How can I help him get over his fears??

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

Hey guys…well if you’ve been reading my bonding thread for Chubs and Comet, you know that Comet was pretty neglected in his old home. He was left in a very dirty space and was given very little attention so he was kind of a mess when he got here. We have made some progress with this skittish little guy, as he will now beg for food from us and when he does let us pet him, he is just a little love. He’s not yet neutered and even in bonding sessions, I have not seen one ounce of aggression. He is just a total sweetheart. BUT even with the progress, he is soooo scared of every little thing! I have the dining room area devoted to him right now (as we’ve taken a bonding break until after the neuter and have to keep buns separated). It’s a big space and I’ve been sitting in there with him daily, even just to read or be on my lap top, or talk to him. He will investigate me and even let me pet him but one little sound sends him fleeing to his box for safety. He does this too when I stand, shift positions, etc. He is just so scared. I know he will probably relax with time but I’m wondering if anybody has ideas on how to help him beyond being patient. Any advice would be appreciated!!

[MimzMum]

Ah I’ve been away for a few days, I see you’ve settled on a name! Nice!
I’m afraid to say that, with a year and a month passed, I still don’t have Fiver to the point where he is completely trustworthy of anyone or anything around him. He reacts almost the same way as Comet. Mimzy is becoming very reclusive, moreso than he was when I got him over two years ago. Pip is the only one who seems to relish human company.
I find bunnies are like butterflies….if you pursue them in any way, even a loving one, they will flee from you, but if you be still and almost ignore them, they will come and practically sit on your shoulder.
But every bunny is different. Perhaps once Comet gets more bonded with Chubs, and Chubs shows him that you are no threat, but indeed a boon, maybe little Comet will come to relax a bit more?

[jerseygirl]

He may still be adjusting to normal household sounds or even extra space he has. Also, once he and Chubs are bonded, I think you’ll find he’ll become more relaxed (hopefully). They take turns being the watch bunny. Does his vision seem normal? Maybe he senses changes in light and shadow that spooks him.

[RachelB]

When I first got Samson he was very very skittish. I did a lot of the same thing you mentioned… sitting in his room with him, laying on the floor reading the newspaper, etc. The one thing I also did that you didn’t mention was to leave a radio on in there with him while I was gone at work. I would turn it off when I got back from work and was around to talk to him but over time I think hearing random things for a good portion of the day helped him a lot. This might also work for Comet!!
Bonding with Ivy helped Samson out a ton as well. Now I would say that he is the daredevil of the two (still a bit skiddish at times) but has come a LONG way.
Whens Comets big snip day?

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

The radio is a good idea, although it’s never silent during the day because Kc is home. He spends time with him too, and usually has tv or video games or music or something going, so I’m not sure how much of that he hears. I will have to see on that one. As far as the big snip, his pre-neuter appointment is Friday morning and I think we may schedule his neuter for Monday the 12th…because…we will be gone for 2 days next weekend and I have a friend coming to check on bunnies and interact with them and everything but I want to be close by after the surgery and make sure there’s no complications and what not. That trip is at an inconvenient time because I’d rather do it Monday the 5th…but I’m nervouse to leave only 4 days after the surgery…

How would I be able to tell if his vision was normal? His eyes look okay? He is much slower to relax then Chubs though, at least when it comes to his eyes being wide open. Chubs will close his almost the second you start petting him.

Thanks for the input, I know time and bonding are my best allies here, I’m just worried about him being so scared all the time. I feel like I should be doing more to help him settle in!

[katie, max & penny]

My bun Penny is very skiddish with movement. He gets better as time goes on but I still can’t touch his face or make any quick movement around him without a loud thump and a dart into his hidey house. I’ve had him about two months now- Ive come to accept that this is just part of his character and he will always be like that. Comet may be the same way.

[Sarita]

Some rabbits just are more skittish than others. I have a pair of Dutches and the male always looks terrified of me (at least that’s what it seems to me). I’ve had them for over 5 years too and he’s bonded to (maybe his mother, not sure of the relationship) and she also is a bit skittish but not like him. I also call this pair my ostrich rabbits because they try to hide when anyone new comes in. I do know they were strays when I got them and Peppermint (the male) was quite young. I’ve tried to get him out of his shell but he just likes to be left alone so I just honor his wishes. He and Peaches do sit side by side quite often.

I think the only thing you can do is be patient – perhaps he will get more comfortable and maybe he won’t. If not, he will have a friend. Hopefully your patience will pay off though and he will become more trusting.

