You bring your new bunnies home and you’ve placed them in their new home. Then you give them time to settle. Several hours later, you come back and try to interact with them and you realise one thing. They don’t seem interested in you!
That can be considered normal. Even when bonding two rabbits together, a lack of interest in one another is considered a good sign. The problem arises when they actively attack or avoid you at first sight or if after a few weeks, they still haven’t warmed up to you.
Bonding with your bunny is so important because they are, for the most part, silent creatures. Dogs and cats can call for your attention but it is all too easy to forget an animal that isn’t interested in you and cannot meow or bark to catch your attention. Not having a good relationship with your bunnies may mean that you might unintentionally neglect them, particularly if they are hutch bunnies.
So what I’ve done here is give you 5 ways on how you might increase that special bond between you and your pet. You cannot force a person to like you and it’s the same with bunnies BUT you can improve your chances. Make sure you also check out my other post about turning your rabbit into a happy bunny in 5 steps.
1. Take things slow when bonding with your bunny
Serious. You rush into things, you will make mistakes. Rabbits have long memories and they hold grudges. I’m not joking. If I annoy my bunnies at the start of a play time session, they are more likely to give me bunny attitude for the rest of our play time. So the first thing you must know about bonding with your bunny is that you should not rush it. Take it slowly and let your bunny choose the pace. If you do move things along too quick, be ready to take a step back. You may be lucky and develop a good bond within a week but it can take months and you may find that your bunny might never like being picked up etc. no matter how good your bond gets.
2. Get down on their level
To your new bunny friend, at first sight, you look scary. For all he knows, you probably want rabbit stew later, so he will play it safe. In the rabbit world, big moving things are scary. Luckily for you, rabbits may be wary but they are also curious. If you were at bunny level, your threat factor goes down and your rabbit will want to know who and what you are.
When I was bonding with my bunnies, I laid on the floor and kept very still. My bunnies left me alone for a bit but when they realised I was not going to move, they came over and started investigating. Don’t be afraid if your rabbit nudges you, sniffs you or tries to climb on you, that is all part of him trying to understand you. One time I was on all fours cleaning and Summer jumped on my back for a piggy ride. When they are comfortable with your presence and scent, you can sit up. I find my bunnies still prefer it if I am closer to the floor.
3. Don’t pick your bunny up
Unless you absolutely need to, don’t pick the cute bunny up. I know they look like fluffy cute soft toys but when you’re being kicked at, they won’t look so cute anymore. Most of the time, a new bunny is not going to be impressed. You get some rabbits that enjoy being picked up but that’s likely due to the trust they have for their owners. Bunnies generally disliked being picked up because to them it feels like a predator has just picked them up. A scary situation which can force you to take steps back when bonding with your bunny, trust may have to be re-established. Sometimes, you will have to pick up your rabbit, for health checks etc. but try to keep these encounters positive with soft words and treats.
4. Bond with your bunny through food
The way to a bunny’s heart is with food. Rabbits are grazers and eat throughout the day. You give them food, they love you more. Try feeding their pellets on the palm of your hand. That helps build trust. Once your rabbits are more comfortable with you, you can try holding their food by your shoulder whilst sitting on the floor. This means your bunny has to sit on you or use you as support to get to the food. I like to hold some greens or a bit of broccoli. It’s also great fun to make them work harder for their food. You can also teach them their names and to come when called with the use of food. Just bear in mind not to use sugary snacks and not to overfeed your bunny. Here is a list of vegetables you can offer your rabbit.
Another method is to go down to bunny level and hold a piece of hay between your lips. My bunnies believe that if I am about to eat it, it must be nice and almost always snatch that piece of hay off me. It’s a decent method of bonding with your bunny that means you can get quite close to them.
5. Speak softly
Rabbits have excellent hearing. This means no shouting, you will scare your new friend. Instead, talk to them softly. Get them used to your voice so they can associate it with being safe. You can talk to them when they are in their cage or when they are walking about.
There are probably other ways you can bond with your bunny but this is the basic five that you can begin with. As soon as your new bunny has settled in, you can begin bonding with your bunny using any of the suggestions listed here. Please feel free to comment below on any of your methods of bonding with your bunny. Let me know what you think of the suggestions outlined here!
