Hummm :/ indifferent rabbit

[Silverpaws]

Just been browsing facebook and I’ve seen friends with rabbits who are snuggled on laps or being held and stroked and its made me a little sad. Merlin treats me like a roomate he’s civil with :p He doesn’t like to be held, and he only likes strokes when he’s nose deep in his hay or food! He doesn’t come up for attention either, though he doesnt run from me. I think he just kind of tolerates my presence :p

Anyone got any tips for bonding with an indifference bun?

[Sarita]

Well, I will have to say that your rabbit sounds perfectly normal to me.

I think that those posts on FB may not be how that particular rabbit acts 100% of the time because obviously people are only going to post on FB cute rabbit posts rather than indifferent rabbit posts :~)

[MoveDiagonally]

I agree with Sarita. Most bunnies don’t like being snuggled or held. I think your boy sounds very normal.

[Silverpaws]

It kind of makes me laugh how similar rabbits can be to cats. Both fairly indifferent to their owners and Merlin loves to flake out in a sunbeam. He’ll occasionally investigate me if he thinks I’m hiding pellets or parsley from him and I’m sat on the floor, but mostly I feel tolerance in return for my love. Take what you can get I guess! XD

[LittlePuffyTail]

Some people get lucky and get rabbits that are always wanting attention and go to them for it. My two buns like attention and some snuggles (mostly Bindi) but they never come to me for attention. I have to go to them and then they decide if they are in the mood or not. Bunnies are teases, if you ask me, they look so soft and cuddly but can be difficult.

[Standard_Procedure]

Grab him, put him on your lap and feed some treats. Repeat process through several weeks until he gets every time you put him on your lap he gets treats. He’ll start to climb on you for treats.

Tested and works.

[LongEaredLions]

I agree. Treats are the best bonding tool you could get.
Just make sure they are healthy treats.

[RabbitPam]

Hi, Silverpaws,
Your signature pix is larger than the required size limit. Please resize it according to the limits set for siggies. You can find the specs in a post in the Technical Forum. If you can’t find it, or have any trouble with it, just let us know and we can help.

(And I understand your using that pix because your bunny is adorable.)

[Ellekke]

Yeaaaa use treats! In the evening I get them to lie next to me on the sofa. And they basically only lie down because they can get to the treats faster if they can keep an eye on me. lol ^_^

My bunnies are totally indifferent too. Especially when you have more than one and if they’re bonded. They get their affection from each other and you are just the ‘food machine’ lol
Still though…I get the occasional nose bump and lick on my pants.

My bunnies had to be seperated recently (male and female getting ‘active’ if ya know what I mean) and I noticed that I got more attention from them in the time they were seperated.

[Lita]

We got the whole spectrum at my house. We have those who will thump if you go near them, Muumuu, those who prefer not to be touched but will walk by you, Mochi, those whole tolerate pets and might jump in your lap, but prefer not to be picked up, Voldemort and Susu and Alaska, those who will come jump in your lap or lay beside you, Cupcakes and Keter, and those who just dont care, Cheezburger and Upel.

Buns are like cats, little furry independent, hoppy, kicky buttheads.

[Author]

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