*sigh* - The uphill struggle

[Mr. Ici]

EDIT: Uphill struggle.

Puddles was having a good munch in her cage a week ago when it was beautifully sunny outside and a wasp came in it and went straight for the rabbit cage.
Oh no, what to do...
I got a towel and flicked at the wasp frantically and it eventually left leaving us in peace.

The problem now is that Puddles is absolutely terrified of me. Nothing will change her mind.

She tenses up whenever I'm around and hides and every opportunity.

It's hard not to get upset at this, especially as I had just gained her trust in the first place. I don't know what to do.

I even made a (quite frankly excellent) toy for her to play with - a Smartie tube full of hay. She loves it and will play with it for ages, tossing it around, making a mess and eating all the hay debris ... but not when I'm around.

I'm at a loss
:X

It seems hopeless and I'm ashamed to say the thought of giving up on her and letting my gf take over completely has crossed my mind, although this would mean no rabbit snuggles which I already miss dreadfully :?

She's only young still but it does hurt. It's been a week

 

[tonyshuman]

Welcome!

I love your bunny's name--she sounds really cute! As for getting her to trust you again, you just have to take it slow. Bunnies are often slow to trust people, especially since she may think you "attacked" her. They forget who gave them toys, but remember who jumped out at them. I would make sure to move very slowly around her, and take some time just sitting still in the room while she's there. That way she'll know that you're not there to hurt her. Just sit or lie on the floor, reading a book or watching tv, and let her explore the room and you without petting unless she makes it clear she wants to be touched. Doing this for a little bit each day should help. You can offer some treats too, but only if she comes up to you.

It can be hard living with a prey animal...

 

[mouse_chalk]

This will probably get moved, as you've posted in the intro section, but in the meantime, I'll respond...


Please, don't give up, and please don't feel bad! Baby bunnies are very prone to beign scared of things, it's just their way. As prey animals, their natural instinct is to fear everything, until they can learn to trust it. Many times when my girl Mouse was younger, I'd accidentally scare her, and then she'd hate me for days- a week even, but she'd forget about it in the end...

I can't remember if I advised you before about lying on the floor, with a book, or watching tv? That's such a good trick. It can take a while, so maybe take a cushion with you lol, but if you stay still and quiet enough, curiousity will get the better of her in the end!

How does she get in and out of her cage? If she's out to play can she get back in there by herself?

I promise you, she will come round... eventually! It just takes time!