Let me pet you!

[Pomandcourt]

Hello! 

I adopted two lionheads back in February (I think?) to be friends with my angora. Now Pom (angora) LOVES to be pet and groomed and handled by anyone and anything. She’s constantly demanding attention. 

My little bunnies (what I call the lionheads collectively) are still having none of it. I know we had a bit of a set back as they both had GI Stasis when I first brought them home and required quite a bit of manhandling to force feed them, but once they were better I gave them space and we all seem to be getting along. However, they still don’t like to be pet or touched. 

They’ll happily eat from my hands, approach me, climb on me, and nudge me, but they’ll only tolerate maybe one or two brief head pets before retreating. And they certainly don’t enjoy them.

I rarely pick them up (sometimes it has to be done, but I’d say it happens less than once a week), and let them approach me, but we’re not getting anywhere. 

Do some rabbits just dislike grooming/pets? They don’t seem to mind grooming each other, or Pom grooming them (though she prefers to be the groomee) I’m trying not to force it, but I’m wondering if there’s anything else I could be doing. 

Any tips or tricks you’ve used with your buns would be greatly appreciate. Thanks!

[JackRabbit]

After the last two weeks I’ve had, I’d say hand feed bite-sized pieces of lettuce with strawberry flavored Baytril on it! Seriously though, my Marlee has never been one to appreciate human love all the much although she is much better about it inside her room.

Marlee has had a UTI and I’ve had to give her Baytril 2x per day for the past 2 weeks. She won’t take all of the dose from the syringe but gobbles it up on lettuce bites so I’ve been hand feeding the “medicine lettuce” to her. She loves it so much that now every time I sit down, I’ve suddenly got a bunny in my lap! If I’m trying to do something and put her down, right back up she comes. She’ll rub her face up against mine and let me pet her with both hands ar the same time (previously a huge no no). I’m sure now that the medicine is finished she’ll eventually stop unless I continue to hand feed her. Anyway, you could try hand feeding your lionheads salad for a while and see if that loosens them up for pets!

[Pomandcourt]

I try and feed them by hand as much as possible. They’ll tolerate a bit of touching white they’re eating, but only two or three head pats before they cower away.

I’m glad Marlene is doing better! My angora loves her medicine too (she had a UTI a few weeks back). She nearly ate the syringe trying to get the last few drops of medicine out.

Not the little bunnies. They hate everything -_- I’ve only recently been able to get them to nibble on a piece of carrot or apple as a treat. They like apple and alfalfa pellets as treats, but not enough to motivate them to do anything and I’m afraid to push it in case they start avoiding food again (it was weeks before they would touch any food.)

I don’t need or expect them to be lap bunnies, but there are times when they need to be handled (grooming/going to vet) and I’d prefer not to traumatize them. The grooming is really what bothers me. As long haired buns, they should be getting fully brushed at LEAST once a week. As of now, I’m sneaking in one or two brush strokes while they’re running around. It’s not sufficient.

[Sarita]

I went back and reread your initial post – you’ve had them now for about 2 months – is that about right? How old do you think they are?

[Pomandcourt]

They’re just over two years old. Both are desexed.

We’ve actually had a bit of breakthrough and they’re accepting more head pats. Still pretty reluctantly though.
I’m sure part of it has to do with their first family. They had four young kids and were only periodically let out to play.

[Author]

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