Bonding & Behavior Reviews

Bonding, Behavior & Wellness Coaching
client reviews & recommendations:

The story of Pancakes:
Pancakes' bunmom reached out to me after Pancakes repeatedly bit her and her young nephew. She wrote, "Her previous family said she never bit. Pet store said the same thing. She has a nice big bedroom. Can free roam when I'm home. She's usually pretty sweet. Loves pets. Will sit in your lap to get a treat. But randomly will bite super hard. Biting has been the worse with my 8 year old nephew. She mainly bites him. She will start with sniffing sometimes and then bites. She lunged for him, biting him three times making him bleed. We thought about rehoming her."
Although she did not want to let go of Pancakes, she had her nephew and her safety in mind. I devised a plan to modify Pancakes' behavior that included positive association and self-control reinforcement, strategizing household well-being, and recommended products for anxiety reduction. We began implementing the canonical approach while managing stress and building mutual trust. In the end, she wrote, "Heather has been such a wonderful help with my bunny! I was struggling with biting issues, and she guided me through different exercises and techniques to work on. She gave me lots of practical ideas and support, and I've already seen positive changes in my bunny's behavior. I'm so grateful for her knowledge and care-- highly recommend!
-Suzanne

The story of Alan:
Before we met, the family had had a few horrific bonding attempts ending in injuries where Alan had been bullied. His bunmom reached out to me for help evaluating and treating him. She worried about the negative impact the bonding attempts had on him. He had gone from friendly to antisocial, wanting to hide under the table, 'Alan's a bit distant, sometimes slightly aggressive.' I coached her on how to help him using my behavior modification tactics. After a few short weeks, she wrote: "I appreciate all of your advise and it definitely sounds like you're knowledgeable with all things related to bunnies. What you're saying makes good sense and I appreciate your help during this period of adjustment for us all." Alan healed and, during the process, strengthened his bond with his family. "After a bit of a traumatic bond failure, Alan was left rather anxious. He was hiding away more than usual and Heather offered some advice to try to increase his confidence again."

More Behavior Reviews:

The story of Polar:

"I found Heather when she was giving a seminar on Cat & Rabbit co-hopitation through a rabbit rescue. I was a first time rabbit caregiver and a foster with a skittish rabbit. We realized that my rabbit, Polar, might just need a little more time and confidence on his own before attempting to allow the cat and rabbit to interact, so I reached out to Heather for some 1 on 1 behavior coaching.
I had already realized that my rabbit was quite smart and Heather saw that was a great starting point for getting my rabbit more confidence- as well as more stimulation through enrichment. She worked with me on ideas about how to get him more comfortable with human contact while also keeping him entertained. With this one-on-one coaching, I was able to get my rabbit to open up more and truly get comfortable. It worked so well that my rabbit went on to open up to a potential adopter who immediately fell in love.
Before becomming a rabbit foster, I had watched every video I could on rabbit behavior, diet, etc. but it was missing that personal touch and Heather was able to provide that. It was invaluable to me as a foster and I will surely be taking that knowledge further as I continue to foster many rabbits in the future."
-Lisa

The story of Quincy and Lucy:

