I am very confused about Triston;

[tabbybear]

After the two weeks Triston has been hear I have worked with him everyday for numerouse hours a day. He shows all the signs that he is comfortable with me, he grooms himself around me, he eats infront of me, eats apples out of my hands, and sits in his cage and lies down in my room when he gets free run time. He shows all the signs of a very calm and relaxed rabbit, but alas he has still not bonded with me. I feel as though he wants nothing to do with me, he will let me pet him, and sometimes pick him up but he squirms sometimes when I pick him up even when I support his bottom and tummy.

I have tried lieing down, sitting, I even sleep next to his cage everynight since I got him. I talk on the phone with my friend next to his cage and sometimes read him books.

I just want him to feel comfortable around me and want to be around me.



Does anybody have any suggestions of what I should do with him?

Also, does anybody know how to "talk rabbit" ? (like things you can do to show him that I except him and I like him and stuff)



Thanks so much in advance.. I really apreciate it!

 

[NorthernAutumn]

You are doing all the right things!
The majority of rabbits don't like to be picked up and cuddled, no matter how much we want to hug them. So don't feel bad that he's not really into that.
None of my rabbits are into being picked up. They would much rather that I get down on the floor with them for noserubs, or sit beside me on the couch and watch TV.

Does he let you stroke him when he's lying on the floor?

Here is one of the best body language guides:
http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

 

[Inle_Rabbitry]

Don't worry too much as it's only been a few weeks. All rabbits are different and it may take your rabbit quite a bit of time to trust you more.

If you are picking him up (even if it's the proper way) and he doesn't like it (this can be from a fear of heightsor perhaps he may have been injured in the past by someone not handling him properlly and he therefore gets nervous everytime you do it) then expect for this to be something you're going to have to work on. Anything that your rabbit considers to be a "bad experience" with you, is going to make bonding with him harder to too.

What you want, is to make him think of you as someone who provides good experiences.

One thing you can do is play games with your rabbit. Rabbits enjoy playing fetch or finding treats that you've hidden. If you have treats in a container, shake the container before you give the treats and before long, your rabbit will associate you and that noise with something tasty and he'll get very excited and happy to see you.

These are just a few ideas, there are many more things you can do, but just remember, associate yourself as being a "good experience" and gently and SLOWLY work with your rabbit on being held.

Hope this helps!

 

[tabbybear]

Okay thank you a bunch, he is a little shy when I try to feed him from my hand sometimes. but he can not resist apples all of the time.

I will try the shakeing container thing and see if that works.

Thanks so much for your help, and I will post more questions later if I have any.