Hi there. Thanks for the article!
When I was laying down in my bunnies little area, he came up to me and started sniffing/ nudging me. He also gave me two little nips; one when I was petting him and one when he was investigating my shirt. I don’t think he meant to hurt me or anything…. but if you could just tell me if this is normal or not, I would appreciate it. 🙂 Thanks! 🙂
Occasionally a rabbit might nip very lightly as a way of understanding his world. I’ve been nipped by my rabbits during the first few months of knowing them. It’s only a problem if the bite is painful and occurs consistently such as every time you try to touch him. My rabbits haven’t nipped me in almost a year now and the last time I was bit was because my hands recently touched strawberry. You might find that sometimes your rabbit will ‘dig/scrabble’ at some of the clothes you wear. That is also normal but I’m not too sure about the reason for that, It’s good that your rabbit is curious about you and approaching you! Keep it up and soon he will hopping onto your lap for food!
Hi I have had my rabbits for about 3months but they still seem afraid of me what should I do
Hi Grace,
Are they outdoor or indoor rabbits? If they are outdoor, you will need to spend more time playing with them, at least once everyday. Rabits are prey animals so they are quite shy. It takes time for them to get used to your presence.
Also you can try hand feeding them treats. At first they probably won’t come to you. Now my rabbits come everytime when I am holding their food.
Don’t do something that would scare them e.g picking them up. Yes they are cute but they hate being picked up.
Hi! Sorry I wanted to ask is two adult female mates harder to bind with just asking there was one that automatically loved me some how but the other influenced him to stop sorry for making you read this I just want a few pointers thank you!
Not necessarily, female rabbits can sometimes get in very well but they can be just as fierce as males and can fight just as hard! The best way is a neutered male and neutered female. Also, where you have more than one rabbit, you will find that the rabbits will naturally bond with each other (if they like each other) rather than bond with you! Hope this helps
Is a bunny right for me?
I have a small bichon frise, who is very quiet but curious, and who barks very loudly when the doorbell rings. I wake up at five o clock in the morning to go to school and return at two thirty in the afternoon. I take one week vacations about twice a year. I have the chance to adopt a bunny, but I want to make sure that this is the right option for me and that the bunny would feel safe and happy. I keep a male or female velveteen rabbit in a cage in my room, taking him out as often as possible to let him roam around, but I wouldn’t be able to give him free range. My parents’ main concerns are (1) odor and (2) my dog. Considering all information listed above, is this the right choice for me?
Rabbit bonding issues
Hi there,
My rabbit ribbons absolutely hates me. She doesnt like me coming near her at all. I think this is due to the fact that I picked her up A LOT during her first few weeks of staying with me because I had no idea that they actually hated it. I would really like to develop a good bond with her. Please help me!
Hi there Callie,
Rabbits are more active at dawn and dusk so I see no problem with your timetable. As long as your cage is of a comfortable size for your rabbit (ideally allows 3 hops across and allows the rabbit to stand up) then it’s ok to keep your rabbit in a cage as opposed to free range as long as you can give the rabbit adequate time out for exercise.
I know that it is possible to have an indoor rabbit and dog in the same household. I also know that some people are able to train their dogs to leave the bunny alone. I don’t see a problem in adopting a bunny even if you already have a dog however, I would take steps to train a dog not to attack a rabbit (bear in mind that some breeds are harder to train as they may be bred to catch rabbits e.g. jack russels). Bichon frise are known as companion dogs and are known to be friendly towards other animals so you may have an easier job. Having said that, I would never leave a rabbit and a dog unsupervised together.
As for odours, I have indoor rabbits and there is a smell to their litter tray. They themselves do not smell. If you empty the tray daily or every other day, the smell should not be too much of a problem. If you do find the smell an issue, experiment with litter types. Be aware that un-neutered boys may spray urine!
Hope this helps, and let me know if you have any more questions!
