Help me bond with my bunny.

[Ohbunny]

I introduced everyone to our newest addition sunday. She’s some type of angora, most likely a few years old. She’s very shy and I’m having trouble getting her out of her shell. With our other two buns, we didn’t have much of a problem since they were both very young buns when we brought them home. Trixie, on the other hand, seems set in her ways. I have her cage set up in the living room so she can be around us without feeling we are a threat. And I’ve tried to bribe her with treats. If I open the cage to change her hay or give her pellets, she runs to the back and hunkers down. If I try to let her explore my hand and scent, she headbutts my hand away (different than the pet me headbutt) and pees. The last time I tried to pick her up, she released a cache of poo on me. When I’ve tried to bribe her with treats, she takes them from me and throws them to the side. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. These are the same steps I took with our other buns and the were lap babies within a day or two.

[pinknfwuffy]

Trixie sounds like she might need a little more of a hands-off approach to bonding with her human friends. I definitely think the cage in your living space is a great idea. Instead of reaching in, picking her up, or bribing with treats, I would suggest letting her come to you first. With my little guy, I set up a pen and left his door open. I sat in the pen and let him come out on his own accord. Letting him sniff, run, and flop as he wanted (without any interference from me). Don’t try to pet her or really touch her while she explores. Read a book, play on your phone, etc. For me, this took a few days of sitting or laying in the pen before I tried reaching out to let him sniff my hand, and he eventually let me gently pet his nose. Some buns just take longer than others to realize we mean well. Hopefully, with some time and tasty treats, she’ll realize you are there to be her friend. Good luck!

[Hopper]

I agree with PinknFwuffy but another way is whenever you walk into the room, say something to her and maybe put a treat she seems to like by the door (inside) of the cage. Don’t reach into her cage, I think the reason why she pees whenever you do so is because she may feel you are in her personal space.

[Ohbunny]

We are slowly making progress. She still doesn’t trust me the way my other buns do, but she is now stretching out in her cage and relaxing, instead of staying balled in the corner. She also took a bite of carrot I was holding. She loves toys,but won’t play if we are looking at her. Lol. At night I hear her bells ringing. She loves her chew stick and balls.

[Author]

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