Timid, Unaffectionate Bunny

[Niemalna]

Hello all. I am brand new to this site, but came here seeking some help.

I have two bunnies. The first, but younger, is my broken tort Holland Lop named Sam. I got her a few Christmases ago, and she is a sweet, affectionate bunny, although confident and strong-willed. My second is a grey Polish named Tooky. She was introduced when Sam was about 10 months old, but she was already a few years old. She is a very timid rabbit, although for good reason.

See, Tooky was abused by her previous owners. They abandoned her near a construction site, and my father got her and brought her home to me. I understand why she is afraid of people. She will avoid them at all costs, jump and run away if anyone approaches, etc. They have a personal, bunny proof room, so I have to open the door to come feed them. We’ve made it glass so she can see me ahead of time and this has helped her relax a lot. However, she will always dart and only return after I’ve placed the food and backed away, meanwhile Sam is devouring as much as she can. haha When I let them out of the room, she will not come out for a long while. Sam bounds away, running and binkying and crawling all over me. Tooky will just watch for a while, and slowly sneak out. If I lay down, she’ll approach, but never get close enough to touch or sniff me. If I move or if she gets bored, she will go off and explore. If I get too close, she will hide under a couch. She cannot be petted, even the little finger brushes on her forehead that Sam seems to adore. I can get her to eat food or treats out of my hand and stay relatively close to me, but she will do neither for anyone else.

 I don’t mind that she is scared, and I know it does not overall affect her health. She doesn’t panic to the point of increasing her heart rate. She eats and drinks and goes to the bathroom fine. She binkies, though much less often than Sam. She and Sam are a bonded pair and love each other very much, they cuddle and clean each other’s ears/fur, sleep together, share toys.

 I am just curious if I should accept how Tooky behaves, or if I should try to bridge the gap between us. I know she has a good relationship with Sam, and I know she is not terrified of me as she was when we originally got her. I just don’t know how to work on making her more calm and perhaps approachable. I hope one day to be able to pet her (probably never gonna hope of holding her, and that’s okay. lol) but I don’t know if I will ever be able to. How would you go about showing you aren’t a threat? I have trained her to use the litterbox, and it was rather quickly, so I know she is a very smart bunny. I just want her to know I love her and would never hurt her.

[Deleted User]

Sorry that I can’t offer you any advice, but I would love to hear any suggestions made to you. My bunny doesn’t like to be picked up, and all interaction is on his terms. Hopefully any suggestions made to you, maybe I can get some advice too. Good luck Niemalna.

[Sarita]

I think it is better to accept her how she is.

It will be important to keep a routine though so she knows what to expect.

Allowing her to learn to trust you by accepting her how she is and keeping that routine will help make her feel more secure and less scared but it will take patience. She is in good hands and will soon realize this :~)

[rayray]

I’ve fostered animals that were previously abused before (cats mostly) and it does take a lot more time. I would think even more so with a rabbit since they are already cautious animals to begin with. Let the contact me on her terms. Even just sitting in the room with her playing with your other rabbit will help. She will start to see you are no threat to her buddy and will hopefully come around. There’s really no guarantee she will be as affectionate as you would like, but know that the loving home and companionship you have provided with the other rabbit as well definitely makes her a happy bunny. Good on you for helping her!!

[MegaPixel]

maybe if you try to associate yourself with food it will become easier to approach her.
also, try to be at her level when approaching her. with my first bun, she was a bit timid and i was laying on the floor with some pellets in my hand or later on my chest and i eventually got closer this way. that is a way that worked with my Bun but i can’t tell if it works with yours. also avoid quick movements and loud noise when trying to get close to her.
hope that helps! good luck

[Elrohwen]

It can take a really really long time to earn a rabbit’s trust. She will likely always be skittish, but over time she will relax a bit and maybe seek you out. I would just accept her for how she is right now. Be calm and quiet around her, don’t try to grab for her or pet her, and just offer treats.

[bunnluff]

This sounds like you are describing my dwarf! Because I bought her at a pet store, I have no idea who handled her before I did or if something happened when she was getting spayed to make her untrustworthy of me. I’ve always wondered just what you are wondering. I’ve had her quite a few years now and she is still timid as ever. Will only come to me to get a treat, then run away. Freaks out if I try and pick her up, but strangely enjoys being held on my chest. Will come crawl all over my if I’m laying or sitting down but the second I move a muscle, she darts away. I think these must just be dwarfisms because I’ve heard plenty of people have had nearly the same experiences with their dwarfs.

[buddyboy]

I have a Netherland dwarf, and when I first brought him home he was very scared of quick motions and loud noises. I just left him alone, and let him hop around and investigate everything. He’s come around so much after close to 5 months, nothing scares him except noises he hears that didn’t come from me, like when I have my window open. He just kinda freezes and looks at me, I just say… Its OK baby, no get BUDDIE. He knows that line, so he lays back down. All rabbits are going to be scared of noises and motions their not familiar with. Mine slowly came around after leaving my window open all the time. I live by a freeway, and a gas station, so there’s always noises comming from my window, but now he hops up In the window ceil via chair, then desk and looks out the window alot. I am single, and when I’m home, I give BUDDIE my full attention and talk and pet him constantly. This has really changed the comfort zone with him.

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