Olive update

[piperknitsRN]

Just thought I’d update on Olive for the fun of it.  She is *growing* and I think she’ll be on the larger side of the Holland Lop spectrum.  She goes to her first vet well check up on Tuesday, so I’ll see how much she weighs then, but at twelve weeks she looks not much smaller than Flip Flop was full grown. 

I’m very pleased with her house training–hasn’t made a mistake yet outside of some random “pellet” droppings, and then only one or two at most.  My cord protector just came in yesterday, along with her travel cage (it’s small, but meant for emergencies and if I ever need to take her anywhere long distance; I have a small cat carrier for shorter travels).  So, I have all the cords in the living room and bedroom bunny proofed, and since (knock on wood big time) she doesn’t seem to be much of a chewer, she can be free range pretty much as long as I’m home to supervise.  Her one occasional bad habit is to chew the carpet–but I can usually redirect her by showing her an old towel I sacrificed, which she likes to dig and pull on. 

Like most bunnies–I suspect–she tolerates being held for brief amount of time, but I still have to work on holding her in my lap for longer periods so I can do things like trim her nails (I’ve done it once, and she was good, but that was several weeks ago and I think she was still shell shocked.  Now she’s not as impressed when I have her on my lap and try to touch her feet.).  She’s not a cuddle bunny per se, though she does like to follow me around some, and I get “bumped” in the ankles from time to time (which I either take as a sign of affection or, “Move it, lady!”). 

I have heard that bucks are often more affectionate than does, but I think it just depends on the bunny.  As I had a doe before, I am used to the less cuddly version (I’m also sure there’s plenty of does out there that are cuddly).  I would love to have a cuddler one day, just so I could experience it, but I appreciate and love Olive for who she is just the same. 

[RabbitPam]

Sounds like it’s going well. I also tend to think the bucks are a bit more cuddly, but bunnies in general are not, so it’s an expectation that sadly leads to the drop off at the rescues by disappointed new bunny owners. Olive is already in better hands just because you know she shouldn’t be expected to be affectionate in that way.

My Samantha is absolutely not going to cuddle. Even the snuggle next to her on the floor has tapered off considerably. (Spockie was a bag of jello I could carry around every day, so he spoiled me. Sammy took some getting used to after having lived with him.)
However, this morning she was playiing under my bed while I was standing by it making the top, and I suddenly was getting kisses on my toes from underneath the bed. It was just so sweet. She has her own way of showing love, and I love her back. What else do we need, right?

[piperknitsRN]

Hi!  I’ve never experienced a “cuddle bunny” and honestly from my research I did on my first house rabbit, Flip flop, never really did expect her to a) like being picked up  or b) spend hours snuggling with me.  And I was right–she showed affection in her own cheeky way, but it was on her terms, never mine.  Olive is much the same way–she’ll come over for the occasional sniff, bump, or gently try to partially climb on me if I’m down on the floor with her, but she’s otherwise happy to do her own thing.  I really don’t like the idea of having to pick her up when she doesn’t like it, so I just do it for brief periods (like when I bring her out of her X pen–she won’t jump out of her own accord if I open the door) or when I’m trying to train her to tolerate nail clippings by having her on my lap and playing with her feet (that usually doesn’t go over very well, but I always managed to get the job done with Flip-flop, so I have confidence I can do it with Olive.  I’ll probably have to resort to patience and the bunny burrito technique.

Yesterday she was going full tilt from across the room and ran into my ankle–she did it twice, and I swear she was playing a game with me.  Bunnies have very exacting control of their movements, and I don’t think she would have “crashed” into me except on purpose.  I love watching her run around and do binkies, and just chill on the ground or explore.  I can tell even in two weeks time she’s already more comfortable with me, because when I come up to her to redirect her from doing something naughty, she doesn’t scamper away.  She’s more, “Meh, what can you do for me, human?”  She also follows me around a bit, which is cute.  

Part of the reason I like bunnies so much is that it’s a challenge to interact with them on their level.  And their just so darn cute, they’re irresistable.  (Good thing too, because if they weren’t cute, tolerating the naughtiness would be a lot harder than it already is!)

[LoveChaCha]

My Chacha is a doe.. and she is a BIG BIG kisser She dislikes cuddling/holding. After a good pet, she will wash my face or fingers. It is quite amusing.

The other night, I fell asleep on the living room floor. I woke up to see Miss Diva doing the same.. right next to me. haha, talk about synchronized sleeping

I really like the independance of rabbits. I work during the daytime, and Chacha sleeps, so it all works out.

[piperknitsRN]

Cha cha sounds like a wonderful bunny.  I really like Olive.  She isn’t destructive (at least not yet) and is entertaining without being overly demanding.  She makes me very happy!

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