You can try but really this is the way of the rabbit. Well at least many rabbits.

It sounds like you are doing well and Major is coming along. As for Frankie, you may never know why he acts this way – it may be that some days he will take a pet and sometimes not.

I would also say that just because a rabbit doesn’t like to be petted does not mean they aren’t social. Sometimes they like to enjoy our company from afar on their terms.

I think if you try to get down to a rabbits level and see what they see, you might see why you can be intimidating. Rabbits just don’t like being picked up, it’s scary – I know how they feel, you have no control with any feet on the ground.

Just keep sitting on the ground and encouraging them to come to you – don’t try to pet them every time they sniff you though, just let them come up to you and leave at their will.

There’s not much you can do but keep giving them treats and be patient. It took 8 months get my Otto to enjoy pets, and then I bonded him and now he doesn’t like them again. lol Some bunnies just don’t like to be touched, and if you’ve spent time trying to pick them up they’re going to be especially skittish.

I totally ditto the patience, the treats…and the accepting…Bunnies will never be little dogs…in fact some cats are more affectionate lol

You certainly can go a long way-I’d encourage you to do some reading on clicker training. Not only is it fun, but you can train anything with a clicker (like coming to you when called) and animals in general learn 75% faster then with food alone. Now training your bunny to be sociable is a good thing, but I think an animal who is trained has some sense of control (I do this-I get this), predictability and understanding… and thus more confidence-and so a trained animal will naturally become more socialble!

Agreed. That is the way of “the way of the rabbit”. They are prey animals so they are afraid of a lot things, especially motion. They can’t see in directly in front of them or behind them so they are vulnerable in that sense too. They don’t at all like being picked up so I wouldn’t do it. Come at them from their level slowly and where they can see you. You will be a lot less intimidating that way. I always thought Baxter “liked”to be picked up because he didn’t fuss about it. I honestly think he just tolerated it because he was probably scared. Now that he is bigger, I have to take him to the vet just to have his nail clipped. lol He is a very social bunny and always has been BUT, if I come at him that way, he will startle and run away. I sit on the floor and let him come to me. Sometimes he doesn’t. Sometimes he will just sniff me and walk away. You just have to let them do what they do. Bribing them with treats is good but you said that your buns are very young so they probably can’t have those yet can they? Anyway, they will come around you just have to keep trying and don’t make them do anything.

Some days my bunny is snuggly and other days he’s not at all. I think the person who had him before me handled him quite a bit so he’s used to it. Even though they don’t like being picked up I think it’s good to do every other day or so, just so they’re used to it and you can grab them when you need to cut their nails or something. The key is to scoop them up really quick, supporting all their legs at the same time, and calm them down right away so it doesn’t turn into an ordeal. Animals will get used to certain movements – I never got my cats accustomed to having their paws handled as kittens to cut their nails so I have these beasts with razors for claws – if I tried now, after all these years, they’d scratch my face off. It’s easier to get animals adjusted while they’re young.

I have a three-level bunny condo, and although Bun-Bun doesn’t sit in my lap much anymore, I sit with my face in the third level entrance and he comes up to snuggle next to my face. It’s so cute! It’d be easier if he’d sit in my lap, but if I want cuddles I have to do it on his terms, so you just have to find what your bunnies like. As long as you are always around, and a benign presence, they’ll become more social I think, just be persistent and calm

Pean would let me pet him within a couple weeks, but it took a year for him to become totally comfortable with me.

It took a good 1 1/2 years for Lolli to really start letting me just give her nose pets. She’s just not one who wants to be petted. Since Eddie has passed, she is more receptive of me petting her and I get to stroke her down her back sometimes. But petting is definitely on her terms. And forget about being picked up. I do have to sometimes so I can check her over, clip her nails, etc. She absolutely hates being picked up but it’s necessary for her health.

What I have found to work the best when it comes to petting, is to put my hand down in front of her. If she wants pets, she’ll put her head down. But that way she sees my hand and petting isn’t starting off with my hand coming from above. Plus she gets to be “in control” which is really all rabbits are about anyways. lol

Yup, I agree with everyone else. My Bumblebee is 9 months old now and she is now just finally enjoying being pet, lowering her head and sprawling out and she finally tooth purred!!!! 9 entire months of teenage BumbleButt-Brat and now she is finally blossoming and is becoming a really sweet lady bun.

Just give them time, be patient, and I really recommend a lot of floor time with them when you can. I do my homework a lot on the floor. It’s a tad distracting but its our time