HELP! My bunny hates me

[raenesci]

I’ve had my bunny Oreo for 9 months… he used to sit on my tummy, give me kisses, and let me hold her… after a month or two, she started hating me- growling, scratching, and digging. I asked around and found out he just needed to be neutered… so I spent the money and had that done about 2 months ago… if anything, he’s even worse now as I tried to put him in his basket so he could chill on the couch with me like we used to… I think he tried to bite me today. I need help, if I can’t get Oreo to go back to the way he was, I’m considering finding him a new home, since it’s devistating that I once had such a sweet bunny, but now he’s mean and hates me…..

please help, anyone=\

[Stickerbunny]

Your bunny doesn’t hate you, it’s just growing up. Most rabbits hate being held, to them it is like a predator trying to eat them. Picking him/her (you used both, which is it?) to put into a basket to sit on the couch is not something a bunny would enjoy. BABY bunnies tend to not mind so much because they are babies, but as they mature, their personality starts to develop along with natural instincts and hormones and all that other stuff. You will have to interact with your bun on its terms. Like having a child – an infant / toddler LOVES being held, but once they begin to grow up, they are more likely to go “PUT ME DOWN! PUT ME DOWN! WANNA WALK!” if you try to hold them.

Don’t pick him/her up unless it’s needed. Offer treats and such to entice your bun to come to you. If your bun nips at you, squeal to let them know it isn’t nice. You have a teenage bunny, this is their worst stage and where behavior will be the worst and all the bad ones need corrected via training. It’s a part of rabbit ownership, just like the puppy destructo phase is part of dog ownership if you get a baby. Also, after a spay/neuter there is a hormone surge before the body evens itself out.

[Sarita]

Rabbits don’t have the capacity to hate. But they do fear being picked up which is why he is biting you – it’s fear.

I’ve found that rabbits enjoy just hanging out and being able to come to you when they feel like they can trust you. Really the way of the rabbit is not that of a cuddle bun. They much more enjoy your company from afar and will eventually come up to you for pets or let you come to them for pets on the ground. No basket on the couch or trying to sleep in your bed unwillingly.

And as Stickerbunny says, it’s partly his age. You just have to change your expectations on what your rabbit is going to be like as an adult. Trust me, you will enjoy them much more as adults and seniors.

[LoveChaCha]

A rabbit that is held against their will learn to fear and stay away. I only hold my bun when it comes time for nail trimming and grooming. Otherwise, a bunny only likes to have their feet on the ground.

I have had my girl bun since she was 8 weeks and is now 3 years of age. She has become more calm and fun to be around. It takes time. Your bun may come around if you do not handle him when he doesn’t wish to. They are prey animals and associate handling with them being eaten.

[Rei]

You are on a wonderful site to learn everything you could ever want to know about bunnies, so spend some time reading through posts and seeing what other people do and how their bunnies behave. Don’t give up on your bunny please. There aren’t enough good bunny owners, but if you put in the work to learn, you can be one!! It takes lots of patience. I’ve had mine just over a year, and only now I feel like I know my rabbit very well.

Like the others have said, baby bunnies don’t mind to be held, but adolescent and adult rabbits do not. It scares them. Simply avoid picking up your bunny, unless it is absolutely necessary. Bunnies are borrowers, so they naturally like to dig. Make a digging box for him/her and fill it with shredded paper. If he/she nips at you, its because they don’t want to be held. And the growling is him/her being territorial. My bunny has 2 territories that I have to respect: her cage, and under my bed (she has claimed that as hers). So I don’t reach under my bed, and if I put food in her cage, it is when she is not in it. Above all, be patient! You will get the hang of your bunny’s moods.

[Wozz]

I yeld at my bunny the other day and now she won’t come near me. What can I do?

[Deleted User]

This is a very old post, you should start a separate thread when asking about your own rabbit. Why did you yell at her? You shouldn’t do that. They are prey animals and they will not respond well to anger/aggression/threatening behavior. If you’ve made her that terrified, then you will have to take it slow again to earn her trust. Remember that rabbits require patience, tolerance and persistence. You cannot discipline them like dogs when they do wrong.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Wozz on 7/17/2017 5:44 AM

I yeld at my bunny the other day and now she won’t come near me. What can I do?

Why on earth did you yell at your rabbit? 

[Bam]

This is an old thread. It’s much better if you start a thread of your own. You can do that here:
https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/afv/post/aff/3/Default.aspx

Rabbits scare easily, so please don’t yell at your rabbit again. You can often regain a bun’s trust with treats and gentle head rubs.

I’m locking this thread now.

[Author]

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