"After living together for close to two years, our bunnies' bond broke when our mini-lop Quincy fell ill with E. Cuniculi (EC) and a resulting head tilt, and had to be isolated from our English Spot/Rex mix Lucy for two months. We wanted to rebond them after Quincy recovered, but we desperately needed help. We of course had the health challenges of Quincy being a senior bun at age 10 who had just gone though a neurological illness while Lucy was a healthy 4 year old bun. Also, while Quincy's EC-related head tilt went away, the arthritis in his low back worsened and caused him to have splayed legs, thus reducing his mobility. In addition, Quincy and Lucy's original bond had not been as healthy and strong as we would have liked. Quincy had been the alpha and engaged repeatedly in aggressive alpha behaviors toward Lucy such as excessive mounting and urine spraying/territorial poo marking.
Before Quincy fell ill, we had tried to look up articles on the internet to see what we could do to curb Quincy's overly territorial instincts, but got nowhere. He would not listen to us no matter what we tried. Due to the age difference, disabilities, and behavioral problems, many in the rabbit community would've considered our bunnies incapable of being rebonded or would've advised against it. However, Quincy and Lucy are proof that with Heather's bonding techniques, not only can a senior disabled bunny be rebonded to a healthy younger bunny, but they can even switch alpha and beta roles in the process and be accepting of it.
My husband and I refer to Heather as the Rabbit Whisperer. Every rabbit bond is different, and I believe Heather's techniques are effective because she takes time to understand why bunnies are behaving or reacting in a certain way, and she customizes the bonding plan based on your specific bunnies. We were very impressed with how much data gathering Heather did to get a thorough background on both bunnies and their history together. Any small piece of information could be relevant to unlocking another piece of the bonding puzzle, including diet, health, living conditions, and other habits. Heather formed a plan to take our bunnies through the rebonding process on their own natural timeline, but she was flexible to revise the plan or try new methods if needed. She let the bunnies take the lead in terms of telling us when they were ready to progress and didn't force them to the next steps before they were ready. Along the way, Heather imparted a lot of knowledge to us through her detailed explanations to help us better understand what was going on.
Everything was explained to us through the lens of what rabbits do in the wild in their warrens, and we have learned so much as a result. We realized we were previously attributing to the wrong motivations to certain behaviors! Aside from Heather putting into play a customized bonding plan that looks at the big picture of why the bunnies are behaving the way they do, she also helps ease fears and anxieties for human and rabbit alike. I'm someone who's prone to anxiety and excessive worry, so I especially appreciated Heather's constant calm reassurances that would bring me back from the edge.
Quincy and Lucy are now rebonded, and their bond is stronger than it ever was. Lucy has taken over alpha duties, and, in her new role, she protects and takes care of Quincy. We have let her observe when we give Quincy butt baths or if I'm helping with his hygiene with pet wipes on the couch. She sometimes will even jump on the couch when I'm wiping Quincy and give him some encouraging kisses! This type of bond between the bunnies is something we only dreamed of having, and Heather's wisdom, empathy, patience, guidance, and kindness made our dream a reality. If you need help with bonding or rebonding, even if your bunnies have challenging factors, I encourage you to give Heather a try. It is well worth it. Your bunnies will thank you!
-Jennifer Hwa

The story of BW and Swish:

These bunnies went through a lot before becoming a couple. Their owner had used the speed dating service at a prominent rescue. After returning home on possible foster-to-adopt situations, the female fought with each fosters. Discouraged, the owner sent her to another large rescue to be bonded on site by their bonder. During this process, the bonder stated the bunny was a bully to each suitor and returned her. After trying many different techniques, including the bathtub and other stress tactics, the owner asked for my help. In a short time and without stress to the bunnies or owner, they bonded. All previous food, space, and litterbox possessiveness vanished and bullying vanished leaving the cutest couple who are now inseparable.

" We did action what Heather suggested such as giving him achievable challenges and rewarding him with lots of praise so he gained confidence over time. He certainly did and after maybe 2-4 weeks he was back to his usual cheeky self. I thank you for the support and time you offered us and explaining the holistic approach you take when it comes to understanding rabbit behavior. It certainly opened my eyes!"

-Izzie @alanthebunny

"Working with Heather was great. She answered all of my questions and really showed me how to bond my bunnies. It was less scary than I ever thought. She was there every step of the way.
I would definitely recommend her to anyone trying to bond their buns together.
-Andrea Gomez

The story of Binks, Biscoff, and Blue:
"I recently got some wonderful advice from Heather on how to bond with my bunnies, and help them bond with each other. She took the time to show me specific ways to stroke them so they feel safe and start trusting me more. What really stood out was how she guided me to stroke them all together when they're together- it makes such a difference in helping them build a positive bond.
Her knowledge, patience, and genuine care for my rabbits were amazing. I left our video chat feeling so much more confident, and I can see already the improvement in how my bunnies respond to me. I'm so grateful for her guidance and would highly recommend her to anyone who wants to build a stronger relationship with their bunnies.
Thank you so much,
Natalie"