Hi Laura,
Sorry to hear you are having difficulties bonding with Ribbons! It takes time to develop a good bond with a rabbit. If you think picking her up was the cause of it all, then it would be best to refrain from any handling unless necessary. Start slow by offering her her favourite treats to entice her to come near you. another good thing to try is to lay down on the floor (grab a book, this can take a while!) and keep quite still. Ignore her and read your book. After a length of time (may take some sessions), she may approach you as she gets used to your presence. When you feel she is more tolerant of your presence, you can slowly try to touch her but do not force it and avoid sudden movements. Placing bits of food near you also helps. It’s not impossible even though it may seem that way, bunny bonding can take a long time but when you get there, it is so rewarding!
Keep in touch and let me know how it goes
I’ve had my bunnies for about 5 months now and they only think of me as the food god:( I think that’s because I handfeed them way too much, they only think of me as a food source. They follow me alot, but only because they think humans=food:( Whenever I try to pet them, they will hop one step away from me. How do I make them like pets more and not think I’m not only a food source, but a friend?
It is not a bad thing for your rabbits to see you as a source of food, as with all rabbit bonding, I usually suggest using food and hand feeding as a way to win them over. You can use food as a way to make your rabbits more tolerant of being touched by gently stroking them as they eat out of the palm of your hand. Rabbits are quick learners, if they move away, then remove your hand. Very soon, they will learn that being stroked = food and they will look forward to that.
Also, have you tried sitting still and letting them come to you with the absence of food?
There are also several places that rabbits tend to enjoy being stroked. I find that stroking their cheeks can be comforting for them (they often wiggle their whiskers and close their eyes) and that gently massaging behind the ears and neck can feel good too.
I hope this helps, let me know how the bonding is going!
I think my rabbit has bonded with me I came here to check all was well.. She was a rabbit that needed rehousing apparently she hates other Rabbits.the shop where. I got said she was constantly. Attacking and injuring other bunnies. I got her home left her to get used to her surroundings. Let her out She came to me for cuddles and she So far not stopped she is a house rabbit she runs all over, uses her toilet tray, dives on my lap or chest snuggles down for lots if scratches and fussed.She kisses me a lot to. She’s a beautiful Curious Bunny. I love her to bits. I can’t believe. She was. So horrid to the other Rabbits… I wanted To be sure she was happy we spend lots of time together so I don’t think she’s missing out on bunny pals
Thanks,____nmee, I will try that!:)
Hi Laurain, it sounds like you and your bunny friend get on very well! I think that as long as you can give her all the attention she wants, and she has a good quality of life, it is not always necessary to have a second bunny. its lovely to hear how well the two of you have bonded!
Hi, I have a Jersey Wooly, I have her for about 5 months now I tried bonding with her but every time I get near her she runs away and grunts at me when I tried petting her. Sometimes she even bites me. What should I do?
Hi Christine,
Sorry to hear you are having trouble with your bunny. I think you might benefit from a positive reinforcement program for your bunny. So the idea is reward your rabbit for good behaviour, for instance, if your rabbit tolerates you being near her, offer her her favourite treats. Do not offer her any treats for undesirable behaviours such as biting and lunging. Start this in a small room and sit quietly in one corner, ignore your bunny and only treat her when she approaches you. She will soon learn to associate you with positive feelings. Let her come to you on her terms. It may take few days before you have any results but bonding will always be a slow process. Keep at it and you should see a change in her behaviour.
Hello I have a 4-5 month old rabbit. I have had him for about 2 weeks now. I recently got him since my other rabbit passed away I do miss my other rabbit dearly. We had a great bond with each other. I am trying to start a bond with my new one. When I got him he was used to being around other rabbits in a hutch. I really want a good bond with him. So he can trust me. And lick my forehead how my other rabbit used to. i notice he’s getting territorial or protective of his food. When I try to reach in his cage to give him new food and water he jumps out at me. I don’t if he’s going bite me but I can tell he doesn’t want me anywhere near it. So I usually let him out of his cage first then get his food and water. How can I start a very good bond relationship with my rabbit cuz I want him to be happy.
