Bunny and Human Bonding

[Shannon]

Our bunny goose is about 6 months old.  I feel like he hasn’t bonded with us and is just terrified all the time.  We always sit on the floor when he is out and allow him to come up with us.   A few times we have forced him into being on the couch with us but he usually just gets so scared he pees.

He is really well behaved when out and about.  I am the major “disciplinarian” and by that i mean I did most of the litter training and discourage the bad behaviors of digging and chewing.  We mostly did this by either placing him in a litter box or shooing him back into his hutch.  Now whenever I get up and he’s out he scurries back into his hutch like he’s in trouble (unless i get down and army crawl towards him)

Any suggestions on how to make him feel more comfortable and less scared?

[Lee]

I am new to bunnies but a dog trainer by profession so have a bit of experience dealing with behaviour.

With most animals food is your friend, it is a primary reinforcer for all animals because it is required for survival therefore it is usually high valued.

I would work on having some yummy treats handy (might be part of his daily greens or pellet allowance even) and every time you get up to move throw a small amount of food towards him so he begins to associate you moving around with food, at the moment he associates you moving around with something aversive/scary (being shooed), I also would avoid forcing him into doing anything, that is called flooding and when an animal is already feeling nervous or fearful it is likely to make them feel more so. Instead reward all social behaviour with food (again use his daily meals) and gentle petting/attention. He will slowly build confidence as he associates you with all the good things in life and you will gain his trust by not pushing his boundaries.

Hope this helps.

[Bam]

I absolutely second Lee!

Bunnies can be slow in getting to know and trust you. All bunnies have different personlities, your Goose may be a sensitive little guy who over-reacts to being “told off”.

You could also get him a cardboard box or two with one entrance/exit hole on either side and place them in the room where he has play-time, so he feels he has safe places to run to wherever he is. He may not want to use them, but sometimes just the knowledge that he has the possibility of hiding may make him more courageous. Bunnies also often like to lie on elevated spots where they have a view of their environment.

[Author]

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