Buns take some time to get fully comfortable and familiar. Some rabbits are okay with being held and/or learn to be okay with it, but generally rabbit’s don’t like it. My past rabbits were fine with it but my current rabbit hates it. I’ve gotten him used to being held when it’s necessary but I know that he’s a bun that just will never really be okay with it.
But also, 8 months is still relatively soon for rabbits to get cool with everything. Some rabbits take months or a year or longer to be comfortable enough to show affection.

Some rabbits show it in different ways, rabbits have many different personalities, some may be little grump buns and the slightest affection from them is the biggest heartwarming sign to their owners, while others are quicker to it and more giving of it. Just know you aren’t doing anything wrong even if you think it’s taking a while. It might just be your buns personality and that he’s more cautious. Letting him come to him and not trying to pet him immediately is the best thing to do at first. Let him sniff and explore your hand and stuff.

The people that post about their bunnies cuddling and showing affection have also gone through similar things. Some rabbits do adapt to human bonding earlier, such as my current bun, while others take longer, such as my previous buns that only started after a year or so.

I can assure you, I never post about how my boys play and cuddle with me all the time… because they don’t. LOL

Yep, I’m good for two things: food and naners. Do they hate me? No, of course not. But, as Rabbitposm pointed out, different bunnies have different ways of showing love and affection. When we’re at the vet, it is clear who they associate with safety. Man, Wooly was clinging to me the last time we were there. I felt so loved! LOL

OK… so here’s the bottom line. You are not doing anything wrong. Each bunny is going to be different. Some actively seek out affection, some are more standoff-ish. Most rabbits do not like to be held. That’s OK and completely normal. Some bunnies just take a long time to warm up to their humans, so don’t get discouraged. Hand feeding is good, so keep it up. Sitting quietly without trying to touch him is good too.

I also have to ask… is he neutered yet? Hormones can definitely influence their willingness to be pet, touched, etc. You will often hear stories about young bunnies who were so lovey suddenly wanting nothing to do their their humans. It’s literally like someone flipped a switch. This is completely normal. It’s just a part of growing up. BUT eliminating those hormones can help with some (not all) of that behavior.

My bunnies enjoy being pet and will seek me out for attention (and treats of course) but they definitely don’t enjoy being picked up.

Some bunnies like it but those are the exception. It doesn’t sound like you’re doing anything wrong.

I think all rabbits are different. I got lucky with mine loving cuddles and being on my lap and being held but she wasn’t always like that. I got her at 5 weeks and it took time for her to trust me and get used to my presence and being pet. Now she demands it haha but I think the more time you spend around your bun and let them come to you and slowly work up to it, it’ll get better and you will get closer. They just tend to be on guard naturally. I work from home and my rabbit is usually free roam so that’s how we got so close – we shared a bed

You aren’t doing anything wrong. I know it gets discouraging at times. We get the thought : bunnies live in our home, roam around, we buy them everything they need and everything we see that if we were bunnies we would want, we spoil them. They are not cat’s and dogs. They are softer , more easy going I think, they can be more time consuming depending on the bunny.

Whiskers doesn’t like being held. When he is ready he will jump in my lap and back off instantly then put his nose on my lap. Sometimes with front paws.sometimes he just lays beside me and buries his nose under my shirt or arm. He will let me pat him for hours. When I don’t give it right away he gently paws my foot until I do. I am the only one he does this too.

Whiskers only begs for treats with my husband and only when my husband opens up his fish food container. So after fish are fed he gets his treat.

They are unique in character. It does take time. Whiskers belonged to a family member before we got him at 8 months old. He never ate out of that person’s hand although they took good care of him. Within a day he ate out of mine. It takes time and I have no clue as to why some bunnies will do things for one person and not another. They are unique.

When Whiskers was with his first family, whenever I saw him I would talk to him, sit on the floor beside his home base. I think by doing that I built a trust with him. When I took over care of him, for the first week I did the same. I took it slow.

Like others have already said give it time and be assured your bunny loves you. They are and can be little characters most of the time. LoL

To summarise, no he doesn’t hate you.

I also think you basically just described Kurotta lol.

He runs to us or climbs all over us only when he thinks we have food (when he realises we don’t, he just hops away), hates being picked up, is not cuddly at all and will run away when you try to pet him (unless he is in the mood for it, which is like 1% of the time). I only pick him up when it’s necessary (e.g. to bring him upstairs, remove him from somewhere he shouldn’t be etc) and now he tolerates it. I only cut his nails when he is lounging because that’s the only time he doesn’t try to run away. He hates the bunny burrito and won’t stop squirming if I put him on my lap.

That said, I have learned that every bunny expresses love in a different way. Kurotta only started giving SOME kisses recently (again, only when he’s in the mood for it). He also tends to lounge near us if we’re sitting on the floor, but he generally ignores us unless we have food.

I wouldn’t trade him for the world though I think it’s important to accept your bunny for who they are. Every bunny has their own positive and negative quirks – for all you know those “cuddly” bunnies are actually bossy little monsters who like to nip (for example), but people generally don’t post that on social media and just talk about the cuddly cute side.

Look on the bright side and the positives of HP and I’m sure you’ll learn to love him for who he is!