Bonding with me!

[The Law Bun]

Hello all of my fellow Bunny owners ,

 

Hope all is well. As many of you know by now, I am well into my first week as a bunny slave, and I must say I LOVE it! I consider myself extremely lucky because Lily has been AMAZING with the litter box. In the past 5 days, I have found one stray poo, and I think I scared her right before she did it (was trying to refill water and hay rack haha). She is not territorial, has never bitten, nipped, or thumped. I dont think she has ever been angry?

 

However, I am quite disappointed that she isnt taking to me as quickly as I had hoped. To start, the ultimate question is, how long before you and your bunny(s) had a decently strong relationship/friendship. And tips to bonding with your rabbit. I just sit in her pen, let her come sniff me, give her treats by hand (she finally takes the lettuce piece from my hand), and then sometimes reach to pet her. Lilith still gets rather timid when I approach her, rarely sits for pets and whenever I reach or hold my hand out, she will sniff it then kind of jump away. I will admit, I have had a few moments of weakness. I have reached in her cage to pet her, and she usually just bunched up in the corner for the pet.

 

Second Question: How can you tell when your bunny is enjoying the pets or is merely too scared to move. Sometimes I will start petting her, and she isnt scurrying away but instead just sits into it. But instead of leaning her head down (like I have read as the signal), she seems to go into her meatloaf position. Kind of pulling back and bunch up while I pet her. This makes me think she is just too scared to move and I am actually hurting our bond.

 

Thanks for all of the help guys . I look forward to the day when Lilith will actually come to ME for pets or nose nudging and I dont have to try so hard for her to accept them.As it stands now she just sniffs all over me, and then wanders off as if she doesn’t care I am there.

[Little Lion Head]

It could take weeks or months for a bond to form between you guys. Keep in mind that some bunnies are just never going to be cuddle bugs that follow you everywhere. It could take some time to really see what her personality is like.

Pumpkin is a face to the ground schmoosher. Rocky however is more a meatloaf petter like you described. He doesn’t like his faced petted but allows us to pet the rest of his body while he is meatloafed. I think if Lilith didn’t like she would run away so I think you’re ok!

[Author]

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