Burrow Retreat:
Professional Rabbit Bonding

Struggling with rabbit bonding in Los Angeles or Orange County?

Bun Chia Burrow is Southern California's only behavior-based rabbit bonding program with 24/7 supervised care, positive reinforcement techniques, and a 90-day guarantee.

Based in Long Beach and serving all of Los Angeles County and Orange County, our intensive 5-Day Bonding Retreat uses Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and a marathon expansion approach to create safe, lasting bonds between rabbit pairs and groups. Unlike traditional speed dating methods that can take months, our program gets results in less than a week—with a complimentary 3-hour in-home transition to ensure success in your home environment.

Whether you're introducing new rabbits, expanding your warren, or re-bonding after a separation, we specialize in bonding "the unbondable" with no negative reinforcement techniques (no water spraying, no stressful car rides, no punishment-based methods).

IMPORTANT: Due to high demand, our current waitlist is closed to new clients. We are happy to offer a complimentary 30-min virtual consultation in the interim.

Book Your Retreat →

How Our Rabbit Bonding Process Works

Pre-Bonding Consultation in Los Angeles + Orange County

  • Required In-Person Consultation
    ‍
    New clients: $75 consultation fee
    Returning clients: $150 consultation fee
    (New clients will have 100% of their consultation fee credited toward the retreat deposit; returning clients will have 50% of their consultation fee credited.) ‍

    Your rabbit bonding journey begins with a comprehensive consultation in your home. During this 60 minute session, we will:

    • Observe your rabbits' current behaviors and temperaments

    • Review their history (previous bonding attempts, aggression, territorial behaviors)

    • Assess current housing setup (side-by-side pens, completely separate, etc.)

    • Discuss past bonding tactics if attempted elsewhere

    • Identify your rabbits' highest-value rewards (favorite treats, toys, activities)

    • Explain our behavior-based bonding methodology in detail

    • Determine if pre-bonding work is needed before the retreat

    • Answer all your questions about the bonding process

    Within 48 hours of your consultation, you'll receive a customized quote based on your rabbits' complexity, history, and group size.

  • A deposit is required to hold a Retreat Reservation. The in-person consultation fee can be used towards the deposit.

    50% of the quote is due at Retreat Start Date. The remaining 50% is due at the Retreat End Date.

    The exception to the above if a Payment Plan is requested. If a payment plan is requested, it must be done within one (1) week of the quote. We will ask for a credit card to keep on file.

    If payment is not remitted within a five (5) day grace period to the Bun Chia Burrow, we reserve the right to charge your credit card with an additional 3.5% fee.

  • Depending on your rabbits' history and current relationship, we may recommend pre-bonding activities to complete at home before the retreat:

    • Side-by-side housing - Placing rabbits in adjacent pens to acclimate to each other's presence

    • Scent swapping - Switching litterboxes and toys between pens

    • Territory swapping - Switching which rabbit lives in which space

    • Stress reduction - Creating calm environments and reducing territorial triggers

    These preparatory steps maximize your rabbits' success during the intensive bonding retreat. We'll provide detailed instructions tailored to your specific situation.

  • The Bun Chia Burrow has a 6+ month waitlist currently. We will send out an email at the start of the quarter (every 3 months) for upcoming Retreat Dates.

    If your rabbits are unable for the dates offered, you have one week to decline the reservation. Please note that if you are unable to take the reservation, you may be shifted to the end of the quarter waitlist. If there are specific dates in mind, we are open to asking the family to trade for those dates. There is no guarantee for trades, but they happen often.

The 5+ Day Rabbit Bonding Retreat in Long Beach

  • Duration: 5 days (or 10 days for groups of 6+ rabbits or complex cases)
    Location: Our Long Beach bonding facility
    Supervision: 24/7 with staff member actively observing at all times

    Your rabbits will stay at our Long Beach facility for an intensive, behavior-focused bonding experience.

    Our Unique Marathon Expansion Method

    Unlike traditional rabbit bonding programs that use short "speed dating" sessions of 15-60 minutes per day (which can take 2-6 months), we use a marathon approach with 24/7 supervision. Your rabbits live together continuously throughout the retreat with constant behavioral monitoring and intervention.

    Around-the-Clock Supervision
    A human staff member actively watches your rabbits 24/7 throughout the entire retreat:

    • No sleeping during supervision shifts

    • Only one person steps away at a time (never leaving rabbits unsupervised)

    • Immediate intervention capability if needed

    • Continuous behavioral documentation

    • Real-time strategy adjustments

    This is why our program succeeds where others fail—and why our waitlist exists. Your rabbits are the ONLY bonding group in our care during their retreat, receiving our complete focus.

    Phase 1: Foundation (First 48 Hours)
    The first 48 hours are personally supervised by SD (our lead behavioral specialist). We start in a small pen appropriately sized for your group:

    • Pairs typically start in 2.5' x 2.5' space

    • Groups of 4-6 start in 4' x 4' space

    • Groups of 8+ start in 5' x 5' space

    Small spaces encourage closeness and cooperation while we determine base needs and establish hierarchy.