[MooBunnay]

I also have a skittish little bunny named Nilla Bean. I do the same things you do, and also I focus on hand feeding her. I hand feed her a Craisin each night, and I make sure to crinkle the bag as I am opening it. She now knows the sound of the bag, and so when she hears it she comes running, and forgets to be scared of me and will crawl up on my knees and in my lap to get the Craisin. Once she has it, I think she suddenly realizes where she is and runs back down to the ground I think with time you and Chubs will get to be very close – in my experience, the bunnies that I have to take the longest to bond with are the ones that I usually have the best bonds with.

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

Thanks for all the advice! I actually tried having soft music on tonight when I had my visit with him and I think it calmed him! He let me pet him and was calm for over an hour, teeth purrs and all! I was pretty excited. I know it’s just one day but it’s nice to have these in between the ones that are discouraging. Oh and he is very good about taking food from me, whether it be pellets or veggies or a craisin treat. I think he loves food too much to worry about who’s holding it. Hehe.

Oh and just a small correction for Moo, me and Chubs are very bonded. He likes to crawl in my lap when he’s in the mood for pets, and give bunny kisses. The scared bunny is our new little guy Comet!

[katie, max & penny]

I’m glad to hear about the progress!!

[BinkyBunny]

That’s great progress already. I am so glad the music helped! Jack, Rucy, and Vivian were all either skittish and/or aggressive bunnies, and I also hand feet treats, and laying around and ignoring technique. I see changes over a few months time, though some, like Jack, made huge improvements in weeks, Rucy was more like “years” to fully relax, and Vivian has made positive changes with her “aggressive” approach in just months.

So it is definitely an individual thing, but with patience, and consistency, many can learn to trust more.

Vivian used to HATE to have her back legs and back part of her back touched. She’d turn around and growl lunge and sometimes nip.  But I’ve been working with her everyday, and she has no problems with it now 90% of the time.  The other 10% she’ll turn around and huff and run away….but then within secondsd, she realizes nothing bad happened, and will come back and ask for pets. 

 

[Monkeybun]

So Viv figured out you aren’t mount happy like Jack is? hehe

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

That’s great!!

Rupert was super skittish when I got him-which was not a pretty site as he’s not very graceful (picture slightly handciapped chubby rabbit lumbering away from a shoe because IT WAS NOT THERE YESTERDAY!! )

But I will tell you, besides a few things he’s still scared of-cooking etc-he came right out of it. He was a stray so being hyper-vigelent likely kept him from falling prey, and was a good thing. He was terrified of being picked up so I kept at it, making sure I only picked him for short periods of times, and always gave him a gentle landing-now he’s as if he was handled from birth. He really came out of his shell when he bonded with Kahlua, and he’s probably my bravest rabbit now!

[Balefulregards]

Jackson is my Scaredy Bun. He was also a stray who was found in a box on the street, so I have no idea about his previous life.
At least now Coco doesn’t bolt when he does, which is frequently. She followed him at first until she realized he was bolting over nothing – and I mean like I walk in the bedroom to come back from the bathroom and he bolts….

She actually sleeps through it now, maybe an eye will open and she will assess, then close it and go back to sleep.

We got Jackson in August – And he is just a different Guy than Coco in every way. She is fairly unflappable, quick to demand her rights as diva. He is still unsure about everything, although my one HUGE accomplishment has been that he walks away from the greens if there are still some left. He seems to finally be understanding that he will get fed, generously and at regular intervals and doesn’t have to snarf the WHOLE amount down in one sitting. Also, he has allowed me to give him actual nose rubs – and he has accepted them – Twice. It is almost as if he doesn’t dare let himself relax into the full scratch, but once he does, I can groom him nicely.

It has just reinforced for me how Distinct Rabbits personalities can be, and how long it takes for them to allow you to be part of their warrren!

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By Monkeybun on 09/30/2009 05:37 PM
So Viv figured out you aren’t mount happy like Jack is? hehe

SHHHHHH!!!!  How’d you know?!! 

Actually she was feisty about that before she was accosted by Jack.  She whipped around and tried to nip the vet but good on her first check-up.   She still will give her opinon, but instead she’ll give a strong nose push instead of a nip now. Like the other day,  I was petting her and she decided she wanted to get up and go eat.  She got up and pushed my hand forcefully to the side, and pranced off to munch on greens.

[luvmybunny]

I am sure Comet is still adjusting to being treated WELL instead of living in terrible conditions. I am sure with patience and persistance you will win his trust. He will learn that you = love!

[Author]

Messages