Going on vacation – boarding or babysitting?

[sagybp]

Hi Guys,

I have a question about my rabbit, but first I’ll put a (not so) small introduction.

We are a couple and about 6 months ago we adopted Shuli from a family who didn’t want him. We saw his picture on Facebook and immediately fell in love with him (how could you not?!).

He’s with us for 6 months, as I wrote, and we love him so so much. 

He has his own room of 7sqm (around 75sqft) with a lot of toys and things to keep him busy when we are at work or not at home. When we’re home, he’s wandering around the house all the time. He’s really active – loves to run after us, play with us and generally have fun.

Back in <g class="gr_ gr_66 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="66" data-gr-id="66">September</g> we had a really long vacation abroad of about 2.5 weeks. We looked for solutions and the family we adopted him from said they will happily take him for this time period and they did. After we got back and took him back from them, they told us that in the first 3-4 days he wasn't himself at all. He didn't eat a lot, played or moved. After those 3-4 <g class="gr_ gr_72 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="72" data-gr-id="72">days</g> they said he went back to be his regular self.</p>

When we took him back to our place, it was exactly as they described – a totally different rabbit in the first 3 days. After <g class="gr_ gr_60 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="60" data-gr-id="60">that</g> everything went back to normal. We read that changing environments&nbsp;isn't really good for rabbits, and I guess this was the reason that happened.</p>

A month ago we had to go abroad again for 4 days. This time we asked a friend to come to my house every day and be with him for 1 hour. Just to sit with him, play with him and pet him (and of course to take care of food + water). When we got back he was totally normal, exactly as we left him (behaviour-wise). Our concern was that he is used to wander around the house every <g class="gr_ gr_76 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_run_anim Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="76" data-gr-id="76">evening,</g> when we're back from work, and in these 4 days he was closed in his 7sqm room (which is quite big, I have to admit).</p>

And finally – the question:

Next month we have to leave again for 5 days and in May again for 14 days. We are really wondering what to do.

We have 2 options – one is to get a pet-sitter who will come to the house every day for one hour or a bit more to be with him. The second option is to take him to a boarding place (a pension) where he’ll be the entire time until we’re back.

With a <g class="gr_ gr_51 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="51" data-gr-id="51">pet-sitter</g> there's the advantage of him staying in his familiar&nbsp;surroundings. The big disadvantage is that he will be alone for 23 hours a day and it will be really quiet the entire time.</p>

If we’ll take him to a pension he will see other people, animals and maybe get a bit more stimulated, but we’re worried about the traveling back and forth. Last time we did that, it wasn’t really good for him.

Would love to hear any advice or thoughts you have about this issue. 

I attached some pictures just so you’d understand how amazing he is:

[Jessica]

Have you considered having a friend actually house sit and stay at your house with him? That would eliminate a good amount of his stress, no travel, getting to stay in house and having someone around a bit more. When I was younger I would house sit for friends of family who had pets who didn’t like to travel, I also would bring in mail and take care of the house. I loved it cause it would get me out of my parents house for a bit, but more importantly it kept the pets stress free

[Jessica]

Have you considered having a friend actually house sit and stay at your house with him? That would eliminate a good amount of his stress, no travel, getting to stay in house and having someone around a bit more. When I was younger I would house sit for friends of family who had pets who didn’t like to travel, I also would bring in mail and take care of the house. I loved it cause it would get me out of my parents house for a bit, but more importantly it kept the pets stress free

[sagybp]

Unfortunately, this is not an option for me.

[sarahthegemini]

I would probably go with the pet sitter idea but could you ask him/her to stay longer than an hour or go round more than once a day? It would be great if they could go round a few times a day and give him lots of attention.

Btw, your bun is gorgeous – I’ve got a white lop and she reminds me of a little polar bear lol.

[Author]

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