Does my bunny LIKE me?

[Oreo the Bunny]

When we first got him he was much more calm and didn’t freak out when handled.  Our house is noisy – and we are trying to be considerate of his tolerance.  But I feel like he’s giving me mixed messages.  He will:   come and check me out, bonk me with his nose, grunt at me, jump and kick out his feet (happy?), jump and land facing another direction (startled?  Scared?), come and check me out again, climb on me, allow me to pet him and not make noise, tolerate (?) me petting him and grunt, offer his head when I approach with my hand, lay out on the floor with legs straight out behind him or off to the side, jump up on me and ‘dig’ in my bathrobe (lol)….but NOT let me pick him up without fear.  All of these behaviors he’ll exhibit in one ‘session’ playing with him – all within a half hour.  So I’m inclined to think he’s not going from happy to frightened bunny then back again all in one sitting.

I’ve got some bunny books and using my own animal common sense – slow and steady, gentle, allowing him to snif me, approaching from the front/side so he can see me…but I welcome any advice!   

Thanks in advance!

~Dawn

[Bam]

Was he young when you first got him? Young bunnies (pre-puberty) will often like being handled. Then puberty hits and the bun is like Hell no when you try to pick it up. Most adult buns hate being picked up. Predators pick bunnies up, then eat them.

To me what you’re describing seems perfectly normal. If he didn’t like you he wouldn’t nose-bonk you or want to be pet. I doubt he’d dig in your bathrobe if he disliked you, they tend to dig in the clothes of people they really like, but I don’t know why.

My bunny Yohio could grunt and box me, then immediately put his chin on the bed or floor to demand pets. That went on for months.

[Luna]

I agree – everything sounds normal. Conclusion, your bun loves you! 

[Oreo the Bunny]

Yay!  I’m so pleased!!  Thank you for your responses!   I look forward to learning how to keep this guy happy! 

[Author]

Messages