Hi Cristina, have you tried any of the tips mentioned above? It might be a good idea to get him neutered as well as it can help him calm down and might reduce territorial behaviours. Try placing food near you when he is out to encourage him to come to you for food. Try not to reinforce lunging behaviours by not offering food if he is behaving territorially. With all bonding, time and patience is key. I would highly recommend trying the ideas mentioned in this post. As you have only had him for 2 weeks, it is normal that he is still wary of you. Just bear in mind that all rabbits are different and have their own behaviours so just because he does not behave in the same way as your previous bunny, who you had a special bond with, does not necessarily mean he does not like you as much. It may just be he has a different personality and a different way of expressing himself! Let me know how it goes and best of luck!
Hello, I rescued a large 2 year old Mini Lop (Chewbunca) 2 months ago – she is blind in one eye and is nippy/grunty if you approach or pet her on her blind side, which I can understand. She was friendly with me and my old Dutch (Mr. Bun Bun), but he passed away about a month ago. I adopted two more bunnies and Chewbunca HATES them, and now hates me!!! All the rabbits are spayed and neutered, but anytime another rabbit approaches Chewbunca’s crate she attacks the bars. The other two buns seem to get along OK with each other; but Chewbunca will get the other Mini Lop (CinnaBun) in a tizzy and she will go and attack the boy bun (very skiddish mini lop mix who has scars all over his ears form other buns attacking him in his prior home) if he is out; It is very frustrating. It seems like all the bonding/positive reinforcement I have done keeps taking steps backwards. CinnaBun refuses to go back to her crate when I let her out, and if I try to go near her she grunts and stomps at me. I have had rabbits for 10 years and I have had good bonds with all of them, but these new bunnies are a hand full!!!
Any advice is appreciated.
Good evening,
I’ve researched a few websites and I’ve found they’re all very contradictory to each other on how I should build trust with them..
I’ve had my bunnies 3 days now, (a buck and a doe 12 weeks old). I have an appointment Thursday at the vets to have them both nueted.
I really dont know where to start on how to be with them to build the trust, I’m sitting outside their cage and talking to them as often as I can. Getting down to their level, offering food from my hands. Letting them out to play of an evening in the garden for about an hour.
They’re outside bunnies and we are building a run attached to their cage at the weekend, however in the mean time I’m letting them out in the garden. This means chasing them picking them up get them back in, I just don’t know any other way how I should go about letting them out the hutch getting them back in.
Also, some websites say to handle as much as can, others say don’t as this will diminish the trust you may have built!? I really don’t know what’s best, when I had the doe on my lap she was shaking (I don’t know if this is a bad sign) I can’t find this listed on the bunny behaviour. She also nipped me yesterday when I had her on my lap. It never hurt (luckily). I dont know how I’m supposed to deal with her nipping, my fiance said that its because she’s scared?
Could you please advise me on what’s best for me to do and how I should be with them as I just don’t want them to be scared of me.
Thank you. Tanya
P.s. sorry for such a long message.
Hi Tanya,
There is a lot of info out there on the web, no one has the perfect solution because rabbits are so different, what I’ve listed here may not always work in individual cases. As it is, you have two rabbits and they are likely to develop a stronger bond with each other than with you, as I had found with mine. Some rabbits will never get used to being picked up so it may be worth finding different ways to tempt them back into their cage. For mine, they are very food orientated so rather than chase them around the garden to get them back in their pen, I rattle the food tin and they both come running 9 times out of 10. My routine is to let them out after work so I feed them when they go back in their pen which gives them something to look forward to. This gives you an alternative to picking up with you find your bunnies really dislike it.
It is a slow process bonding with rabbits. It is good for them to see you as much as possible while they are this young so they get used to your presence but whether to handle them as much will depend on what their behaviours are like. If they are terribly frightened on your lap, maybe start small and just get them relaxed with you sitting near them. Offer food from your hand, make yourself smaller by being on their level so you look less imposing and generally spending as much time with them. Initially, I spend most of my time at home in the same room doing my own thing. This may be a bit mroe difficult if your bunnies are outdoors but the more familiar they are to you, the easier it will be for you to develop a great bond with them.
As for shaking on your lap, I’m not 100% sure as I haven’t seen a bunny shake all over from fear before. I know cats do shake a lot when frightened. Rabbits will occasionally vibrate their whiskers and grind their teeth rapidly when comfortable so just have a look next time and see if its teeth grinding or whole body shaking. Slow teeth grinding can be a sign of pain though. Another thing to try is to stroke them along their whiskers and cheeks slowly. This can make them feel comfortable and you will see when they vibrate their whiskers and close their eyes.
