Very scared 5 month old rabbit

[jojo179]

Hi,

I have been following threads on this site for a while now but this will be my first thread!

I have owned this young buck for around 3 months now, purchased from our local friendly pet store. He is my 2nd rabbit but my first male one.

Unfortunately Sunny (our rabbit) is very cautious and scared. For the first week or two I would be very reserved in how I would interact with him, I would never pick him up or try and touch him but would often sit next to his cage often with small treats to try and get him used to my company. This didn't seem to make much difference and only once in the past 3 months have I got him to move any closer to me for the treats and every other time the treat has had to have been left close to him while I backed away quite far.

What I think he did not like at all was the worming medicine we had to give him for over a month when we first got him. I imagine some/many of the users on here will be familiar with the medicine it is the type which has to be syringed (no needle) straight into his mouth. For this he would have to be picked up and gently as possibly restrained to get it into his mouth. After this Sunny would stomp/thump in his hutch for a long time indeed. I worry that it is this that has put him off humans even though the course of medicine finished over a month ago.

Can anyone recommend ways to get our poor Sunny to feel more at home here, and trust us a little more? Has anyone ever had a rabbit which has remained this way throughout it's life with no real improvement?

Just as a disclaimer I would never give up sunny or change the level of care I give him even if he was to distrust us and remain the same throughout his hopefully long life!

Many thanks,
Jonathan

 

[jojo179]

Also he will be able to be neutered next month, but is this likely to make a big change? I also worry that this procedure will make him even more scared of people

 

[Imbrium]

I doubt it'll make him more afraid, though it probably won't help any either since the scared personality was there since before he became sexually mature.

I don't really have any tips beyond what you're already doing but if you had to force-feed him the worming meds for over a month out of the three you've had him, he no doubt still remembers that and fears being fed that stuff again - if you keep spending time near him/talking to him without trying to force interaction, I'd be shocked if he didn't eventually get over the worming nastiness and learn to trust you. it'll take a more time than usual since he had to put up with that for so long when you first got him, but sooner or later, he'll figure out that it isn't going to happen any more .

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Some have a more timid or "submissive" personality. Lots of time and patience may make a difference.

 

[jojo179]

I have heard conflicting views from members on this remedy: Is it ever a good idea to pick up and pet him gently for an extended period of time to get him used to me?

Because of how timid he is this would require some gentle restraint and would be against his will at first.

I am a little apprehensive about using this solution, but I have read it has worked for some of you! I am very worried that it would make it worse though

 

[agnesthelion]

jojo179 wrote:

I have heard conflicting views from members on this remedy: Is it ever a good idea to pick up and pet him gently for an extended period of time to get him used to me?

Because of how timid he is this would require some gentle restraint and would be against his will at first.

I am a little apprehensive about using this solution, but I have read it has worked for some of you! I am very worried that it would make it worse though

It depends. If he is SO scared that it literally petrified him, than no I wouldn't use that technique.

I'm from the mindset of the ignore method. Open the door to his cage in a safe, bunny proofed area. Sit there and ignore him. Don't even look at him. Read a book, watch tv, lay down and rest

If he comes up to you, still ignore him just yet. Don't reach out to pet him or anything. He needs to see you aren't out to get him.

Once he is coming up to you comfortably, then offer treats. Still don't pet him if he takes the treat just yet. Make sure he is doing that comfortably.

Once he is taking treats, then try brief, slow pets. Go slow and gentle. Work up from there.

It's all about time and patience and not rushing things.

Good luck

 

[jojo179]

agnesthelion wrote:

jojo179 wrote:

I have heard conflicting views from members on this remedy: Is it ever a good idea to pick up and pet him gently for an extended period of time to get him used to me?

Because of how timid he is this would require some gentle restraint and would be against his will at first.

I am a little apprehensive about using this solution, but I have read it has worked for some of you! I am very worried that it would make it worse though

It depends. If he is SO scared that it literally petrified him, than no I wouldn't use that technique.

I'm from the mindset of the ignore method. Open the door to his cage in a safe, bunny proofed area. Sit there and ignore him. Don't even look at him. Read a book, watch tv, lay down and rest

If he comes up to you, still ignore him just yet. Don't reach out to pet him or anything. He needs to see you aren't out to get him.

Once he is coming up to you comfortably, then offer treats. Still don't pet him if he takes the treat just yet. Make sure he is doing that comfortably.

Once he is taking treats, then try brief, slow pets. Go slow and gentle. Work up from there.

It's all about time and patience and not rushing things.

Good luck

Thanks for your reply. In fact it is quite interesting because we here open his cage at about midday, and it doesn't get shut until about 1am (always supervised by me or my housemate). Luckily we have quite a long living room where he rolls around and he likes to stay very close to his cage if he comes out. On the odd occasion he has approached us it has been when we have been ignoring him as you say. But as soon as we reach out or just move in our seats he will bolt away.

I'll try the ignoring method for sure haha!


What I find most interesting about this whole episode is it has made me realize how different one rabbits personality can be from the next. My first rabbit, Lela, was the most friendly loving thing in the world. And from pretty much the start as well. Unfortunately she passed 2 years back but getting this new buck has made me really appreciate even more how great she was.

Not to say I am disappointed by Sunny, I just see him as a bit of a challenge at the moment! The sooner he is happier the sooner I will be too!

 

[agnesthelion]

^^^^it sounds like you have the right idea just maybe go a bit slower. No petting yet, no sudden movements yet.

I commend you for not giving up on little sunny. that is awesome and I'm sure you'll gain his trust one day and it will be all the more rewarding.

Agnes is a very agreeable and cuddly rabbit much like your Lela so it would be a change for me too! But again, kudos to you for putting in the effort.

Good luck!