The story of Usagi, Chip, and Mamoru:

This bunmom reached out as her previously bonded trio broke their bond. She became distressed at having to leave for work daily not knowing if her bunnies would be safe. The stress caused such heartache that she was overcome by a physical illness that put her in bed. Unable to leave the buns alone, she could not work. After counseling her on self-care to reduce her anxiety which the bunnies could sense, changing the bunny's diet by adding herbs known to calm, and identifying triggers which broke the bond, I suggested simple modifications which, in two weeks, brought the bunnies back to harmony. Her health and theirs improved. When bonds break, there is always an identifiable reason.

The story of Apollo and Elle:

This couple, adopted at different times and from different places, were unsure of each other. Their parent, a new pet owner, searched online for advice, asked friends, talked with the breeder, joined FB bunny groups, and still couldn't figure out how to help her bunnies become friends.
She shares: "I met Heather, through Instagram, her handle being @bunnies_kitties, at the perfect time. To give you some background information, I am a brand new bunny mom, in fact, new to the pet world. Apollo is my first pet. The reason I am bringing this up is because I want to provide a window into my life and to remind you what it felt like when you got your first bunny, how overwhelming it was because we all know bunnies are very challenging pets. As I mentioned, I met Heather at the perfect time. Before getting Apollo, I did research on everything bunny related, just trying to set myself up for success. I wanted to provide him the best life. Fast forward to when Apollo arrived home, all the research, YouTube videos went out the window. I started having issues that no one talked about, for example, Apollo didn't enjoy his hay, didn't like his pellets, he was destroying my baseboards, not playing with his toys, etc. I felt defeated, lost, alone, aggravated trying to navigate this bunny world on my own. I went to Instagram to look for help/find answers. I came across a popular bunny related account and posted a question hoping a kind person will take the time to shed some light. Luckily, Heather saw my question and she replied but she didn't just reply, she took the time to explain to me where her answer was coming from. i thanked her and told her that I'm new and lost with all the contradicting information out there related to bunnies, and she said to me, 'Don't worry, I will help you.' She took me under her wing like a best friend or sister would and the rest is history.
The time, the energy, dedication, and knowledge I've received from Heather can only come from a person who truly in her heart loves bunnies. Only love can provide this unconditional support to a stranger and this is exactly the small businesses that I like to support. She is not in this business for the money but for the wellbeing of the bunnies. Heather educated me on: bunny behavior, best food brands for bunnies, hormonal changes and how to navigate before and after surgery, and, the most challenging task of all, bonding.
Now, I am happy to share that I went from a scared first-time bunny parent to a well-rounded, educated parent of two bunnies and Apollo now has a beautiful companion to keep him company the rest of his life thanks to Heather. I highly recommend Heather as I have nothing but positive things to say about her and her approach especially when it comes to bunny bonding. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me [email protected]"

"Heather guided each day with new tips and techniques and made appropriate adjustments as behaviors changed. What is special about working with Heather, is that she is multifaceted in her approach to bonding, including coaching on topics like nutrition, cleaning, litterbox configurations, indoor housing set up, product recommendations, mental enrichment, and even exercise for bunnies. While this may seem unrelated to bonding at first glance, it became clear to me that an integrative approach to bonding is best for their long-term health and wellness.

Heather is committed to her clients and, most importantly, a really kind person that genuinely cares about people and animals. She wants the very best for both companions. I highly recommend you inquire about her services; her knowledge and passion are one in a million."
-Suzanne Fisher
@bunnyisabelle1

The owner of these bunnies endured such severe panic attacks that
she became bed-ridden from the stress of her fighting bunnies. The
already bonded couple refused to become friends with the third bunny.
After speaking with me, she went from fearful and anxious to excited to
bond using my method. I customized a plan for her, and within a few weeks
her bunnies were all accepting one another. While other bonders advocate
breaking the bond between couples in order to rebond them to a third, I
opt to coach them all into friendship while keeping original bonds intact.
Through simple dietary modifications, verbal training, and touch therapy,
the bunnies bonded together and are now sharing every resource and
making the cutest cuddle puddles ever!

