I think impossible for us to know why our rabbits act in certain ways. It’s only a guess on our part.

My own personal opinion is that some rabbits just have different personalities and prefer to interact with you in a different way. I know we hate to accept this. I think they are comfortable being in our company but they don’t like to be touched – many animals are this way. It’s not a negative thing really – well maybe not to them, but maybe to us.

I think you should just accept he is this way and let him be that way, there may come a time when he will let you pet him, but in the meantime, just accept he is this way.

Rumball can be like this but when I pick the right time he will settle in to be pet. I’ve only had him since April and I’m still learning. I can pick when he’s ok for me to approach and pet him – usually in the evening when he’s been napping in the living room for a while. I’m finding just now when I go to pet Jersey he’ll run over for some attention too so I’m allowed to pet him then also. Another thing I found was when I began to pet Rumball with my the soft side of my slipper he was ok.  After a few strokes I could put it down and just use my hand.  He has a thing about hands 90% of the time. 

You may find certain times when Thistle is more accepting of pets and will enjoy it… Does Fern groom him and does he like this?

It may also just be that it’s a rare thing that he’ll accept your pets, personality as Sarita mentioned. Lucky you’ve got Fern to pet but I understand that itch to pet them. I hound my pair to pet them!

I think your lucky as is! Lol he does let you pet him sometimes, so thats good. Enjoy those times when they really enjoy your pets. Lucy I am not allowed to pet, end of story. She may nose bump me but I may not respond with attention of any kind, not even a glance her way. If I violate this agreement she has set up for us I then must face the wrath of her thumps. I was allowed to pet her once, when she was scared, and I remember it clearly lol. I toke pictures to remember it too lol.

Welcome to my life! Monkey HATES getting touched, she has no problem hanging out with us, sitting on our laps, takign treats from us, nudging us or licking us once in a blue moon, but god forbid we try to touch her! She’s just funny that way.

I do so understand. Jackson will stand over me when I am grooming Coco – but if I reach out to groom Him? Um, NO THANK YOU.

He does the same thing as Thistle in that if I catch him Just Right – he buckles down in the loaf and tooth purrs. But the just right happens Maybe once a day after 20-30 attempts.

I just have decided that his “trust issues” are bigger than Coco’s and all I can do is model and offer and wait.
He ran to greet me yesterday and I was pleased, so I came down to rub …..and he took off with a foot flick!

Sigh, Buns.

I’m wondering if being petted is actually quite new to Thistle and therefore he’s reluctant to trust it yet. If the former owner had allergies, then the first risk is if they touch the bunny and that’s enough, or if they touch their own face or eyes after it sets off the allergic reaction. The first home may have just been very devoid of hand contact all together. So I have hope that Thistle will learn that your hands are for more than just providing food, and that you can touch him, and vice versa, and it’s a pleasant experience. Be gentle, but persistent.

Have you tried different types of petting? I’ve learned that Otto likes you to massage his bum with your finger tips. He’ll sit still for this much much longer than almost any other type of petting. And he is really not into head pets like most buns and jerks his head away most times I try it. I would try some different things and see if he seems to sit still a bit longer for any of them. Sometimes buns are unconventional.

But I do know how you feel. Otto is not really into pets. When I sit down on the floor he runs up to me (probably thinking I have food) but once he realizes I want to pet him, he just hops off after a second; not in a skittish way, just in a “Oh, I thought you had a treat … nevermind. I’m going to explore now” way. Haha. Pets bore him. Though sometimes, if he’s in just the right mood, he’ll sit still for pets. It seems as he gets older and more settled he sits still longer and longer, so it may just take a long time before he really enjoys it.

Chubs can be like this at times- he seems to want attention and runs up to me when I come around and then scampers away when I try to pet him. Other times he goes into bunny pancake mode for a full bunny massage Consistently, he loves attention in the morning and late at night. But he isn’t always consistent about when he doesn’t like it. I’ve just accepted that he is who he is and I will take what I can get as his slave

Max is a somewhat skittish guy and has been since we brought him home. We’ve only had him for about 1.5 years (only!) but he will tolerate pets and he does come running for treats. With some buns, it’s just a slower process… Another great thing about having a pair is that one bun can be a little less social and you can maybe get your “soft, fuzzy, bunny fix” from the other one. Meadow’s adventurous spirit and attention-seeking behavior makes up for Max’s timidness. Max is approximately between 4 and 5 years old, maybe even closer to 6?

Give Thistle time and do things that he is comfortable with…

It takes a while! You have to earn their trust and bond with them. What your doing is great!

When Rupert first came to live with me, he was skittish, hated being held and didn’t really like being petted. Now he’s a cuddle bug-watched a movie with him in my lap last night. He LOVES nose pets. So it’s not impossible or hopeless!

I have the same problem with Fiver. But I know he was from an abusive home, so I can attribute it to that. But after a year with me, he’s not much better and I treat him like a king. Only when I hold him will he calm and tooth purr and enjoy the contact. Getting him to let me hold him is another matter entirely. Anyone up for a game of catch the rabbit? 0_o
I think some things just get ingrained in an animal’s head and it doesn’t even have to be their experience either. My older dog, for one, was abused by someone who shot guns right next to his head and burned him with cigarettes, therefore he hates loud noises (gunfire, thunder, fireworks, etc.) and will bite anyone who even remote smells of smoke. His son has not had those experiences, but because the older dog panics during these triggers, now HE is totally crazy every time he hears anything loud and he has extreme anxiety disorder. It’s been conditioned in him to respond this way by watching the other dog.
So in the opposite direction, I firmly believe that if an animal feels it’s in an environment where “pet” = “good” he’ll get the idea. Just takes time and patience. Unless an animal is obvious aged, in which case I’ll go with Sarita and say, not going to change.

I managed to pet Monkey tonight without her running immediately. Of course, it may have had something to do with the raisins I had for her… hehe. Maybe if I keep just petting her when I have a raisin for her, she will associate the pets with good stuff

If it helps I hand Raise birds. i have a quaker pair that raise their babies till they are about 2 weeks and then throw them out of the next. Last year i got three bugs and HRed them all. One was great you could do anything with her she would hang like a bat, i could extend her wings touch her all over. The second one was also good but alot quieter and happier just to hang out with you the third one was really hand agressive, she would lung and bite your hand if she felt it was in the wrong place i had to be really careful. All three where brought up together and got the same care and attention and all three where VERY different in how they wanted to interact with humans it really does come down to the animal

BTW, there really is no going off on a tangent in BB. We all know what it’s like to see the eye rolls of friends and family when we wax poetic about our furbabies. Like they’re not dull as dishwater when they talk about their dogs, or cats, or kids….

So chat away. We will only demand pictures after you do.
*beware of being poked with sticks*

BTW, there really is no going off on a tangent in BB. We all know what it’s like to see the eye rolls of friends and family when we wax poetic about our furbabies. Like they’re not dull as dishwater when they talk about their dogs, or cats, or kids….

So chat away. We will only demand pictures after you do.
*beware of being poked with sticks*

Double Ditto!!!

(also-I think we need an emoticon for stick poking!! Seems to happen alot around here!)