It’s not wrong to want that, but sometimes bunnies can’t give us that kind of affection.

I got Otto at 8 weeks old and tried so hard to make him cuddly, but he always hated pets. For a few months, around 8-12 months old, he actually liked pets occasionally. After bonding with Hannah, a year ago, he went right back to no touchies. I love him and he’s my baby, and sometimes I do get sad that I can’t show him affection, but I know that’s just how he is. I try to train him to do tricks every day, because he enjoys that and it’s a good way for us to bond. I’ve even used the training to get him used to being touched a little (though he still doesn’t like pets, I can put both hands completely on his body for a few seconds during training and he knows it’s ok).

One month is also not long at all! Hannah is very affectionate, but I don’t think she let me pet her that much in the first month she lived with us because she was still nervous. Just give her time, but try to accept that she might always want to interact with you in ways that don’t involve touching.

I use a clicker for training (clickerbunny.com is a good reference) though it’s not necessary. Otto’s favorites are standing up, spinning around, and touching a target (I throw a small tupperware lid on the ground and he has to run to it). I will also sneak in training where I touch his paws or put my hands around him and pick him up an inch, but I spread that out because he gets nervous if I do too many of those in a row. I’ve tried teaching a “high paw”, where I hold my hand out and he stands up then rests his paws on my hand, but he can’t seem to get that one. I’d like to try jumping too (more with Hannah than Otto) but I haven’t put effort into building a jump and I don’t have much room in my current place to set it up since it’s mostly hardwood floors.

Since you haven’t had her long, I would also recommend doing the “floor ignore” – just spend time sitting with her and don’t touch her. Read a book or something and pretend like she’s not there and eventually she’ll come up and see what you’re up to.

Bunnies can take a very long time to bond with and I see mine change their bonds with me constantly, even though I’ve had them for a couple years.

Oh yeah, 1+ months is not long at all, especially for a bun with a bad history. It’ll take lots of time and lots of patience. Just hang out with her, on her terms. I wouldn’t try petting her again for at least a month, and then only if she’s been comfortable approaching you for a while. And if she runs away when you pet her, let her.

Don’t worry, she can come around. My Alex had a bad history and 2 failed adoptions due to aggression. I worked with him for a looooong time. And by “worked,” I mean things like I sat on the floor and ignored him every single day for at least an hour, and then I gradually went from there. Now he’s the sweetest love bun who comes up and nudges me for pets. It basically takes time and patience. Good luck!

My girl also won’t let me pet her, much less try to groom. She will growl/grunt and swat at me. However, she noses me for food. I’m trying to work with her by hand feeding a pellet with one hand and a tiny pet with the other hand at the same time. Maybe you can do the same. Maybe a few months, or years, they can tolerate it.

I’ve had a great time interacting with my girl through the Treat ‘N Treat though. She will sometimes even “hand” me the parts rather than just pawing or throwing it to the side!

I definitely think teaching her tricks sounds like a great and fun way to develop a bond with her. I agree with Lagomorphic; let Emily set the pace and she will eventually come around.

It does sound like she needs to build trust with you. And don’t think she’s not interested – she’s just being a rabbit and while there are some rabbits who sort of cuddle, that’s not really the rabbit way. I’ve only had one rabbit that cuddled with me but he also had fear aggression. He was weird that way too. I agree with you that teaching her tricks will probably help build up her trust especially if she’s motivated by treats.

My Samantha is not a cuddle bunny, and I can’t pick her up or pet her below her shoulders. I was missing my snuggly Spockie just yesterday, so I know how you feel about being sad. I love her, but it feels like it could be lonely for her to not have me as company for snuggles.

When you go to pet Emily, try putting your hand down lower than her nose and palm up. That is instead of your hand descending from above her head. Close your fingers together, and gently move toward her chin and up and around to between her ears. I suggest this because we don’t notice if we come down on our bunnies with our fingers spread, but it is the same appearance in their peripheral vision as a bird claw, and they run. The less your hand looks like a claw, and the more she sees it coming toward her, the more she may recognize it is your hand. Put a treat in your palm also if she needs to get closer and be rewarded. A little pellet will do.

My Monkey haaaaaaaaaaates pets with a passion. She is queen of No-Touchy. Some buns just Do Not Want. lol!

Huckleberry is ONLY cuddly if I am laying on the floor with her. Even then its usually limited to when she has had enough of smelling like a human. How do you approach her? Are you standing? Maybe that scares her.
Also, I am NOT IN ANY WAY ALLOWED to touch Huckles back side. Do you try to give ear scartchies? Chin scratchies? Back pets? I think some rabbits are picky about where they get touched.
I agree with the others though, one month is not a long time. It may take a long time but dont give up on her.

Do not worry! It just takes time.

When I got Lucy one year ago…she wanted nothing to do with me…and I must have posted a billion times on this site wondering what I was doing wrong.
It took a WHOLE year, but she finally likes me!

I also got Lucy from a shelter so maybe that had something to do with the trust issues, but I think probably in general, it just takes time for a rabbit to get over it’s natural reaction that you are a predator and might eat them.

Eventually she will realize that you are the source of food and shelter and that you would never hurt her.

Lucy likes her nose pet

It takes time.. I have had my bun since she was a little baby.. and was scared to death of me. I ‘ignore her’ and she comes up to me, pulls on my blanket.. thumps at me for pets. Trust takes a while with rabbits.

Kate is a no pet bunny. Spencer loves pets, except when he doesn’t and then there are wicked foot flicks, lol. I adopted them at Thanksgiving and we have gone from Kate zooming away anytime I tried to touch her to her giving me a look that says, “harumph, you’re trying to do that THING again. I don’t think so.” And then she hops leisurely away, it’s progress. The ignoring her while I do something like read a book has helped for sure. Although she chins all of my books and then tries to eat them. I take it as a sign of affection that she tries to eat anything that she sees me doing whether it’s reading a book, putting together easter baskets, or picking out a movie. She also acts jealous when I pet Spencer so go figure. Bunnies are nutty, but that’s why we love them. Every little thing is so rewarding. I’ve never been so excited as when Kate gives me nose bumps, stands on me, or bites my clothes.

I got Momo used to coming near me by sitting calmly on the floor and getting her to take treats from my hand. Then I moved to setting treats on my legs, so that she would have to put her paws on me to get them. The whole time I paid her no mind until she was comfortable with coming up to me when I got on the floor with her. Then I moved on to giving her some romaine to munch while I gave her small gentile strokes. It took a while, and she is no snuggle bun. But she will allow pets.

Kate Monster that is so true about the progress.

Lucy still does not LIKE it when I pick her up, but she just annoyed now instead of terrified.
It used to be if you held her, the second she got away she would run to the other side of the house and hide for some time. Now she just let’s me put her down, flicks her legs at me a little and just stares at me like…”why?”
Then usually she will start cleaning herself…like..”ew gross! I smell like human!!”