Each bunny colony is different just like each individual bun is unique. Usually all bunnies don't arrive at the same conclusions simultaneously. Especially with trios, quads, and quintuples, consideration must be given to each bunny's timeframe. Often, one bunny will decided to offer friendship but another will not be ready to accept. With trios, while a pairing presents easily, it may leave the third as an outsider, prompting sadness or aggression. Through gentle encouragement, all bunnies needs can be addressed, from the timid, reluctant one to the anxious, nervous one, to the outgoing gregarious one, and ones that are slow to process change. Original bonds don't need to be broken in order for additional buns to become colony members. Just like human counterparts, another good friend is a welcome addition to a group of long established friends.

"When I began working with Heather Annette, I was so impressed at her not only knowledge of bonding, but the overall health and welfare of rabbits. Heather's approach is gentle, and she takes in consideration not only the well being of the bunnies, but of the humans doing the bonding. I had a complex situation bonding a senior widower bun, who has dietary and sensory issues, to a young lady bun. I also had some grief issues coming onto bonding, to which Heather was sensitive."

"Prior to working with Heather, I watched several YouTube videos and read every online article, and was quite frustrated. Nothing was working, and the advise was all the same. She explained to me that my special needs bun would be seen as an outcast in a wild, European warren, and special considerations needed to be taken to bond him with the young bunny I recently adopted. She suggested a variety of calming herbs, housing configurations, and bonding settings that I never read about elsewhere. We never used stress bonding and that was important to me. Medical history and various tests were also discussed, something I had not realized the importance of until this bond."

-Suzanne Fisher
@bunnyisabelle1

"..I need your help and advice with bonding. The hours and hours of researching bonding in particular have resulted in some conflicting advice and I have some questions! I wish I had not read for hours and watched YouTube videos...because I am a complete scramble." -Trish Boyce

The story of Bowser, Peach, and Ollie:

A Bonding Crisis: while re-bonding two buns, one unexpectedly passed away. A new bunny was rescued and adopted for the grieving bunny.

"If you feel a little lost, confused, or even overwhelmed by the amount of bonding information and advice out there, please do me a favor and reach out to Heather for a consultation regarding your bonding needs and questions! Heather found me in my Facebook group when I needed her the most, shortly after a traumatizing experience with my old bunny, Bowser.
I was brand spanking new to the bunny world and knew absolutely nothing about their behavior, more complex needs, or bonding, but I did know I wanted my two buns to be friends. I had a consultation with Heather over the phone and instantly knew that despite it all being virtual, she'd be able to help me and my bunnies. She gave such great advice just during the consultation that I was able to get both buns set up properly and start the process right away, even with very little equipment or space. What was more important, Heather managed to reassure me and comfort me without much knowledge of my situation and us having just 'met' online, during a time that was extremely difficult and stressful, given Bowser was sick and my other bun, Peach, started attacking him before Heather found me.
Fast forward a couple of weeks, Bowser sadly pased away very suddenly and I was left with a lot of trauma, a lonely Peach, and no idea what to do next. Even though my bonding journey was done and ended due to his passing, Heather kept in contact with me and helped me figure out the next steps. She went above and beyond contacting local rescues in my area and found a place where I took Peach for speed dates. During this time, Heather was with me virtually, vetted every video of Peach dating, and ultimately helped me pick out the new suitor bun, Ollie. If this does not SCREAM dedication to her clients, I do not know what does!
Another fast forward, we began the bonding process for Peach and Ollie, Heather always there on video chat talking me through each session, not letting me go until she felt confident I was able to continue on my own, but she always quickly responded to messages.
Heather is SO responsive, always replies to questions and concerns, and the knowledge she possesses regarding bunnies and their well-being/bonding is immense! I could see each session doing what she said it would do, see the bunnies responding exactly like she would predict, and with enough time and patience on my end, Peach and Ollie bonded and are now well on their way to becoming inseparable based on their bond buillt on mutual friendship.
Having seen advice given in online bonding groups, read about bonding online, I can honestly say Heather's methods are a thousand times more effective and KINDER to the bunnies. They have a chance to actually form friendships and trust, rather than being forced or stressed into bonding. My favorite method of Heather's was the touch therapy method. Once I got to the point where I could do this with the buns, it was a matter of days before the bunnies bonded and I could visually see them relaxing and changing their body language right in front of my eyes! It was incredible!
Trust the process, trust your bunnies, and trust Heather's online boutique where she makes her own bunny enrichment products. The quality, love, and time pit into these products is amazing. Heather is truly talented and I cannot recommend her business enough. Peach and Ollie LOVE their Rooting Ruffler mat, hay bags, and DIG & FORAGE boxes I've purchased from her and they have all played a huge part in the bonding process after the bunnies started living together!
Thank you, Heather, I know you will always be there for me and the bunnies, and I appreciate you and your work more than you will ever know!
- Louise

