aloof bunny

[elfmom]

This is my first rabbit. My neutered male bunny is about 6 months old and is not very friendly. He has free run of the house, uses his litter box, eats well. I can pet him when he is eating, but the rest of the time he runs away from me.  How do I teach him to enjoy being petted without scaring him?

elfmom

[rabbitsmba]

How long have you had him? Sometimes it can take a while, even a few months for a bunny to feel relaxed enough to enjoy you. A great thing to do is to lay on the floor on your stomach. Sit perfectly still and wait for him to approach you. Let him sniff you from head to toe – this will help him get to know you on his “level” and on his own terms. You can also try having a treat in your hand, speak really softly to him and over time, he will build trust with you and feel more comfortable around you.

Not all bunnies are cuddly and interactive – some can be shy or anti-social. The key is to learn about your bunny’s own personality and work with it – there are many levels of closeness. My bunn Scooter is supercuddly but little Ella is the exact opposite. For me, when I am typing on the computer and she comes over and nudges me, that’s really big for her and it’s the equivalent of a big bunny hug. It might be all she gives me but it’s just as precious!

[Beka27]

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/firstrabbit.html

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/1/aloof.html

here are a couple articles that might help you.  like was said, not all buns are very social.  it’s possible that as he matures he may become more comfortable with you.  he is still young, and even tho he is neutered, there is still a bunny teenager stage that you will need to go thru.  good luck.

[Sage Cat]

Hi elfmom,

I got my first 2 buns (Kay – 4 years & Winston – 2 years, both fixed) from a shelter mid February.
They were both in the shelter for a while & very shy. I do the “lay on the floor & read” a lot. I also talk to them all the time. I give them a Papaya “Cookie” in the morning, my husband gives them one in the evening – this is the first thing they became trusting with.

Over the last 2 weeks I have seen a huge difference. They are really becoming playful and interactive. We get lots of Bunny Head Butts, they are starting to tug on my pants for attention and a few nights ago they crawled all over my husband while he laid on the floor laughing – it tickled.

It just takes time and patience.

[jerseygirl]

Hello elfmom

As others have mentioined, get down on the floor at his level. Just be in the room he enjoys to play in an sit back. Eventually after everything else has been investigated, he’ll come over to investigate you. Once he seems comfortable up close, start to pet him and he’ll soon learn he’ll get a head rub whenever he comes up to you. It might help to read about rabbit vision and how they see us and also their ‘nervous’ nature to understand how to make them feel safe.

On Jerseys first night I left her free to roam and sus me out until she felt secure. She has since learnt to feel more secure around visitors too. I can pet and groom her if she’s on the floor and had to accept that she wont let me hold for cuddles – but she happily sits close by for quite a long time, displaying all her bunny antics!

[Jyka]

Give him time. If you slowly perservere with him and are patient and understanding, he will come around. It is sooooo rewarding when you get that first little nudge, lick or scritch!..makes the wait worthwhile.

[kralspace]

Hi elfmom and welcome!

http://language.rabbitspeak.com/rabbittalk.html

is a really fun site, print out a few pages each night and lay in the floor to read and you’ll begin to understand just how many ways your rabbit can communitcate with you…..and how many ways they can disapprove of you…hehehe

I had my first, the lovely Pringles, for several months before I found the site and the first night I was trying to talk her language was a hoot. She’d get all excited like she was saying “yes, the dufus has finally understood me…..about time!”

let us know how it goes, Kathy

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Hello and Welcome to Binkybunny!!

My first bunny, Kokanee was like that! Actually if you held her for more then two seconds she would spazz right out. It took lots of patience to get her where she is today -enjoying cuddling, coming when called and actually seeking out nose pets.

First, how to pet a bunny: They love having their nose, cheeks and ears rubbed. To hold a bunny: Sit on the floor and hold them on your lap, usually with their nose tucked into your arm. Feed your bunny (treats -small amounts, or greens) when you handle her too; It’ll teach her to associate good things with you. It takes time and patience for sure. That’s whats rewarding about rabbits (among other things of course) dogs will warm up to anyone almost immediately but when a bunny warms up to you, you know you’ve earned it! Good luck!

[elfmom]

Thank you to all who replied. All comments were very helpful!
elfmom

[wendyzski]

I adopted Pepper when she was about 1&1/2 yrs old, so she had never really learned to like cuddles

I had to handle her for medicines and stuff, but otherwise left her alone to do her thing.  It was almost a year until she decided that head-pets might be nice, and only in the last few weeks does she actually “present” for pets (smuch her head down).  So patience is the best way.

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