Well, you have to make it worth his while. Some buns are just NEVER cuddly, some born cuddlebugs and some can be trained to “tolerate” cuddles with lots of bribes! Trust is the number one issue. If they don’t trust you, forget about cuddles. I have been very successful in getting buns to enjoy pets and cuddles by basically ignoring them. Bunnies always want what they can’t have! This takes a ton of patience. Lots of time just sitting on the floor perfectly still. Always let him come to you. And when he does come over to give you a sniff, resist the urge to reach out and pet. Otherwise he ‘ll think everytime he comes near you, he is going to be accosted by “THE HAND”. I usually sit down with a book, some pellets or treats on the floor around me , and maybe read out loud so the sound of your voice becomes soothing. Once he trusts that you are not there to catch and eat him, he may venture close and flop next to you. Just let him flop – no petting for a couple days. And never hop up and startle him, always get up only after he has hopped away on his own. Over the next few days (weeks ) put your hand down on the floor where he sits and let him sniff it. If he’s relaxed, touch a paw with your finger… Later an ear, later a pet on the nose, then a pet down the back… All at a pace he’s comfortable with. Put treats on your legs. Lay back and put treats on your tummy… Letting him hop up and get the treats without fear of being grabbed. He will eventually learn that you are harmless, and not only harmless but a great source of yummy treats!

Great advice Cheri! I second that! Mine goes bonkers for pellets so I tend to have some of those in my hands/pockets. While he is eating them out of my hand I pet my guy so he starts to associate my petting with food. I would wait until your bun starts to trust you more for that maybe though. Mine didn’t seem to mind getting attention right off the bat so this was my way of reinforcing that behavior. I’m sure your bun will come around after it gets more bonded with you. Keep in mind though, mine does NOT cuddle. He does not like to be held. He will, however, sit still for up to 15-30 minutes for his nightly rubs if he is TIRED. I just lay down in his pen with him and rub his little cheeks and head and he purrs and purrs. In the morning, forget about it! LOL. You will eventually learn what time of day your bun wants more attention than others I would think. Good luck!

Really good advice. Let him get used to you and comfortable around you first. It’s so important to build up that trust. And Kbana makes a really good point too, each bunny is different and has a different time that they are most accepting of pets and humanly love. My bunny pretty much ignores my existence all day until she starts to get tired, then she’s a cuddle monster and begs for attention. A lot of it has to do with age too. When my little girl was younger (past the baby cuddles stage though) she was an obnoxious brat in the mornings. She would wake me up at 5 or 6 every morning because she was ready for breakfast. She wanted nothing to do with me though, just some opposable thumbs to open the food container. Now that she’s older she waits until my alarm goes off around 7 and then she jumps in bed and cuddles with me for awhile before we get up without pressuring me out of bed to feed her.

Mako doesn’t like to be cuddled but she’ll accept gentle head pets/full body strokes. If I hug or cuddle her she makes annoyed noises at me until I put her down, so I just don’t do it.

Mine hated being even touched when I first got them (they lived outside and got manhandled by their owners’ tiny children so i’m not surprised), but after hours and hours spent sat on the floor of my room, letting them investigate me and climb on me without paying them any attention, as well as handing them treats every so often, they completely turned around. Now when I’m in my room it’s hard to keep them away from me! Admittedly I was unemployed when I got mine so I had loads of free time to spend time with them which isn’t always so easy for others.