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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR new bunny owner……

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    • Ginel Bartleson
      Participant
      1 posts Send Private Message

        We have had a mini rex bunny for a couple of weeks.  She has allowed us to take her out of her cage and hold her, play with her and let her run around until the last couple of days.. When we’ve tried to take her out she FREAKS out.  Not sure how to handle this,. Should we leave her alone or keep trying to play with her?


      • T-Bun
        Participant
        52 posts Send Private Message

          Hello, and welcome to the forums (and bunny parenthood!). Buns can be a bit unpredictable. Not wanting to be picked up or held isn’t uncommon. Of course, it’s confusing for you because she didn’t mind it before, but now she does. I’ve found they often change their minds about things, it’s just their nature. The one thing I wouldn’t do is try to force the issue. Assuming she can get out of the cage on her own through a floor level door, I think the best approach would be to open the door while you’re in the room and let her decide when she wants to come out and interact. Let her come to you and sniff around so that she’s gets comfortable interacting with you. Take it slow and go from there. Also, has she been to see a vet yet? If she otherwise seems healthy, then it’s probably just a change in her temperament, but sometimes big changes in behavior can be health related. I’m no expert by any means so keep checking this thread for other suggestions.


        • Bwbedard
          Participant
          31 posts Send Private Message

            My lionhead Max hates being held as well and is generally somewhat hand shy. We stopped trying to pick him up all the time and he became a lot more friendly around us! Now when you put your hand down he comes for pets rather than running away because you are trying to catch him!

            We got him used to us by luring him onto our laps and around our hands while we were feeding him treats.


          • peppypoo
            Participant
            1945 posts Send Private Message

              Welcome! How old is your bunny? What you described isn’t uncommon at all – it sounds like your bunny is just beginning to grow out of the phase where she is amenable to being held. While baby bunnies will tolerate and seem to enjoy being held, most adult bunnies prefer to keep their feet firmly planted on the ground (though many still love being petted on the ground). This doesn’t mean that you have to stop playing with her though! There are plenty of ways to interact with your bunny without holding her. Aside from treats and pets, most bunnies can be taught simple tricks with some training.


            • LBJ10
              Moderator
              16870 posts Send Private Message

                I agree with Peppy. Baby buns will often accept being held. Then one day, it’s as if a switch is flipped and they don’t want anything to do with being held. It’s very normal. I would encourage you to not push the issue and try to get to know your bun by interacting with them on the floor. You don’t want to break their trust.


              • Lilypad
                Participant
                18 posts Send Private Message

                  We honestly went through the exact same thing with our bunny, who is also a female rex. She just decided she didn’t like it, so we had to work with her. We would get down on the ground with her and let her come to us. Sometimes it just takes them a while to get used to you and their new home, so just give her time.

                  Enjoy your new bunny!


                • Lilypad
                  Participant
                  18 posts Send Private Message

                    We honestly went through the exact same thing with our bunny, who is also a female rex. She just decided she didn’t like it, so we had to work with her. We would get down on the ground with her and let her come to us. Sometimes it just takes them a while to get used to you and their new home, so just give her time.

                    Enjoy your new bunny!

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                Forum BEHAVIOR new bunny owner……