    Phase 2: Hierarchy Establishment
    We identify the dominant rabbit ("top bunny") and reinforce natural hierarchy through strategic positive reinforcement:

    • Top bunny receives food, treats, and attention first

    • We encourage appropriate dominance displays (grooming requests, mounting for position)

    • We intervene only when behaviors escalate beyond normal communication (latching, severe chasing)

    Phase 3: Space Expansion
    For every 12 hours of non-aggressive behavior, we expand the space by 2.5 feet as a reward.

    Target completion goals vary by lifestyle:

    • Free-roaming rabbits: Must complete bonding in 5' x 10' space

    • Pen-housed rabbits: Must complete bonding in 5' x 5' space

    • Custom setups: Matched to your home environment size

    Phase 4: Final Certification
    Rabbits must demonstrate 48+ consecutive hours of positive bonding behaviors in their maximum space before being cleared to go home:

    • No chasing

    • No aggressive mounting

    • Mutual grooming

    • Comfortable eating/sleeping together

    • Appropriate hierarchy maintenance

    If they're not ready after the scheduled days, we'll notify you 72 hours in advance and discuss options (extended stay or home pre-bonding with rescheduling).

  • The Bun Chia Burrow utilizes Behavior Modification, with Applied Behavior Analysis Principles.

    Positive Reinforcement Only
    We identify your rabbits' highest-value rewards (discovered during pre-consultation) and use them strategically:

    • Favorite treats delivered immediately after wanted behaviors

    • Preferred toys introduced as rewards

    • Social praise and attention for positive interactions

    • Increased space as ultimate reward

    We NEVER use:

    ❌ Water bottle spraying

    ❌ Loud noises or yelling

    ❌ Car rides or stressful environments

    ❌ Physical punishment

    ❌ Food/water deprivation

    ❌ Negative reinforcement of any kind

  • Behavioral Analysis in Action
    Using Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) principles, we:

    • Identify which base need is unmet (security, food access, territory, hierarchy)

    • Determine the function of unwanted behaviors (fear, dominance, resource guarding)

    • Reinforce wanted behaviors immediately and consistently

    • Allow unwanted behaviors to "extinguish" naturally without reinforcement

    • Adjust environment and rewards based on real-time behavioral data

  • We communicate in the same language your rabbits understand:

    • Our voices are used only for positive reinforcement and praise

    • We thump our feet to signal boundaries (like rabbits do)

    • We use gentle nudges and positioning to guide behavior

    • We allow normal rabbit communication (nipping, circling, brief mounting)

    • We only intervene before injury (latching, severe aggression)

Post-Bonding Support + Guarantee

  • Duration: 3 hours
    Location: Your home
    Cost: Complimentary (included with every bonding retreat)
    Transport: Complimentary regardless of distance

    This service is UNIQUE to Bun Chia Burrow. No other rabbit bonding service in California—or anywhere—offers this level of transition support.

    On the day your rabbits come home, we personally transport them to your home and stay for 3 hours to:

    ✓ Set up their bonded living space in your home
    ✓ Monitor their behaviors in the new environment
    ✓ Observe how they interact with familiar surroundings and scents
    ✓ Correct any regression behaviors immediately
    ✓ Coach you on reading their body language
    ✓ Demonstrate intervention techniques if needed
    ✓ Answer real-time questions as situations arise
    ✓ Ensure successful transition before we leave

    You'll also receive immediate access to our Retreat Take-Home Guide (password-protected resource for bonding retreat graduates only) with detailed troubleshooting, behavioral guides, and ongoing support information.

  • Your relationship with us doesn't end when your rabbits go home. We provide comprehensive ongoing support.

    Four (4) Complimentary Virtual Consultations

    Available within 30 days of your rabbits' return home, these 30-minute consultations can be used flexibly:

    Option 1: Video Review
    Send up to 3 videos of your rabbits' behaviors and receive a detailed email analysis and recommendations.

    Option 2: Live Virtual Calls
    Schedule 30-minute video calls for real-time troubleshooting and guidance.

    Option 3: In-Person Follow-Up
    Combine two (2) virtual consultations into one (1) in-person visit (additional fees apply if outside our complimentary 35-mile range).

  • We're so confident in our rabbit bonding methods that we offer an industry-leading guarantee:

    If your rabbits unbond within 90 days, we will rebond them at absolutely no additional cost.

    Guarantee conditions:

    • You must follow protocols in our Retreat Take-Home Guide

    • You must contact us within 90 days of unbonding

    • Guarantee is void if you use bonding methods we don't recommend or mix strategies from other sources

    • Rebonding scheduling at our discretion based on availability

    This guarantee reflects our track record: the vast majority of our bonded rabbits remain happily bonded for life.

