Meg, your description of Teddy reminds me so much of my Mops! I always say that he is not the brightest bunny on the block but that is really mean of me because I am discovering more and more that Mops just goes differently about things. After he was bonded into a trio I was very worried he wouldn’t get enough food because my other two are so fast in getting to it, and Mops was taking his time. He also took longer to littertrain even though he was neutered the youngest, at 18 weeks. I personally do not believe that there is anything wrong with Teddy. Mops is such a clown and does everything in a very funny but ineffective way, too. He is getting his share of food though once he caught on that the others won’t save any for him.

Mops was also the first rabbit in my house who had no fear of dogs. It was kind of odd.

–I have to wonder if the fuzzier rabbits are just weird. They seem to have very quirky personalities from everything I hear.
Mops is the dark bun on the right.

Some rabbits just do things in their own time. It could be he is shy and it is good he has a friend to learn from. Many times too we try to give our animals human characteristics and they just are not humans – they don’t think the same way we do or feel the same way we do. I don’t think purebred or mixed is ever an issue either – purebreds are not smarter or dumber, the same with mixed.

It also could just be an age thing…5 months old is pretty young. I honestly cannot remember what it is to have a rabbit this young in my household since it’s been so long though but I think some of those issues just might be age related.

Meg, I brought Pebbles home at 8 mo.s and she acted very simularto what you are describing. yet – here we are 3 months later… and she is now very interested and inquisitive at every new/changed thing in her cage/xpen. At first I thought there may be something wrong with her eyesight – she didn’t close her eye when I petted her head – like she didn’t see it coming. But now she does. Perhaps it is a youth thing as Sarita mentioned.

He often has trouble finding food when I put it down for them

My fuzzy bun has the same deal-I started trimming her fur that obscures her vision and she’s doing much better now (maybe she was never dumb just oculdn’t see ? I feel bad for calling her my ‘slow bunny’ now!

Teddy doesn’t seem nearly as startled by loud noises or by cooking, which Athena hates. He does respond sometimes, but it’s much rarer. At first I thought this was just because he was brave, but now I wonder if it’s a sensory issue.

I’d chop this up to him being different personality. Some buns react a lot to noises, some not much, and some not at all. depends what they’ve been through before (ie. was it quiet or loud where they were?)

He’s also been very slow to catch on to litter training during the 2+ months I’ve had him. He’s been neutered for over 9 weeks now, but it could be adolescence, being territorial, etc. (I have another thread, “poop wars”), exploring this. But I’m starting to think the “poop wars” are just him, and wondering if it’s just not understanding the litterbox concept, to some extent. Still, he never poops outside the general condo area, so I could be wrong about that.

I’d go back and read the litter training section, https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/LitterboxTraining/tabid/62/Default.aspx then start off at the basics again Some buns just need more training.

Another issue I’m not sure is related, but just in case: he doesn’t seem to know what humans are for. This could also be because of his age, but… he doesn’t seem afraid of me, and will sometimes let me pet him a little, but just isn’t into establishing a bond.

REad this site-Bonding takes a while and this site will help you understand what he’s saying and how to talk back It helped me sooo much to bond with my buns http://language.rabbitspeak.com/rabbittalk.html

The shelter said he wasn’t a purebred Lionhead, but he sure is very fluffy; could it be a genetic issue? Or maybe bunnies are just different. Athena, my Dutch/Lionhead/?? mix (14-month-old female), is very quick, sharp of hearing and smell, more timid, and very keen to relate to me (affectionate, attentive). Although I will say Teddy has been the more innovative escape artist when penned up, even if Athena is harder to catch for nail trimming

Bunnies are just different-even siblings can end up a world apart in personality

I think everyone has given you good advice. It sounds to me that he’s just a more laid back/chilled out bun than your other bun or he’s still a bit shy. =)

Also, the fuzz all over doesn’t mean he’s not a purebred lionhead, necessarily. Some lionheads do have long fur all over or on their haunches in addition to around their face, it’s considered a fault and makes lionheads with that type of coat unshowable. Not knowing your bunny’s history, whether you got him from a breeder or petstore or shelter… a lot of breeders that show sell the rabbits that don’t meet breed standards for ears a bit too long or “wrong” color etc, as “pet quality.” Anyway, you may know all this already, but since you asked… =) Also, this is just FYI, I’m not saying purebreds or mixes are better, nor am I saying that having long fur all over doesn’t make a bun any more or less of a great, loving pet! =)

Also just wanted to add that the double gene lionhead trait (with fur all over), in my personal opinion, is even more adorable than the typical lionhead fur! And as far as the noises, my little guy Chubs could care less about the noises we make, unless we genuinely startle him out of sleep or something, while our other bun Comet is spooked by just about ANY noise! Hehe, they are quirky little creatures!

Oh! And, my Chubs also understands litter habbits as far as his cage. He never pees outside the box and he never pees/poos outside the cage BUT he poops all over his cage. I’m not really sure how to address this and since it’s just poo, I’ve kind of just let it be. However, we haven’t built a condo yet (since we’re still working on bonding and have the buns just in separate free range areas of the house) and I think it would bother me more in the condo situation so you’ll have to keep us posted on any success you have in dealing with that! I know I’d be interested!

