What does it mean if a rabbit doesn’t like being groomed as much?

[megan_ann]

Hello. I posted on here a while back about my new bun, Kizuna. He’s been with us a few months now and I’m gotten soooo attached. Seriously. I’ll just get down on the floor and have cuddly wuddly time and NOT do my homework. :p Anyway, I was just kind of curious about one behavior of his. What does it mean when a rabbit loves to groom but isn’t too fond of being groomed? He’s getting much better, but often times when I try to pet him, he just hops away instead. He sometimes lets me pet him now, and I can tell he’s gradually getting more comfortable around me, but I was just curious what this meant beCAUSE… he LOVES grooming me. Like oh my gosh, it’s the most adorable thing in the world. I’ll just lay on the floor and he’ll come up and start licking my face. He usually goes for the forehead but last time he started with my chin and then my nose and then my forehead… for a good few minutes he was at it. He likes biting my hair too to groom at it, though I don’t let him do it much as I don’t want him to have any digestive problems from it.

Anyway, I was just wondering what this meant if he loves grooming me but isn’t so fond on being groomed in return. Sometimes he’s up for it, like one time he’d lick my hand, stop, then I’d pet him a while, then he’d lick my hand again, then I’d pet him, and we kept taking turns like that. It was so cute!

Gosh, I’m attached. Anyway, I was just wondering! :p

Recent pics of my fuzzy wuzzy widdle bun bun!:

[MimzMum]

Lots of bunnies don’t relish human contact. But from your description I think he’s rather fond of you too. How old is he?
And nothing wrong with being attached. Gosh, he is gorgeous! *stars in eyes* Be prepared for other members to discuss bun-napping him.

[megan_ann]

Haha he’s about 6 months old now. He’s at that age where I’m trying to get him through his last bag of alfalfa right now to fully transition him over to timothy hay. We got him around October, I think, at about 3 months old. <3

[MimzMum]

Ah, that means he’ll be ready for neutering soon?
Which will probably bring a slight change in his disposition, if he ever acts ‘possessive’ in any way, this will mellow. (Bunnies usually circle and ‘honk’ at the object of their affection. Sometimes they add leaving territorial poops, spraying urine and nipping as they mature.)
I have to say, I sure wish my lop would ‘groom’ me like that. He’s only done it once that I can remember. It must be so nice to have such an affectionate bunny. The best I get now is digging on my arm and a nose poke to begin the ear and nose rubs…lol.

[Monkeybun]

MM, there is no discussion. Its just gonna happen! lol. *bunnynaps*

[Elrohwen]

It takes some bunnies a long time to enjoy human contact. It definitely seems like he loves you a lot, so I think it’s just a matter of time. I started out by petting my bun when he was eating, because then he would associate getting some pets with getting food. I also try it at different times of day, because he loves being petted at night, but not in the afternoon, for example.

I think if you just keep trying and work to build his trust (and figure out how he wants to be petted) he’ll probably come around eventually. I had my bun for 6 months (and got him neutered in that time) before he liked to be petted and he still doesn’t enjoy it as much as many buns on here.

[Deleted User]

wow. Kizuna has turned from Duckling into Swan! There is another example of how a cutsy little baby bun turns into a stunning beauty. Don’t get me wrong, I love kits too, but it always amazes me how they can look even more gorgeous grown up.

[Author]

Messages