Don't Give Up Hope

[Mindy10]

So i wanted to post to let people out there that are new to rabbits and are trying to get their new bunny to like them. I am one of those people. I am a first time bunny owner and I have to admit at the beginning I was a little disappointed. Blossom would not let me pat her unless she was hiding in a basket or under a table. She never ran up to me or let me pet her out in the open. But I have to say in time she is sooo much better. I have had her for 5 months and the last few weeks she is so friendly. She will come running to me when I come in the room and lies down right next to me and wants me to pat her. Pretty much everytime i come in the room she runs out even if she is sleeping. I think she is addicted to the papya I have just started to give her!! LOL

 

[ZRabbits]

I am a first time bunny owner too. And I was a little discouraged when I first got my boys home. Good for you Mindy for figuring out the "bribery Food" you need to start the bonding adventure. Because I found food is truly the key. Mine were Cheerios! With the same rituals every day for the last 10 months, I now have the relationship that I wanted from the start.

No truer words were spoken Mindy. Thank you for starting this thread.

Never give up Hope! Because the rewards, patience and that one extra thing called "bribery food" will bring you the most unique, amazing relationship that you will ever experience.

K

 

[Mindy10]

Hi K. Your welcome. I just don't want people to get discouraged. Because I was starting to get that way. I truley believe it is the papya. (sp?) Either that or she is 6 months so maybe she is trying to court me!!! LOL

 

[ZRabbits]

Mindy10 wrote:

Hi K. Your welcome. I just don't want people to get discouraged. Because I was starting to get that way. I truley believe it is the papya. (sp?) Either that or she is 6 months so maybe she is trying to court me!!! LOL

Either way, there is a positive relationship forming. lol Good for both of you. With courting, she's already likes you. And as I found out with my "bribery food", after a while, they would rather have affection first than the food. Either way, you get to that relationship.

K

 

[mdith4him]

We've had to same type of experience with Nibbles. He was very shy and skittish at first when we got him at the end of October 2011. It took awhile for him to be comfortable with us petting him and even longer until he would lay down next to us to be pet. Only this week (4 months after we got him) would he allow us to pick him up. Keep trying and be patient!

 

[Nancy McClelland]

It's always nice to know that bunnies excel at training humans!

 

[ZRabbits]

Nancy McClelland wrote:

It's always nice to know that bunnies excel at training humans!

You and me both. Maybe we truly should send bunnies to Washington, DC. Boy do those humans need bunny training. lol

K

 

[Mindy10]

you can say that again Karen!!

 

[CantDutchThis]

I am also a first time bunny owner. I've only had my bunny for about two weeks and he is just so full of personality. He was so shy and afraid of me the first week but thanks to people like you guys giving advice all over the internet, he's come to be a lot less shy, lets me pet him, pick him up and will even eat treats from my hands. He is so active and I am really starting to see his personality shine through! Its so rewarding

 

[MagPie]

Awww yay Blossom's finally coming around. Her stink eyes were pretty cute tho.



Heh, well at least she's not peeing on you.

 

[goofymare]

Hahahah! So true!! Karam and Iman wouldnt come near me for the first few weeks. I got soo terrified of Karam because everytime I would come near him he would bite or scratch. Hah. Anyways, his previous owner came and showed me that his scratches dont quite hurt and just to keep my hand away from his mouth. She told me once he gets used to you, he'll be just fine. Now, two years later, hes prolly the sweetest rabbit ever! Hes so happy all the time and I cant even imagine him biting or scratching me!! Iman got along with me right away though, like after the first few days!

 

[goofymare]

Hahahah! So true!! Karam and Iman wouldnt come near me for the first few weeks. I got soo terrified of Karam because everytime I would come near him he would bite or scratch. Hah. Anyways, his previous owner came and showed me that his scratches dont quite hurt and just to keep my hand away from his mouth. She told me once he gets used to you, he'll be just fine. Now, two years later, hes prolly the sweetest rabbit ever! Hes so happy all the time and I cant even imagine him biting or scratching me!! Iman got along with me right away though, like after the first few days!

 

[PapaJoe]

Good topic. I have my bunnies for about 5 weeks. Unfortunately, I still don't feel any bond or connection with them. I will say they are so much better about everything since the first week they arrived.

I will never give up on them, but I do get bummed out because of the lack of bonding. When I start introducing real food, I'm sure the bribery will work wonders! Still overwhelmed with them, but not as bad as week 1. They do run away at times. They never tried to bite me. I will get scratched once in awhile as they try to hop away, but not scratch me in a way to attack me.

When I have them out in the playground, I take that time to let them smell me and I pet them a lot and give them scratches behind the ears and on their backs. I do put them on my lap, if they let me pick them up. They will look up at me while I give them massages/scratches. Their reaction varies day by day.

 

[LaylaLop]

My newest addition, Mumford, started warming up to me lately. When I first got him he didn't care much for me and especially hated my dog. I had my dog in the room with me and the bunnies and Mumford kept going up to my dog, and even came up to me for pets and put his front paws up on my lap! I think having an outgoing buddy (Layla, who I've had since she was 6 weeks old) helped him warm up.

But yes, food bribery works wonders! Mine love cilantro and go NUTS for pellet-feeding times. Yesterday Layla tried to jump through the pen's bars to get to the food scoop before I could even approach the pen. Silly bunnies think they're starving even though they get hay always and plenty of pellets and fresh veggies