Also, the part Dutch in Athena may just make her more perceptive than the norm (they’re know to be pretty cluey) so in comparison Teddy may come off looking less so. With food my doe is more a snatch & run girl where as the boy sort of tentatively sniffs and slowly takes it. He doesn’t pick up food as readily I think due to his incisors having been trimmed before. Does Teddy have good incisors?

Ah, That is an excellent point jersey – I call Jackson my “forrest Gump Bunny” because Coco mentally runs rings around him.

Now, having a Dutch girl first was part of the issue I think – she is so bright and responsive – ridiculously attuned to the humans of her house that Poor Jackson sometimes looks utterly clueless.

We are almost at the 12 week mark with Jackson in the house and he is certainly improving in his understanding of cues and not freaking out every time a person walks into the room…or bolting down his food. But having Coco first, I expected Him to be as quick as her. I can’t imagine having a Dutch Pair like I imagined. I would be totally out thought and outnumbered.

(And, I might Add – we are FINALLY ending the poop wars here too – its just SLOW)

Teddy sounds just like my fuzzy lop, Nelli! She can never find treats- she snuffles around the floor desparately searching for them (hence earning the nickname Snuffaluffagus). When I call them for their nightly salad with fruit- BunBun runs straight to the bowl- Nelli dashes past it and then stands there, looking confused. We have a curtain hanging in the living room doorway to keep the heatin for our hamster, and she struggles with it on a daily basis. BunBun breezes right through after tossing the curtain aside with a flick of his nose- Nelli paws and noses at the fabric, unable to grasp the concept of pushing it out of her way. She even falls on occasion- she doesn’t seem to understand that certain surfaces are just not stable, suvh as a pillow balanced on the edge of the couch. Her hearing is good, though- she thumps at the slightest sound that is not to her liking. I used to worry that Nell had vision issues, but I think she’s just goofier than BunBun. She’s very timid about eating treats out of our hands, taking the food so daintily that she often drops it or fails to even take a bite. And just like Teddy, she uses her partner bun to guide her.
Nelli was also a baby when we got her- only 5 months. She’s quite clever in other ways, though. She plays “the cup game”, where she grabs a cup placed in front of her repeatedly and tosses it aside, and she knows her name. I guess some buns are just less “practical” than other, just like some peoplel. I think Nelli kinda resembles me- she does things her own way, no matter how strange it looks- lol.
Btw, Teddy is SO CUTE- all bunnies are beautiful but there’s something so humorous about the fuzzy rabbits. Nelli makes me laugh just by hopping towards me.

Meg-is that your ‘lionhead’ in your avatar? The fluffy one in front?

If so, it’s a spitting image of my double maned purebred lionhead Kahlua

Some rabbits are just a couple carrots short of a salad. But how can you not love them just as much? My girlfrend’s REW is quite the doofus but he’s just so lovable we allow him to be a little bit dense about things.

I bet y’all are right that Teddy is busy bonding with Athena and has not had a chance to bond with Meg yet!

Keep in mind that buns “see” very differently than we do. That could be part of why he is not running up to things the way Athena is. Plus her being a Dutch – he has a lot to live up to. Dutch are clever little devils.

That being said – when ever i give Kay and Winston (my Dutch boy) a treat they run away with it to eat. Except Winston often drops it and does not realize it until he has gotten to the other side of the room. I think he gets a little too excited. Heck it is funny to see him wonder where his treat went!

I think it may be a breed thing. Little-Bit is part Lionhead, and oi…where do I start? She’s so quirky! She’s not completely aloof, but often she does lack that um…common sense thing you mentioned. Like when I’m giving her hay or veggies –not ALL the time, but occasionally she’ll get confused and want to run up on top of my bed for them versus on the ground where I always give them to her, even if I’m blatantly pointing it out and ruffling the bag on the floor.

And just….weird things. She’s completely relaxed and at home in her environment and is generally used to noises etc., but occasionally something will happen –something small, like I’ll set down a glass or something– and it will catch her COMPLETELY off guard and she’ll startle and be on the alert. (Though I blame this partly on my mom having accidentally traumatized her as a baby with a GIGANTIC loud sneeze. To this day, the word I use to get her to stop doing something is “AA-CHOO!!” Works without fail..)

…and then there was the instance when she was about 6 or 8 months old. I had just moved her into my room after Binkles had passed away. Little-Bit had been previously living in a cage in the other room and was very comfortable with me, had probably imprinted on me, etc., but she just…wasn’t completely aware of the world. I guess that’s a nice way to put it. I wore my shoes in my room for the first time around her and she FREAKED OUT. I mean, dear God those are supposed to be mommy’s feet, not big weird black things-!! I had to take them off very slowly and wiggle my feet around and play around with my shoes in front of her to convince her that they were okay.

Oi, Little-Bit.

Hey thats not nice.    Picking on us poor lionheads.   Says Ruby.   There are some quite active crazy ones out there too.

Hmm says me.   I notice Ruby my pedigree lionhead is a bit slow.   She runs when she wants too tho.  She won’t take a treat unless she is in her cage.   I can throw her one on the floor of her bathroom and she will get it.    But when I hand her one when I am holding or just finished grooming her she won’t take it.    Weird.

Also she startles easily when I move my hand in to pet her.  So I move a little slower.  If I forget she faithfully reminds me lol.

Cotton he is part dutch/lionhead.   He is very active  has  big personality.   Hmmm must be that dutch in him.