Is there a way to lower rabbit fear?

[Flakes]

These days dortmund hides like 90% of the day. He only comes out when he is hungry or when he is lonely and wants to cuddle.

A couple of days ago I bought a kind of enclosed area to put his litter box in and now when he wants eat, he dashes in, grabs something green and leafy and then runs out as quickly as his little legs can carry him. The litter box thing only has one entrance and I am thinking that if I cut another hole in it so the he has two escape paths he might be able to use it as a second hidey hole and would be more comfortable inside.

The thing is I know rabbits are prey animals and that running away is a good instinct to have. But at the same time, Dortmund and I have known each other for close to 4 months. I would think he would have learned that I don't want to eat him and that I do a pretty good job of keeping owls and weasels away.

He should have learned by now that he doesn't need to run away in terror if he is having his head scratched and the TV makes noise, or a bird chirps outside the window, or I put my ipad down and he doesn't like the clunk, or I move my leg too quickly.

So is there a way to lower his fear threshold? Something I can do to make him relax? Will he relax eventually? Is there some sort of rabbit Xanax or Prozac? Chamomile calms me down -- should I feed him chamomile?

 

[Gelly]

I second this question. I’ve had my bun for about 5 months and he still seems afraid of me. Tis’ very disheartening.

 

[Banditsmom]

I've had mine for a little over a year n he's still such a scaredy cat sometimes "/ Hes friendlier with people but Amy little noise or quick movement freaks him out.

 

[Hermelin]

I would just say to slowly build up his trust. Every time he gets scared of something lure him back with a bit of treats and show the thing he got scared of. Do the same movements that scared him, while giving him a reward. The treats will work as a distraction and also build up a positive image of what scared him.

Toste my bunny it’s the worse scardy-cat you can find. Took a year for him to let me pet him, jump up onto my lap and stop attacking me. He’s claws truly know how to draw blood.

Just getting his teeth chomped on the hand hurt really bad. Sometimes I just wanted to shove him away when he bit down hard on the hand, but I just endured until he let go. It was my own fault for forgetting to have glows on me. He was really scared and had no trust towards humans.

I just trained him and slowly taught him. Toste will always be a skittish bunny that his personality. But how skittish he was the first year and how he’s now, he’s a totally different bunny. I can pick him up and he will just snuggle up, not scared of the tv or fireworks but still have trouble with some movements. He seem to have traumas and also had trigger points.

The more exposer to what scares them and turning it into a good experience, it will slowly make them feel a lot more safe. You will later on have a lot calmer bunny that feels more safe around you.

You just take baby steps ^^

 

[Maki_p29]

My rabbit Hawkeye is very skittish/scares easily. I move slowly and or tell her “Hawkeye I’m [insert action here] , I will be back or everything is okay(then I slowly proceed to give her a few pets on the head)”. She gets scared of loud or sudden sounds. She hates foil but before anyone uses the foil it helps if they say “Hawkeye I’m doing the foil, it’s okay” then she understands what will happen next.

Give your bunny time. Be patient with them. Very little to no sudden movements. Make a routine to get your bunny more comfortable and know what to expect from you. In a calming voice announce to your bunny what you are doing. Example I walk by Hawkeye’s cadge at night to use the restroom sometimes this startles her so now if I get up I tell her “Hawkeye I’m going to the restroom” and she usually knows everything is normal. And when I come back I tell her “I’m back Hawkeye, I’m going to sleep again” so now she just watches me and relaxes.

With some bunnies it takes time for them to get used to you. Keep reassuring them and make things a positive experience each time but don’t force it, let them approach you and smell you first then slowly pet them and make them feel safe.

 

[rustyrabbit]

My rabbit was very skittish at first. She was the size of a kitten when she ran into my suburban garden and she proved a supreme escape artist when I decided to keep her. That's likely how she came to be in my yard - an escaped Xmas present as it was around then,. I have an enclosed courtyard so she couldn't run wild. I was trying to get her used to me when I noticed she went crazy over pellets. Her primary diet is hay with a handful of greens, but no pellets in bowls. I used to feed her pellets in the evening to brace against the cold as she's outdoors (mild climate) and she got used to this routine. Then I started putting the pellets in my hand. She was reluctant at first but her craving got the better of her. So now she eats pellets out of my hand and its a bonding thing. She graciously accepts head rubs at the same time. I feed her when she's still in her cage, she comes to the gate, so there is that interface between her safe area and the outside. So an idea at least.

 

[bunnylove2024]

it will take time, my bunny was skittish but after a while, she started warming up to me and now she cuddly but still a little cagey. like mentioned before positive reinforcement is best!