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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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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?
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!
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 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
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!
Thanks,____nmee, I will try that!:)
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!