  • Bun Chia Burrow is committed to advancing rabbit behavioral science. By participating in our research study (separate consent required), you'll:

    • Receive follow-up check-ins at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year

    • Complete brief questionnaires about your rabbits' bond progress

    • Contribute to peer-reviewed rabbit bonding research

    • Receive 20% off full-service spa days for each completed questionnaire

    You can withdraw from the study at any time, and your information will be immediately discarded. Your participation helps us continually improve our bonding methods and contributes to the broader rabbit care community.

Why choose Bun Chia Burrow?

True 24/7 Supervision A staff member is present and alert at all times during bonding—even at 3am. This is a service you won't find anywhere else.

Science-Based Approach Our program is built on peer-reviewed behavioral research and 10+ years of clinical research experience. [Read the same articles we did →]

Marathon Bonding Method Rabbits stay together for the entirety of their retreat, not just 15-60 minute speed dates. This speeds up the process from months to less than a week.

Natural Communication We communicate like rabbits do—thumping instead of yelling, gentle guidance instead of punishment. No water spraying or car rides.

Proven Success Rate Known for "bonding the unbondable" throughout Southern California. We're often the last resort before rehoming.

Personal Experience We've successfully bonded our own three rescue rabbits (Marshmallow, Macaron, and Chocolatte) using these exact techniques.

Exclusive Attention Your rabbits are the only ones in our care during their retreat. Unlike other bonding operations, we don't juggle multiple groups.

Burrow Guarantee Your rabbits will return home bonded and ready to live together, with minimum 48 hours of peaceful co-habitation before departure.

Transition Support Optional 3-hour transition period at your home to ensure smooth adjustment and address any concerns.

ready for your rabbits to be friends?

Several rabbits, including white, black, and brown ones, are sitting together in a litterbox with hay.
Six rabbits gathered around a pot of fresh greens and foliage.
Three rabbits standing close together inside a pen, with different fur colors and patterns, looking up at the camera.
Two rabbits, one brown and one white, sitting on a bed with a pastel green headboard and a light-colored blanket.
Three rabbits lying close together on a wooden floor, one black and white rabbit and two white rabbits.
Two white rabbits lying close together on a blanket, on a dark blue couch.

Retreat Frequently Asked Questions

Booking + Process

How do I book a Bonding Retreat?

Fill out the form above or contact us via call, text, or email. We respond within 48 hours.

All first-time clients can schedule a complimentary 30-minute virtual consultation to discuss your rabbits' history and bonding challenges OR schedule the in-person consultation ($75) to meet you and your rabbits. This fee is credited toward your deposit if you book a Retreat.

How are Retreat dates scheduled?

Retreats are offered on a first come, first serve basis. Dates can be traded to accommodate families.

What's included in the pre-bonding consultation?

During the in-person consultation, we assess your rabbits' temperaments, review their history, and determine your low and high-end Retreat quote based on expected timeline.

How long does bonding take?

  • Standard bonding: 5 days

  • Large groups (6+) or challenging cases: 10+ days

  • Timeline determined during consultation based on history and temperament

Bonding Approach + Methods

What makes your bonding method different?

Traditional bonding places rabbits in separate pens side-by-side for days or weeks, with 15-30 minute speed dates. This can take months.

We use marathon expansion bonding—rabbits stay together for the entire stay with 24/7 supervision. This compresses the timeline to less than a week while maintaining safety and allowing natural communication.

Do you use stress-based bonding techniques?

No. We don't use water spraying, car rides, or other negative behavior modifications. We communicate like rabbits do—thumping, gentle guidance, and patience.

What does "24/7 supervision" really mean?

A staff member is present and alert at all times—day and night, including 3AM. Your rabbits are placed together for the entirety of the stay and require constant monitoring.

How do you know when rabbits are bonded?

Rabbits must co-habitate peacefully without chasing or aggressive behaviors for a minimum of 48 hours before going home.

During the Retreat

Will my rabbits be the only ones you're caring for?

Yes. Your rabbits are the only ones in our care during their Retreat. We don't host multiple bonding groups simultaneously.

Can I get updates during the bonding?

Yes! We provide regular updates throughout the Retreat so you know how your rabbits are progressing.

Where do the rabbits stay?

Rabbits stay at our Montair location in a supervised bonding environment designed specifically for this intensive work.

After the Retreat

What happens when my rabbits come home?

We include an optional 3-hour transition period where we transport your rabbits back and stay with them to ensure smooth adjustment and address any negative behaviors.

What if they fight after coming home?

Our Burrow Guarantee ensures your rabbits return home bonded. The 3-hour transition period helps prevent regression. We're also available for follow-up support.

Can I get consultation credit toward a Retreat?

Yes! We credit up to 2 30-minute virtual consultations ($100) toward your Retreat booking.

Pricing + Payment

How much does a Bonding Retreat cost?

Pricing is determined during your in-person consultation based on:

  • Number of rabbits

  • Bonding history and temperament

  • Expected timeline (5 vs 10 days)

What payment methods do you accept?

Prefer: Cash, Check, Venmo, Zelle
Accept: Credit card (3.5% service fee applies)

What's your cancellation policy?

Please review our cancellation policy before booking.