have cause to believe that it will take longer than our 5 day program.

  • The total deposit is $200 ($125 after the in-person consultation).

    It is due when your Retreat dates are offered to you.

  • We accept cash or check, as well as utilize platforms like Venmo + Zelle. All credit card transactions will incur an additional 3.5% service fee (will be billed separately).

    Full payment is due at the end of services, unless a payment plan is agreed upon prior.

  • On the day of transport, your rabbits will experience top-tier white glove service. You will receive a text message an hour prior with our estimated time of arrival.

    If you need additional assistance with transport, there is an additional $50 fee per carrier.

  • Yes!

    You can schedule a consultation (in-person or virtual) instead. We can go over our theory of thought, as well as guide you through traditional practices.

  • We will triage the situation and have access to a rabbit first aid kit. We will immediately contact you about the crisis while simultaneously seeking medical care.

    We are not licensed professionals, but will administer any required medications prescribed by an experienced veterinarian if necessary. The retreat will be halted, and will be scheduled to be continued at a later time/once a full recovery is cleared by the veterinarian (at no additional cost to you).

    Please note: you will be required to reimburse the Bun Chia Burrow for all medical expenses.

  • Although not required, we are now offering pet insurance through Pet Sitter’s Associates.

    Please contact us for more details.

  • Historically, our waitlist is about 6-9 months long.

    We offer Retreat dates on a first come, first serve basis. Dates can be traded to accommodate families.

  • We’ve crafted a 5-day bonding program* that relies on 24/7 supervision. We rely on behavioral analysis to encourage positive behaviors and extinct negative behaviors. We walk the fine line of intervening before rabbits are injured, but allowing your rabbits to communicate with one another. We do not utilize tactics like water spraying or car rides - we try to communicate with your rabbits as they would normally with one another (i.e., we will thump instead of yell, gently tap their bottom to encourage them to move, etc.).

    You can read the same peer-reviewed articles we did to create our program right here.

    All rabbits who are sent home will have been co-habiting without chasing or aggressive behaviors for at minimum 48 hours . We include a 3 hour transition period if you wish (we transport your rabbits back to you, staying with them for 3 hours to ensure that any negative behaviors, if exhibited, gets corrected in their home environment).

    * This assumes that this is the first time rabbits are interacting with each other. If there is history, please contact us for an alternative timeline.

  • If your rabbits show signs of distress upon returning home, we will bond them again for you at no additional cost. You must reach out to us within 3 months/90 days post return. Scheduling will be at our discretion. You must follow the Take Home Guide provided to you. We do not recommend mixing strategies from other sources and bonders. If you do mix strategies, the Guarantee is null and void for this stay.

  • We get this question a lot, but it boils down to that we do not utilize traditional bonding methods that may not need 100% supervision at all times and we are asked to bond “the unbondable” (think of us as the last resort before one or more of the rabbits get rehomed).

    Traditionally, some professionals will place rabbits next to each other in separate pens for days at a time before putting them together for 15-30 minute speed dates. These strategies produce results, but can take weeks or months.

    However, we are able to speed up the process to less than a week because of the program we’ve crafted and continue to update. When we say we rely on 24/7 supervision, we truly mean it. This is because your rabbits are placed together for the entirety of the stay and thus will require supervision at all times.

    Also to be noted: it is only the two of us hosting a Retreat, and your rabbits will be the only ones in our care at this time (unlike other bonding operations that may have the staff capacity to do more than one bonding group at a time). Only one of us can sleep/step away at any given time, and we do not leave the bonding space unsupervised by at least one of us for the 5 days (or more if necessary). Your rabbits are not separated (unless severe antagonistic behaviors are being observed) and slowly gain access to more space as their bond strengthens.

    It is a draining endeavor on our end, but it is so rewarding to see duos to even fluffles of 6 or more doing well in their forever homes at the end.

retreat faq