Will my bunnies forgive me?

[AKM]

I have had my two buns for about a year. They are friends through their x-pens so I started bonding this past week. We did about 4 short sessions in the laundry basket. They did great, but are not happy with me that I have picked them up multiple times to do this. I have always avoided handling them like that. Now they are running from me or hiding thinking I am going to pick them up. My one is even thumping at me. I feel so guilty and upset that they now don’t trust me. I am planning on taking time off to re-gain their trust, but I miss my babies running up to me. Will they ever get over this? I’m hoping next time I try bonding to somehow lead them into another room without picking them up. Just hope they won’t be upset with me for long.

[SuperBunnyto]

I’m sorry to hear your buns are angry with you, I know it’s never fun when our bunnies are angry with us. When I had to give my buns medicine, they would eye me suspiciously and sometimes run away and I thought they would never get over it. The good news is they did get over it, and chances are yours will, too. It helped to keep a clear routine so that they knew what was happening when.

In terms of bonding, did you handle them in a different way than you usually do? Maybe the bonding sessions were too long? Too many on the same day? Generally with bonding, you want to start slowly, even if the buns know each other. Maybe start them at the same time for a while so that your buns know what to expect, and do really small sessions to begin with. Give them time and be patient. There’s a lot of good info on the bonding section of this forum. Check here: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/163352/Default.aspx . There’s really good info about bonding.

[AKM]

We only did about 4 sessions within a week about 10 minutes tops. They just snuggled in the laundry basket while I petted them. So this was new and me picking them up was new as well! I will most likely wait until I feel they are back to normal to start again and won’t do it as often. I will also try to lure them into their cage or the other room. Thank you for the hope they may get over their grudge. I feel bad that I have scared them, but hopeful they will get back to our usual routine.

[SuperBunnyto]

You know, it might also be the space you’re using. Laundry baskets are small, and one thing I was advised to do during my bunnies’ bonding was to give them space to retreat if they got overwhelmed. Maybe they’re not upset about the petting as much as they are responding to the space? Maybe they’re feeling cornered? Just an idea…

[Luna]

I was thinking the same thing as SuperBunnyto regarding them needing a more open area for bonding sessions. Is the bathroom an option? Don’t worry, they will absolutely forgive you! We have all felt a little hurt whenever we get a thump, foot flick, glare across the room, or the bunny butt (silent treatment). It’s hard not to take it personally. Just remember that a lot of that is instinct telling them “uh oh we might be picked up,” and it’s not that they love you any less .

[AKM]

The first bonding time I did try a small puppy pen area in a neutral room. Which went ok. Pumpkin was stressed and more reactive. Since I have done the small space in the laundry basket I will try another more open area again. I have read a bath rub works well. It’s almost the less stressful the better though for them. Probably the fact i had to pick them up and do something new put them over the edge with me.

[Sirius&Luna]

Can you lure them into their vet carriers, and use that to transport them to the bonding area?

It will also have a negative effect on bonding if they come in stressed out from being carried, so it would be good to find a different method. I picked up my bunnies to carry them to bonding, and while they don’t especially like it, they also weren’t super angry.

[Author]

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