A bunnies memory

[HatterBunny]

So, as I’ve stated several other times, I adopted Hatter from an animal shelter where he spent almost two years of his life, but he was estimated to be about a year old when dropped off and the animal shelter didn’t really know his past. He was deffinately a grumpy bunny but with a lot of love and patience (and banana pieces) he has come to be my little guy. He always runs up to me, plays with me, nudges for pets and even licked my forehead the other day. YAY! Butttttttttt……he HATES my husband. Granted, my husband is not as “hands on” with him as I am and he is not as home as much (his job makes him work long hours). Even when my husband tries to give him a treat and play toss the toilet paper roll and Hatter will have nothing to do with him. He even thumps if he sees me giving my husband “too much” attention. My husband is fine with this since he is MY rabbit, but in my ideal world, Hatter would get along with everyone. I have noticed that Hatter is much more friendly to women than to men (when we have company over). Could this be because he is a male (neutered) or was he perhaps abused by a man and now no longer trusts them?  I know a rabbits memory is good, but my husband has done nothing but try to show him affection only to get dissed. What are your guys opinions and what can possibly done about this….if anything?

Thanks!

[Beka27]

I really wish we could get in their heads sometimes. Honestly, I don’t know. It could be anything. It could be his smell, or the smell of his workplace, the fact he’s away from the house all the time, jealousy b/c he thinks you are “his girl”…

Is your husband okay with him being standoffish? What I’d recommend is that he completely take over all of the feeding and treat-giving so he is associated with “good things”. And just spend as much time as possible with him on the ground.

[HatterBunny]

My husband is a prop master in the film industry and so he works 12 hour days.  We have tried my husband giving him treats and me “ignoring” him when he runs to me for the treats and Hatter won’t have it. He will sniff the treat and run away and thump as he does so. As soon as my husband hands me the treat Hatter runs up and takes it with no problem. My husband is ok with the fact that Hatter is MY boy. My husband loves Hatter but he understands that he won’t have the relationship that I have with Hatter. My husband has never gotten mad at the fact that Hatter has the ‘tude. I think this more of something that I want…

Also, my husband has even suggested that Hatter is just being jealous….which he thinks is amusing!

[Sarita]

I think you have an extremely understanding husband :~) I think it’s impossible to know why Hatter is this way and it’s best to just accept it as you are. I think your husband understands that it’s not something he has done personally to make Hatter this way.

I think you should just let Hatter be who Hatter is – he’s not biting or acting aggressive so that’s a good thing – he just feels more comfortable with you.

Your husband’s job sounds interesting too!

[jerseygirl]

There is some thought that when they are kits there is a “critical” time for socialisation (btwn 2-4 weeks? – sorry, bit sketchy on details) So it might be possible that Hatter only had socialisation with females as a kit and it effects things today. I think his fear or lack on bonding with your husband can be overcome. It will just take a longer and may never quite be what you have with Hatter.

[Sage Cat]

I agree with Jersey – it just might take a while.

I once knew a horse that had been abused by a man. Years later the horse was great with females. But, if a guy got any where near that horse – the horse would freak out! You never know what an animal might remember.

[bunnytowne]

CottonBoo McChew is the same way with my hubby     I have had Cotton since he was 2 months so it isnt cuz of abuse.  He just never did li ke males.

Fouad came home 6 months after I had gotten Cotton.    My son stayed with me since Cotton was 3 or 4 months.  It was so funny.   Everytime my son would talk Cotton would thump.  lol   He did this for a bout a week  lol

Cotton doesnt let anyone but me pet him.  The only other people that touch him are the vet n staff.

He is a 1 person bunny. 

Ruby doesnt mind hubby but she looks for me.

When the person I got Ruby from came over  after kayla stooped petting her she jumped over to me but she isnt as bad as cotton when it comes to hubby or people.

[HatterBunny]

So we have had some success the past week. My husband has patiently offered Hatter a cranberry or two and he will eat them out of his hand (only if my hand is right beside). Also, the funniest thing. I woke up to hear my husband talking to Hatter this morning!!  He was saying stuff like “I know you’re a momma’s boy but I like you too….” Hysterical!

[Lintini]

I had an iguana that hated men as well. Women were perfectly fine …but his 4 foot long tail would let you know if you weren’t wanted. My friend Brice was going to adopt him from me and Spike whipped him so bad there was no way Brice was going to adopt him after that. It makes me wonder what happened to him as a baby to make him hate men like that. He also hated my dad and brother and all other guy friends that wanted to interact with him. Hatter seems like a very special bun bun, it’s really nice that your husband isn’t bothered by his bunni’tude

[Elrohwen]

Your husband’s job sounds so cool!

It’s really hard to tell if he was abused or anything. It could just be that he only had contact with women when he was a little baby and thus trusts them more. Or sometimes, nervous animals can be scared of men just because they tend to be loud and boisterous.

My dog growing up had a fantastic upbringing (raised by a husband and wife who treated the puppies like family), but she was naturally a nervous dog. My male neighbor scared her to death because he was loud and would shout to her “Hey Cindy! Come here!!” which she thought was so scary. Lol. She loved my neighbor’s wife though, because she was quiet and calm. No men ever abused her, and she loved my dad who doesn’t have a loud personality, but she was very suspicious of most men in general. It could be that Hatter is just a bit nervous and his personality clicks more with yours, so it’ll take him longer to get used to your husband’s personality.

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