Sampras: the Socially Anxious Rabbit

[Dface]

So, this might come across as a stupid question, but I would really like some opinions on it!
Has anyone had success in making their rabbits less shy around new(ish) people?

I understand that rabbits are shy, and instinctively skittish, but, Sampras has really gotten bad when non-family members are about.

~I do think it’s due to the fact that most new people Sampras meets are vets and they normally stab him with something so his nerveyness is understandable~

It’s not that I expect him to run up and great guests at the door, but at the moment I try not have people over because he gets so upset:   I had friends over during the holidays to my family home(who are frequent guests and have known Sampras since he was relativley young), and despite them being 2 rooms away, he sat hiding in his box the entire time they were around, only coming out to lie on my feet when I went to check on him and acting crazy needy.

I’ve had friends over to my college house and Sampras has felt compelled to forgo litter training and pee all around him to create what I can only assume is a protective smell barrier, and then hide in his shelter and watch them creepily.

To be honest, I dont mind these behaviours too much (despite them being really bizarre)

I just dont like the idea of him being terrified of “stranger danger” when it’s a mild mannered companion.

I’ve tried getting people to sit on the floor and wait to see if he’ll come out if I leave his enclosure open, but he normally stares at them unhappily until the relent (there is only so much sitting on the floor guests will tolerate fyi)

I thought about just issuing everyone who comes into the house with a bag of his favourite treats and seeing if that makes a difference-though often times he straight up refuses food from new people
 

[Tgbarber]

I’m not sure as I’ve only had 1 bun. He’s pretty good with people although he won’t run up to them. He doesn’t run from them though. He likes an audience and will put on a show of binkies and bunny 500’s for visitors. Several people have picked him up before i could object. If they had asked i would’ve said no as he doesn’t like being picked up. But he didn’t struggle and they held him correctly amazingly and put him down fairly quickly.

So maybe it’s a personality thing? My guy has always been pretty easy going and the breeder said his daddy was pretty laid back. The vet told me he is a cuddler when he was in being neutered. So i guess it’s nothing I’ve done!

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