Good luck and let me know how it goes or if you have further questions.
Hi Jeanine,
What a lovely family you have! I love their names!
It can be difficult to try bonding a rabbit with another one after their partner has died. I think its made more difficult in this situation because you have added two new bunnies which may have bonded well together and left Chewbunca feeling a bit left out. Sometimes, three is a crowd! It’s not impossible though. I have two possible options that I can think of. The easiest thing to do is to pop down to a local rabbit rescue with Chewbunca and try her out with other neutered males on neutral ground to see if she takes a liking to any. Rabbit rescues are generally quite helpful, they will help you bond her with some other bunny.
Alternatively, you can try to persevere. There is no guarantee it will work but you can always try it in a controlled neutral environment. Choose a room that no rabbits have entered or see if a friend can lend you their living room for an afternoon. Chewbunca may be feeling territorial at home which is why she is attacking the other two. In a place where none of the rabbits have been before, she will not feel the need to defend her territory and may get along well with the others. Rabbits may also bond when they are experiencing a shared emotion like fear. It’s not unheard of for people to place unbonded rabbits together above a washing machine or go for a car journey. The theory is, the fear they feel together can bring them together. Its not 100% but worth a go. Just becareful that they do not all fight in an enclosed space – so if you try a car journey, get someone else to drive so you can sit beside them, If a fight breaks out, use slippers or some other object, never use hands! Rabbit bites are painful.
Good luck, and let me know how it goes! Enmee
Hello!
I have a rabbit, (I don’t know what kind it is) but although it is painful to admit it, I got him and his brother at an early age, and I had no idea how to bond with a rabbit at my age then, nor did I have the patience. And because of my neglect, one of my rabbits died, but the other one is still living.
Ever since then, I really regret my decisions and how I treated my rabbits and now I really want to gain his trust and I really want to bond with my rabbit, but the thing is, he basically lives in my backyard, he poops everywhere on the lawn and because of my neglect and impatient behavior before, he probably hates me by now.
I’ve been trying to get him to trust me this past week, and I know it’s going to take a while, but I was wondering if you had any tips?
Should I bring him into the house? Should I get him to trust me before I get him neutered?
I really want to create a new home for him but I don’t know… Would he still hate me for all the horrible things I’ve done?
Hey, as I’m reading this I have decided to do the following. Open up the cage and leave the door open, and put towels down. Even though she is potty trained I just want her to be comfortable. I have sat here for about an hour or so and decided to leave the room to get a few baby carrots. (2-3) I came back and she is still in her cage. So what I did was take one of the carrots and put it in my hand and laid my hand next to her. She ate the carrots and then ran back into her hut. I’m not sure if she likes me and I need help, I want her to trust me.
hi i have 2 new baby rabbits. the problem i have is they are fluffy and need to be brushed and de-knotted, which is a worry as this means they have to be picked up every day, which they are not always happy with. i’m worried they will end up being very wary of me. Also they are strong now i worry how i will handle them when fully grown ? i will try some of the tips so i’m not just the mean person who brushes them all the time.
Hey, I pick my rabbits up loads, they don’t seem to mind. Just carrying scares them…
Hi I have had my 2 female rabbits for 3 months now and one is 5 months old and the other one 6 months. The oldest one nibbles has bonded with me and he lets me stroke him and he is not afraid of me. However, the youngest one, izzy never comes to investigate me and takes the risk of taking food from my hand although I have picked her up a lot because I didn’t realise till now that they didn’t like it. What should I do to let her know I am safe?!
I’ve got two buns, Yuki and Toffee. They’re both lops. One lives in a hutch, one in the house. The way I got Yuki to trust me is –
First, I did pick her up. She didn’t like it too much. But as I kept doing it, she stopped scrabbling once we got to the ground.
