Baby bunny hates pets- UNTIL I hold her and then put her back down

[MeowMeow]

Hi all! I got my second female Flemish Giant about a month ago, she is 14 weeks (born in Christmas). She is doing well adjusting, though not bonded with my 2 y.o princess bun yet but they are making progress.

She very much is secure around me/my partner/my cats. She runs up to check in and boop while she’s out, she jumps into my lap for food, and will flop out on the floor. She does duck under my hand if I try to pet, and runs away if I try too much. What I find weird is, in the process of trying to adjust her to being “okay” with being held (due to the necessity of it, she definitely doesn’t like it and hardly tolerates it), I have found she acts more well-behaved after I put her down!
After picking her up/holding her close for a moment then setting her back down, she will run up to me and stay closer to me, this is usually the only time I am “allowed” to pet her body briefly. I have even been able to rub her nose and get some “purrs” two or three times! I am not giving her treats as a reward for the holding, though I probably should, so that’s not it…

Has anyone seen this before, where the bun only accepts affection after being held (which she dislikes and fights)?

 

[Wick & Fable]

At the minimum, the act of picking her up is likely disorienting her a bit so being put down is a relief and probably just puts her in a new mindset. Another possibility is if in any other way she has associated any “negative” experiences with getting something nice afterwards, so even if not trained with being picked up specifically, if there has been an association with food and humans or stress and food, that too could be at play.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Author]

Messages