Like or Dislike?

[BEL]

Hey All!

So I can’t tell if my bunny likes it when I rest her against my chest and pet her or not. While I am petting her she does the type of quiet tooth pur that has pauses in it which I thought was the good kind of tooth pur compared to the constant whirling. She also licks me and most importantly she doesn’t try to get away. I don’t hold her there she can leave when ever she wants. She usually stays with me for about 5 – 10 minutes and then jumps off. But the confusing part is she foot flicks me when she jumps down. So what do you guys think? Does she like it, hate it, or just put up with the weird human behavior?

Thanks a bunch!

[Fluffykins]

It may be the way you are putting her down. I had this same conundrum with my fluffykins. Stayed on me for minimum 15 minutes at a time, licked me all over, even fell asleep with his eyes closed but (only a handful of times) foot flicked when I set him down.

I knew it was the way I was setting him down because as soon as I’d get really near the ground he’d lunge down. It was the wrong way to put him down but I had a really hard time correcting it (I tried all the tips – cover his eyes etc) and whilst they worked most of the time, the odd time he still lunged.

Now he never lunges down. I don’t do anything different. I think he just learnt not to lunge. So now I never get footflicks (except after medicine but that’s another story).

So in my experience and considering everything youve said I’d guess your bunny enjoyes being held. Mine too had the option of getting away before I picked him up (I still do this, i put my hands loosely around him in the picking up position and I say cuddles, and the odd times he doesn’t want to be picked up he just jumps out of my loose hands). It seems it might be the way she’s getting down that she doesn’t like.

Try the tips and persevere (maybe a tiny treat after you set her down) to teach her it’s a good thing.

[Wick & Fable]

IMO rabbits are pretty submissive so while they’ll settle and teeth purr in a scenario, it may not actually mean they 100% like it. It’s like someone forced you to go sky diving, pushed you out of the plane, but while you are falling, someone hands you that video game you really wanted so you’re happy, but when you land, you remember “hold up, I’m still mad at you because you pushed me out of a plane”.

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.

[Fluffykins]

Haha I like that skydiving analogy wick!

Imo you can tell when something is distressing to your rabbit. Either at the very beginning or later on. Ie having that stage of intense heart beats, wide panicked eyes, darting head motions etc. Personally fluffykins never had that, he just tolerated being picked up and walked around with for 1 minute at first then longer and longer (through conditioning).

It’s like the skydiving analogy accept being pushed out. (For my case anyway) by giving him the option at first to hop out of my “picking up” embrace (and I lit stand there for 30 seconds in that pose – because it’s no fun for me either having a wriggling and or kicking rabbit in my arms) so we’re both sure he’s ok to being picked up.

It’s like persuading your friend through reasoning that sky diving is fun (it is)! Rather then forcefully pushing out. They might be terrified at first if they decide to try, but they can for sure learn to love it. Which is what imo can happen with certain rabbits. Positive conditioning.

I’ve never, not once, had to chase fluffykins. It’s hard to mention the whole shebang every time I mention this haha but it’s not a case of bringing him home and just picking them up. It starts off incredibly slow. Like I said I’ve never chased fluffykins to pick him up. It’s always a case of he knows if I pick him up, it’s good news for him. But yes, go incredibly slow, reward with lots of love and treats and learn how to read your rabbit.

Edit; weirdly enough, through his sick week, this last week, he’s not wanted to be picked up at all. Perhaps picked him up for 30 seconds maybe twice in the whole week, normally I pick him up at least 5 times a day for 15 mins at a time. We usually hang out on the sofa. This last week he’s been content with me sitting in the play pen. He would just move (not even fully away, but move his head) when I did the pick up pose on him and that let me know he didn’t want it. This might sound crazy but I feel like I just intuitively knew he didn’t want to be picked up? Rabbit whisperer?? Haha.

Second edit; just sitting here on the floor playing with him, watching him binky and ZOOM around, God that is pure absolute DELIGHT for me. Ahh! Not seeing him play for a whole week, really hurt!

[BEL]

lol that analogy will stick with me! Thanks guys! I will work on how I pick her up and give her treats after to that she associates it with good things! Thanks for the help!

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