Bonding with a neglected rabbit?

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This topic has 2sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 10 months ago by LittlePuffyTail.

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- 06/04/2016 at 4:47 PM
  Annie_S17
  Participant
  3 posts
  Hello again,
  
  I adopted my 1 year old rabbit from an adoption center about 9 months ago. He was neglected beforehand and as a result is rather shy. I was wondering if the forum had any tips on bonding with rabbits that were neglected? I spend time with him daily but he is still extremely shy. I am always very soft when I speak around him and I am gentle if I pick him up. Mostly I just sit in the room with him and stroke him quietly. Recently he has taken to licking my hand but I have heard mixed responses about this, some people saying that rabbits only lick humans for salt but others say that it is affection based.
  
  TL,DR; I need tips on bonding with a neglected rabbit and I would also like to know if licking is affection or a need for salt.
  
  Thanks!
  
  (I believe this would go in this forum section, if it doesn’t im sorry.)
- 06/04/2016 at 5:05 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  16869 posts
  Licking is not needed for salt. Licking is most often affection, two buns that have a strong bond will groom each other a lot, and licking is important as it reinforces the bond. Licking can also be a signal of appeasement, i.e. The bun signals that it’s intentions are good and friendly.
  
  I think what you are doing sounds good. Treats and head-rubs and ear-rubs are often appreciated by a shy bun. Keep in mind that they have almost 320 degree vision but they don’t see well straight ahead and they can barely see things that are very close. They also fear everything that comes from above, because predators do that.
  I have a bun who probably had been neglected. It took him a year to warm up to us, but when he came around it happened very quickly. He now enjoys sitting in a human’s knee and be pet. Which is very rewarding for the human, because having won the heart of a very shy bun really makes you feel special
- 06/05/2016 at 6:16 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Ditto everything Bam said.
  
  My Bride bun, Olivia, was from a suspected abuse/neglect situation and it took a long time to bond with her. Patience, lots of time at his level and love him as is even if he’s not as friendly as you would like. Olivia eventually came around and began really enjoying snuggle times with her Mom.
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