NEVER PICK AN INDOOR RABBIT UP OUT OF HER/HIS CAGE! The ONLY time your hands should go in there is to clean, feed, and water. Never touch a rabbit in its cage. This should be its “safe zone,” and with Yuki, it’s where she flees when she doesn’t want to be touched. Respect her space. It’s kind of like your bedroom; do you really want mom, or friends, to go in there when you’re in there?
This may just be MY rabbit, I know you may think that. But, it worked with a previous rabbit too. Give it a try!
Hi there! I had a question I hope can be answered here. I just recently maybe a little under 3 weeks ago got a holland Lop who is now almost 12 weeks old. Me and him have bonded pretty well so far, he let’s me pet and brush him and hops up into my lap (mostly for treats), and even flops down in front of me for pets occasionally. Now to my question. I will be going away in about 2 weeks for a week and a half trip. There will be people here to take care of him, but my concern is that me being away for that long so early in his being here will effect the bonding. Is this true, or should things be alright? Thank you!
Hi Amanda,
It should be fine, as long as you spend more time with him when you get back. We did something similiar when we first got our bunnies and it turned out alright.
Hi, Ive had my dwarf bunny for 2 months now and on her 3rd month, she is becoming more “energetic”, she is twitching her head and bouncing up and down her cage. i give her some play time about an hour or so but im not sure if thats enough. is there something wrong with my bunny? please do answer me back. Thank u!
Hi, I am thinking of buying a new bunny this August but I am going to be out of town with some else taking care of him for most of that month. Should I wait to get him or is this an ok situation.
I am happy that I found this site. I had a couple of questions, I got my bunny Luke three weeks ago and the person I received him from said he is litter box trained, however, I was unsure about it so I got him a cage anyway. When he is in his enclosed in his cage he does not use the litter box however, when I leave the cage open giving him full access to the house he uses the litter box I was just wondering why he might be doing this? Is it because he hates being locked up in his cage or is it a territorial thing. The second question that I had was that he also nips at me as I was reading about you said it was natural as long as it is not aggressive, an Luke is not aggressive about it but he does nip at me when I am sitting, laying or sitting at a chair he always nips at my cloths but not me, but of course I don’t give him a chance I just push him gently back and then he runs away then comes back again. Is this due to male hormones, him playing and what can I do to get him to stop? I have been waiting to ask these questions for awhile thanks so much for taking the time to read and consider my questions
I got some bunny issues, if you can help that would be great. I have two rabbits and one is trying to hump the other viciously which is very embarrassing considering they are both female. Is it normal?
Hi Abigail, this is a domination issue between your two rabbits. As long as they are not fighting I would say just let them get on with it. It is just the way rabbits express natural behaviour. And yes female rabbits do hump too!
Hi, i have tried all these methods to bond with my bunnies(two) and I barely pick them up except when nessaery but they still avoid me. I have had them for 3 months now and the still wont eat out of me or even jump on my lap. Im sure there were no loud noises or sudden movements i just dont know how to bond them with me. Help
I don’t know what to do with my rabbit she hates me, I pick her up to put her in her cage but she runs away and I can’t put her back without chasing her, help!
Hi my son wanted a rabbit about 2 months ago so we got him two cos we didn’t want to separat them my son is only 4 so I knew it would be my responsibility the one rabbit got very ill so I toke it to the vet and it stayed there for 3 days and died of a gut problem I don’t no what I did wrong I cleaned there cage even day fed them pellets and hay and let them have a free run of the garden now wobbles has gone I’m worried smudge will be lonely… so we had a holiday booked and smudge went to a pet sitter and seems fine I bring her in side in the evening and she has free run of the house she lies down spread out next to me on the sofa I just want to mk sure she is not depressed some times she seem I bit not sure of me but other times she hides her head ?
Hi everyone! I have had my two bunnies now for two months, 1 male and 1 female. The male has been neutered as I thought I had two females as that’s what I asked for I am unable to get the female fixed at the moment as it is to expensive in Bermuda where I am living. They are 26 weeks old ever since I have had diggles fixed he’s not been as active and curious as he was and just chills out most the time when I’m home in the evenings also he doesn’t let me pet him anymore 🙁 he’s still eating and drinking though. There has also been some humping between them recently daisy would be doing it to his head at first he was just letting her until I would split them up but now he’s backing down and not fighting back but just letting her know she can’t do that and then they will run around chasing each other for abit. Would this be because I haven’t manged to get the female fixed yet? Daisy when I got her was the shy timid one but now the tables have turned and it’s diggles I can pet daisy for ages she loves it but can’t pick her up or him which I have realised that I will proberly never be able to cuddle them like I thought you could, I’ve done a lot of research and things about house rabbits and how to look after them but came across this and thought to message other bunny lover to get advice and tips you have and just to see if I am being the best bunny mum I can be!
