Rabbit licking

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This topic has 2sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 8 months ago by Treori.

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- 08/09/2013 at 1:40 AM
  Brandi Lynn
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  11 posts
  One of the things I’ve always been curious about with my rabbit, Pongo, is that he rarely licks or “grooms” me. The only times he’s ever done that is when I went away for a week and came back, once when I was really upset and petting him, and once when I giving him a lot love in the form of petting his ears, nose, and cheeks. But he ALWAYS licks anything that smells like me. For example, my bed, my blanket/sheets, pillow, clothes, etc. Is this an act of affection, or am I just being hopeful about that?
  
  Any insight would be very appreciated.
- 08/09/2013 at 2:49 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I suppose it could be a sign of affection. I don’t see why not.
- 08/09/2013 at 4:36 PM
  Treori
  Participant
  87 posts
  Some rabbits are simply so Royal that they just can’t lick YOU directly. Take it as a compliment that he is grooming you by proxy (especially fi he is doing it while you are watching, he is allowing you to view the grooming of something that is [to him] an extension of yourself).
  
  My girl rarely grooms me, and by me and I mean clothing I am wearing at the time. She is move likely to lick whatever I’m seated on, so the sofa or floor cushion. She has groomed my jeans twice, last time for quite a while too. I was shocked at just how wet a rabbits tongue really is! (especially since I’m used to a cats usually dry tongue).
  
  To a rabbit the groomer is the submissive bunny, and the groomee is the dominant one. So the groomee doesn’t HAVE to ‘return the favour’ that he licks anything that smells of YOU and not him is a massive compliment. You’re bunny loves you and he loves what you do (I assume he is more likely to groom things that smell of you after you have been petting him right?)
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