The story of Lenny and Cherry:

"I was thinking about finding my Dutch rabbit, Lenny, a friend for a while now. Researching on YouTube and the web was very overwhelming and I never felt ready nor confident to do it. This completely changed after meeting Heather. She took the time to inform herself and understood my bunny and the situation and timeline. She then explained her bonding approach in depth and, from then on, I knew this was the way I wanted to go, no doubt! Heather is an amazing bunny professional bonder and overall bunny wellness coach. She was on the journey with us from pre- to post-bonding. The part I found most useful was that she would go on video calls with us during the bonding sessions and mentor us throughout them. I got to learn so much about bunnies, their body language, and how they speak to each other. In the process, I discovered a unique bonding technique, one that I was looking for but never found before Heather. Cherry and Lenny are now furever friends and I couldn't be happier.
Thank you, Heather!
-Alice

The story of Phoebe and Ollie:
When Ollie and Phoebe's bunmom reached out to me, she had tried everything she read, saw, and was told to do but Ollie, a very pampered bun who had lived solo for years, kept lunging, snorting, and biting Phoebe, the newly adopted baby. Ollie had always been a loving sweet bunny so it was a surprise to see him behave in hostile ways toward the new bunny. Their bunmom wrote: "I was about to throw in the towel, I was convinced my two rabbits would never bond until I found Heather Annette, the Bunny Whisperer, as I call her. After months of trying to bond my rabbits, I realized this was never going to happen: I did not have the tools nor the skills necessary to complete this mission. Ollie, our first rabbit (male) was an "only child" for almost three years until we adopted Phoebe (female). I had never seen an aggressive side, not did he ever have to be disciplined in any way until he met Phoebe. Ollie immediately was aggressive, angry, and frustrated that Phoebe came into our lives. He did not want to share me, his toys, his food, etc. At that point, I knew I needed help or I needed to rehome Phoebe.
I was given Heather's name through my exotic veterinarian's office in Charlotte, NC- I contacted her immediately; she took my call right away, and she was extremely generous with her time, she shared crucial bunny information, and we scheduled our sessions! During each session, Heather gently coached me, she virtually held my hand through the process, and her every directive focused on the best interest of my family and our rabbits. I looked forward to our sessions; it was not a chore- it was an education, and I appreciate her knowledge; I learned how to understand my rabbit's behaviors, in turn making me a better bunny mom. Even Heather's voice was soothing to my rabbits- when we were not in sessions, I would play her recordings to them, always noticing a positive shift in their demeanor.
Throughout this process, I had to be patient, committed, and work hard to bond Ollie and Phoebe. The process reminded me of the life lesson I teach my children daily, slow, and steady wins the race. I am so grateful that my children witnessed this- they saw how diligent I was in the endeavor, and I never gave up- and the reward was all worth it. We now have two bonded, happy rabbits which makes our life so much easier and joyful. I am forever grateful to Heather for her encouragement, support, and expertise- she truly is the Bunny Whisperer.
-Marlo

