Is my bunny sad?

[Donteattheapples2]

I have a 9 month old male Holland Lop (first bunny) and he’s very curious and sweet but he spends almost all of his time sleeping (flopped or loafed) and has almost no interest in toys.

I keep trying to get him to exercise more by running around the room with him for little treats or trying to teach him tricks and I’ve gotten him so many toys but he doesn’t really run around on his own or play.

He eats and drinks fine (he’ll do anything for food). He binkies but doesn’t have zoomies like when he was little and I’m just starting to worry that there’s something wrong rather than him just being a very low key dude. He can still be a little skittish too.

I’ve wondered if I should get a second bunny in the hopes of bonding them and that they’d play together but there aren’t any female rabbits available for adoption near me right now. That also seems like a big step to take so I want to see if there’s anything else I can do first or if there’s nothing wrong with him at all.

[DanaNM]

It sounds like he could just be settling into adult-hood. Most buns settle down a bit when they transition from baby to adult, so I’m sure that’s at least part of  it. I think encouraging him to explore and move around with training is a great idea. You can also get or make food puzzles as enrichment activities.

In terms of toys, sometimes some experimenting is needed to find something the bun actually likes. My buns really like things they can chew and destroy. Willow baskets are very popular, as are grass mats and palm plates.

The other thing that can happen, especially with buns that get 100% free roam (not sure if yours does), is that they get kind of settled into the space and lose the urge to explore. I’ve noticed my buns actually run around and explore more when I pen them part of the day, even if they get a huge chunk of the day to roam.

If you are still seeing the occasional binky and he is getting excited about his food then I think he may just be a pretty chill bun. 🙂

Getting another rabbit to bond with him is not a bad idea, but it is a huge step and can take a lot of work, so I wouldn’t feel rushed to jump to that. It could be something to consider in the next year or two if the right bun comes along.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Donteattheapples2]

Thank you DanaNM! This is super helpful and I feel much better. He is completely free roam but I have a baby gate to keep him in one room at night. Maybe I’ll try keeping him “penned” in there for a little during the day and see if it brings back his urge to explore. Thanks again 🙂

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