Uhm, Excuse Me, You’re in My Space

[Lain]

Hello guys!

My Odysseus was in my lap, happily so (I think) for pver 2 hours last night while I watched tv after work. I was on the couch, and he had full range of the sofa if he chose. He simply sat on me and dug in the towel or groomed himself, he even took a short nap (which he wad rudely awoken from when someone had the audasity to scream while being eaten on the movie I was watching). 

What struck me as strange was that he would stretch up my front and put his face Right up to mine, and he just stared. my dog colored glasses told me this was a sign of dominance? Is that what this was or was it curiousity or even ‘Hey! I am down here!’ cause he would sit back and groom himself, and when I petter him, he did it again a few times either when i stopped petting him or when his foot was clean lol. Any thoughts as to what he is doing? I havent heard him ‘purr’ yet, nor has he ahown any signs of aggreasion. He is definately a lap rabbit. He will climb in my lap when I am sitting in his play pen with him. Or he will come up, put his paws on my knee then binky away lol.

Also, I appologize for the many typos I am sure that is in this post, I am on my mobile and watching the keys more than the post hah.

[pinknfwuffy]

Your bun sounds pretty awesome! Some rabbits, especially when bonding, will place their noses against one another or sit face-to-face to establish dominance. The one who caves first and decides to groom the other is considered to be submitting. Some rabbits have very obvious hierarchy relationships while others will trade roles from time to time.

This may be happening on a bun-to-human level with your little guy, or he may just be curious. I was wondering the same thing when my rabbit would sit on my chest or up on the back of the couch and stare at me or try to press his nose to mine. He was never aggressive, but persistent. It has turned into a nightly ritual with me petting him and he, in turn, kissing my face. As long as he isn’t showing any aggressive behavior (nipping, scratching) I think it is safe to say this is normal and he is checking you out. Rabbits interact most with their faces (mom, I don’t have hands!) so he might just be looking for pets or wanting to confirm yes, you are still his hooman. Then it’s back to business. :]

[Lain]

 I am growing quite fond of Odysseus, much quicker than I thought I would. He is such a sweet boy, he has not shown any signs of aggression, he has charged my hand when I startled him trying to win him over with a small apple slice. If he would have nipped, it totally would have been my fault, he didn’t though and he seemed to enjoy the slice haha. 

I am glad to know that this is probably nothing aggressive, but again, knowing only dog law and cat law right now, I wasn’t sure. He did hunker down on me, ears back and body low, while I was petting him, he fell asleep like that- so I am not sure if it started as fear or just a comfortable way to lay as I petted him? I was reading this is a fear response, making oneself small and hard to see? I have so much to learn! Hah!

A lot of the times when he’s on my lap and he will dig and shift the towel about (I learned my lesson as he nibbled through a shirt of mine- it was time to toss it anyway haha), until I pet him and when I stop he digs more. I may be just interrupting his play or I might be doing as he asks- digging to get loves. If it’s the latter, I am probably enforcing bad behavior? He hasn’t gotten skin through the clothe- yet! XD

[pinknfwuffy]

I’m glad to hear you’re growing on one another. :]

If he settled down low and fell asleep while you were petting him that is definitely a good thing. It means he was comfortable with you touching him and enjoying the massage. Yes, rabbits will hunker down like that in fear in certain situations, but he certainly wouldn’t let you touch him if that was the case. If it were out of fear you would have seen him breathing quickly or opening his eyes wide. I think you were having a very relaxing moment together.

I can’t say for sure, but it sounds like he loves digging and petting equally. Ha! It can be hard to enjoy time together when they don’t realize their behavior may not be comfortable for us. I would suggest maybe trying to say “No” when he digs on you to see if he’ll stop. Praise him if he does, and when you’re petting him, so he’ll know those behaviors are good. It can be a slow process since rabbits aren’t always as responsive to verbal correction like dogs. I’ve started doing that with my Olaf and he’s now understood the difference in my tone when I am praising him and when I need to stop him from chewing or otherwise being a troublemaker. If need be, maybe offer him a little treat every time he stops digging on your command.

Rabbits can be tricky to interpret but I think you’re on the right track.

[RabbitPam]

Next time he puts his face up to yours, try gently breathing into his nostrils. I read somewhere that they bond with us by inhaling our breath, so lightly blowing out your lips or exhaling out your nose might be nice for him.

On the other hand, he might just be saying “Ahem. Pet me. Now. I will stand in front of your line of vision of the noisy box (tv) until you do.”

[pinknfwuffy]

Good point, RabbitPam! And thank you for sharing that–my bun will press his nose against mine and seemed to prefer when I exhaled. I thought it was so weird but now we’re both kind of into it. #bunlife

[Author]

Messages