My first bunny

[houdini]

So I have just bought a bunny for the first time and I love him to bits! Although he does not feel the same way about me! He's 10 weeks old, everytime I get him out of his hutch to handle him and get him used to me he struggles and tries to run away, so I let him just run around on my king size bed while I lay on it, and he hops around and will hop on me and sniff me, so why won't he let me hold him? What can I do so that he will trust me? Will he ever be my friend like my guinea pigs were? I'd like to get a harness for him so that I can take hi
To local ovals to eat some grass, how would I introduce this to him????

 

[Nancy McClelland]

First off, you have to let your bunny settle in and get comfy in his surroundings. Next since you're dealing with a prey animal, your bunny has to learn to "trust" you and be comfy. Not all bunnies like being picked up and held--the opposite is true with that and it is the rare bunny that like to be held and carried around. Most of ours like to be rubbed and come to us when they want attention. It just varies from rabbit to rabbit.

 

[Byfuzzerabbit]

Give him time and he will start to trust you. I think rabbits tolerate being held after he/she learns that you can be trusted. I am sure there are rabbits that enjoy being held but I have yet to meet one. Along with rabbits who don't want to have anything do with this holding business. It might be a while before your new rabbit decides that you are worthy enough to be more then that food provider. It's worth the effort though, good luck.

 

[MikeScone]

Byfuzzerabbit wrote:

I am sure there are rabbits that enjoy being held but I have yet to meet one...

Meet Natasha Rabbitova - she'll jump into my arms and lie there for half an hour or more. I've even had her fall asleep while I was holding her.

That said, my previous rabbit, Scone MacBunny, was much more typical. I had him for seven years, and he never did enjoy being held, although he loved lying next to me on the couch and being petted. After some time, he learned to tolerate being held for a minute or two, but he was never really comfortable. Toward the end of his life we developed the code that when he kissed my nose I let him down, and he was happier after that, since it gave him some degree of control. He was also happier if I walked around and talked to him while I was holding him. If I stopped for even a little while he'd beg to get down.

So, if your bunny never does like being held, he may still become very affectionate on his own terms. Give him time - it took three or four months before Natasha became comfortable here (although, in her case it was her NOT wanting to be held all the time which told me that she was settling in).

And welcome to RO!

 

[houdini]

Thanks guys you have been really helpful! He's settling in great, I've left him alone more and he seems much happier

 

[funnybunnymummy]

Welcome houdini!

You've got some great advice already. Along with not holding him as much, try giving him nose rubs and ear rubs while he's in his cage. My Gus is definitely a don't-pick-me-up bunny, but he'll pancake for nose rubs and ear rubs when he's in his cage.

Hope that helps!

Rue

 

[houdini]

It sure does he's improved so much over the last 2 days I guess he is only 10weeks old!

 

[Wabbitdad12]

Let me welcome you to Rabbits Online, my name is Dave and I am a moderator on the forum. So if I can be of any help please let me know. This is a terrific website for rabbits and their slaves, not only is it very active but also friendly. I am so glad you’re here and I know you will enjoy it.

Many bunny's recommend their slaves to this site so we may learn of others methods to keeping our furry masters happy.

If you everhave a sick bunny, please post in The Infirmary and include your rabbit's age, breed and health history as well diet and output details leading up to the problem.

I have listed some links I thought you might find interesting:

*For reference the Library section

*To brag or tell everyone about the antics of your bunny or just to talk about your day here is where to start a Bunny Blog, you can also look back at it later and remember when you had a life before your bunny.

*Now all the bunny’s like talk to each other when we mere slaves aren’t around in the Bunny Chat is the spot to be.

*Rabbits Online also has regional forums , this a good way to find a vet in your area that has experience with rabbits and to find out from other nearby of good sources of rabbit supplies.

The Let Your Hare Down section is for anything non-bunny related.

Here is a link tothat will help you and your bunny to connect, How To Bond With Your Bunny.

Now every forum has rules and ours can be found with this link Rabbits Online Forum Rules. This gives guidelines on what is acceptable, what is not and how we hope everyone will treat each other.

Everyone on this forum loves to see pictures of each other’s bunnies. So if you would like to post a picture this link will help you do that, Upload Photo's to Photo Gallery. Then in the post, you click on the "G" in the tool bar to insert your photo. Many people also use Photobucket. You just copy the img file and paste it into the post.

I am glad you have joined rabbits online and I look forward to seeing you around.