Please help me bond with my teenage bun

[BessiesMom]

Hi all! I am a new rabbit owner of a wonderful black lop named Bessie, who is estimated to be around 6-7 months old.  I’ve had Bessie for almost a month now, and tried to move slowly with bonding.  She came from a home where she was socialized a lot, and there were other animals around.

When I first got Bessie she was a bit skittish, but that went away after a few days.  She was very curious about everything (including me). It didn’t take her long to start running around like crazy and doing her binkies.  We also were starting to bond! She never enjoyed being picked up, and the longer I’ve owned her the worse she has gotten about it. So I do my best to avoid trying to pick her up. She does not mind being petted–however I usually come up to pet her and not vice versa.

After about a week and a half of ownership I took her to get spayed.  She handled the surgery well, but unfortunately I had to do daily handling in order to check her incision site.  She also began to hate her carrier, which she had happily gone into without prompting before.  

I know that Bessie is in her teenager stage, but I’m worried that she is holding a grudge against me (and the carrier) for taking her to be spayed.  I’ve tried my best to be extra attentive–but she usually just gives me the cold shoulder.  She has pretty much lost all interest in me and really seems to hate me (she will tolerate a head scratch for a bit or some pets, but as before she doesn’t initiate them).  

I know that this is all age related (and potentially post-spay grudge related), and that only time and what I do to bond will help the situation. I just want her to be my buddy again…

My question for you all is, what tips do you have to offer for bonding during the teenager stages? She really doesn’t have any other behavioral issues (not much of a chewer, because I give her plenty to chew on). She has a BIG personality and it’s great to see.  She is one of those rabbits who will move anything out of the way that she deems in her way…

I would greatly appreciate any tips or thoughts on things that I can do to better our relationship, since I know that she is just going through a grumpy stage right now.

Thanks! 

[buddyboy]

Hi Bessie mom, my bunnies estimated to be about two by the pet shop I got him from, so I don’t know if he’s still a teenager. But when I first got him, it was like I wasn’t there, he just hopped around checking things out, and would shy away from me when I approached him, I gave him quick pets, then walked away, letting him get used to touching him, after your bunnies little operation, Yea he might have lost a bit of trust with you, so it’s just a matter of starting the bonding all over, let her do what she wants, and just approach her for short pets, and for giving her snacks, and I talk to my bunnie all the time, I think that helps, I always say… What’s BUDDIE doing? And HI BUDDIE, and BUDDIE want a snack, I’m single, so I have lots conversation BUDDIE. Rabbits need alot of attention if you want them happy, and to feel more confortible around you. When your home, and you ignore them, they really can feel left out. Even if your not petting you bunnie, talk to her alot and let her know that she’s part of something. 

[Sindri]

I would recommend to sit with her on the floor and just be with her. I got my second bunny back in August and she finally is interested in me more than playing and exploring. Also I had to handle her a lot because she had an eye infection and needed meds in her eye twice a day. I believe the less you try to hold her she will come around. both rabbits I have seemed to dislike me the more I tried to hold them. I just sit on the floor with them and try to interact with them with toys or just being there is good. I am sure it will get better with time.

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