HI,
I HAVE A 13 WEEK OLD LOP EARED HOUSE RABBIT AND HE IS NOT INTERESTED IN USING HIS LITTER TRAY HE WEE’S AND POO’S WHERE EVER HE GOES COULD YOU GIVE ME SOME SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO USE HIS LITTER TRAY.
MANY THANKS
SARAH
What if your rabbit is pregnant and you want it to trust you so you can pick the babies will still let you pick there babies up
Hi Sarah,
Check out this post about litter training: https://animalwhoop.com/how-to-litter-train-a-rabbit/
Thanks,
Hi
I just bought a Silver Fox, her name is Tauriel, and she’s very rare, having roughly only 100 of her breed in the United States because they are bred for eating. I’ve fed her by hand a few times and each time she has rewarded me with a few licks but never nips. Unless I am feeding her though, she never lets me touch her, even when I get down to her level. I tried your theory of ignoring her and letting her come to me but she still didn’t until I decided to put food in my hands. Im afraid she knows that her breed is more for eating than for being kept as a pet but I have no intentions of keeping her as anything else other than my baby girl. How do I let her know that I am here as her mother and friend and not her predator?
Hi,
Yesterday I bought a two month old albino rabbit who’s very soft. He seems to not move much and is a bit shy. He tends to stay in one place and he lets me stoke him but he does hop away most if the time. He lives in my room and he seems to be most active at night. I think he’s afraid of me and I want him to love me as his mother. Is it possible it’s just because he’s only been in my room and with me for one day? Will he settle in and get used to me and his surroundings? Please let me know,
Thank you x
Hi There,
I have a 10 week old female floppy eared Bunny called Flo.
I have read your article and trying all these things. She does come near me and sniff me and climb on me. She doesn’t like eating from my hand or even eating the food I put in front of me. She doesn’t let me stroke her or even let me put my hand anywhere near her. She’s an indoor Rabbit and has the hole dinning room to run around in. She has started eating her newspaper and wood chipping, is this normal or should I be worried?
Would love your advise and help.
Thank you
Hello!
I am a new rabbit owner. I just got two bunnies a girl and a boy.
There names are Rick and Michonne. Well I have read and looked online about bonding with my little Rick. I have been very patient with the little fella.
I have watched owning bunny videos, read books and looked at blogs and websites. I can’t for the life of me get my boy to stop biting me. I read that to just squeal out loudly. His nips and bites usually don’t hurt but it surprises me. Today he actually drew blood. I really don’t know what I am doing wrong.
I have owned him for a month. He comes to me, jumps on my lap, and licks me but i just don’t know how to get the biting to stop.
My bunny and I had started to bond a little bit, but then I got her spayed. I had to give her medicine, and now she is terrified of me. I’m really struggling to regain her trust and was wondering if you had any advice.
Boycott holland lops. My allegedly hand-raised holland lops never ever bonded with me despite trying everything I could find in ‘how to bond with your rabbit’ articles.
Finally someone gave me a rabbit they no longer wanted and I had a real pet rabbit that actually showed affection such as head bumps and that would relax and enjoy having his head stroked. I’ve never been able to get any of that out of my two holland lops.
Sadly, my beloved rabbit died of cancer. Now I am stuck with just these sociopath holland lops.
There are so many better kinds of rabbit out there. Please boycott this breed to lower your chance of ending up with rabbits that give less companionship than a pet frog. This breed seems to have a huge amount of trouble NOT seeing humans as vicious predators. The ability to see humans as a member of their own species is crucial to domesticated pets.
Hiii!!! I love your website! I’m planning on getting a rabbit, and I got your book!! (Rabbit and Me)