The story of Holden and Honey:
"Heather was an absolutely wonderful bonding coach and overall expert on bunny care. My bunnies are happily bonded and I owe so much of the credit to her. Definitely recommend!
I contacted Heather because my bunnies (Holden and Honey) suddenly began fighting after being bonded for a week. I was distraught and heartbroken because their bond appeared to be broken. They went from snuggling to full-on fighting seemingly for no reason and I was at a loss for how to fix it. Do I start the process all over again? Is it a quick fix?
I posted about my issue on Instagram and so many bunny parents recommended Heather. I knew I had to reach out. From day 1, Heather was a wonderful resource. She asked for lots of info on Holden and Honey and we worked out a plan to re-bond them with her help. Heather walked us through the process to re-bond the bunnies, even helped us figure out why the bond broke. It wasn't random after all! She did video calls with us for every bunny date and was incredibly in tune with the bunnies and us. It didn't matter that she was across the country. She made us feel so supported.
Beyond coaching us through the bonding process, Heather helped us make changes to ensue that our bunnies are as happy and healthy as possible. We switched hay brands, got wonderful guidance on veggie feedings, and even started a small garden for bunny-safe herbs with Heather's help.
Couldn't recommend her more. If you're having trouble or anxiety around bonding (or re-bonding) your bunnies, be sure to contact her!"

Maggie Marsh
(425) 664-3281

The story of Albert, Winnie, and Bug:
"We adopted a 7-week-old kitten, Albert, in February after losing our beloved 16-year-old boy. We already had two other cats- Winnie (3) and our senior girl (16)- and hoped Winnie would enjoy having a younger companion. We were wrong. Cue Heather.
From the very beginning, Heather was thorough. She had us share detailed information on all three cats- and as a proud crazy cat lady, I gave her everything I had. The more we told her, the more she was able to help. When we got on our first call, I was blown away by her expertise. She didn't just toss out general advice- she offered thoughtful, science-based recommendations tailored to our exact situation, and explained why they would work.
Within just a few days of implementing her suggestions, we started seeing real changes. For the first time since bringing Albert home, we felt hopeful. We weren't alone anymore- we had a plan, a purpose, and a brilliant guide. It's been about three weeks since our first call, and Winnie and Albert have made incredible progress. They're playing, eating near each other, and bird-watching side-by-side. No, they're not besties yet, but we're miles ahead of where we started- and so much calmer and more confident as cat parents.
Heather is exceptional at what she does. Her calm, positive energy paired with her deep knowledge made all the difference. I truly don't know what we would have done without her."

Samantha Auburn Levine, J.D.
Founder and Creative Director| Auburn Jewelry
Vice President | Permanent Jewelry Association
[email protected]

The story of Fig and Summer:
Both rescued from dire situations, these bunnies needed each other, they just didn't know it. Fig, a continental giant, was kept in a pet carrier his entire life and had legitimate trust issues. He did not like to be handled and would bite. He also had little interest in eating and was finicky. Summer, an angora breed, was a breeder rabbit forced to birth multiple litters while being confined to a cage. Their bunmom tried introducing them but, when nipping and chasing ensured, reached out to me. After allowing them to see and hear one another from a safe distance, a bonding plan was implemented that included bonding Fig to his new bunmom, encouraging him to trust people and other bunnies, while protecting Summer (a much more delicate and small framed bunny) from his aggression. The bunmom writes, "I was completely hopeless when we met and Heather has completely changed my perspective on all things bunny! She is a GODSEND when it comes to bonding! Thank you, Heather! Give her a shout out if you need help!"
Bonding a huge bossy bunny to a small dainty one requires finesse. They cemented their bond snuggled up nose-to-nose, sleeping and eating together, sharing hideys and their extra large litterbox. Fig now eats hay and veggies without issue and allows his bunmom to pick him up, cuddle him, and even melts for head stroking. They are a perfect fit together and have a mutually beneficial friendship.

Bonding, Behavior & Wellness Coaching ​ client reviews & recommendations:

More Behavior Reviews:​

Bonding, Behavior & Wellness Coaching
client reviews & recommendations:

More Behavior Reviews: