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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A How to tell guests to stay away from rabbits?

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    • mocha200
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        Since we have a newly built house, every time someone comes over they want a house tour which means people going into the bunny room. Mocha does NOT like strangers. NOT AT ALL! He lounges at them and I try to tell them not to pet him as he hates it (doesn’t even let me pet him) but they stick their hand in anyways and one of these days someone is going to get bit! Lulu on the other hand will let them pet her but has her eyes are bulged out the whole time! Then every thing above is 10x worse with kids! So how do you politely say “Leave my rabbits alone! They don’t like you!” or “Control your child!” Haha! I don’t want to seem mean but seriously! When I tell you not to pick them up or not to pet them I meant it! ahh! Anyways I want to enjoy having company over, not be stressed out the whole time! What do you do? I would have locked them in their cage normally but my rabbits now are free range of a whole room so that doesn’t really work…. Thanks!


      • Deleted User
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          I would just say it as firmly and as nicely as can be. For instance, “I would really appreciate it if you do not try to touch the rabbits or put your hands near them. They may seem very cute and cuddly but they can in fact be very aggressive.” Or have a sign on the door saying, “Rabbit Room”. So they know what it is without having to look inside it. And if you need to. Get a lock for the bun room. So when you have company over and not near their room you can have it locked. That way you won’t have to worry about anyone getting hurt, whether it be a bun or human.


        • Sarita
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            I don’t think you should discourage people – make this a learning opportunity and allow them to pet and teach them about rabbits. My rabbits don’t love strangers but they are naturally curious and I love talking about having rabbits and my rabbits – the good and the bad points.


          • RoyalElvira
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              Whenever people want to see my rabbits I always tell them, “they are very sweet, but they are weary of new people.. So they probably wont like it if you pet them.” So, then my friends will look at them, but not try to pet them


            • LBJ10
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                Is the door to the room closed all the time? Could you try having the door open and having a baby gate in the doorway? Then people can look in the room and see what it is without going inside. If the rabbits approach, then maybe people could pet them. Otherwise, the rabbits can feel confident that people aren’t invading their space.


              • tanlover14
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                  We have strict, strict rules in our house about the rabbits. NO ONE is allowed to even stick their fingers in the cage without one of us around them. If we catch them, they’re out the door. They have a warning but that’s it. You should be strict about your feelings with your bunnies. If you know Mocha will be aggressive, I would be even firmer. With Sidney (who is skittish), I get vicious around people who do not respect her boundaries. If people get mad, that’s their problem. It’s your house and your animals. Guests should respect that. Not that you have to say it rude BUT I wouldn’t let anyone walk over your boundaries when it comes to your buns.

                  I like the Rabbit Room sign also! Make sure to tell parents with children that your rabbit does not enjoy people and WILL bite if feels someone is going to pet him. This will probably make them watch their kids a little more closely than if you just say your bunny doesn’t like it. One of my boyfriends friends refused to follow the rules until he realized we were serious about kicking him out.


                • Snowytoshi
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                    Since my buns are all rescues they really do not need to be stressed, by people running over to them or picking them up improperly. I am happy for people to sit calmly and wait for them, but they need to respect how delicate rabbits are.

                    I have one bun who is happy with strangers petting him, he’ll come bounding over to them all excited, his wife on the other hand loves people, but is skittish at first. My third bun has some aggression issues with strangers, but thankfully he makes that known right away by grunting as he lopes across the room to bite your ankle <3 I don't let most people visit him outside of my family, except for one friend who is very quiet and he is familar with. When people come to my house they have to be respectful of the buns and can under no circumstances handle them, since Toshi hates to be held, Paige likes it but doesn't like to be picked up (odd I know, once she's in our arms she's happy, and Joshua only lets me hold him. If people ask to hold them I tell them politely, but firmly that they dislike being held and that they should wait for them to approach on their own time. <br /> <br />


                  • Beka27
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                      I like the baby gate in the doorway idea. It’s simple and acts as a barrier. No need to make things complicated.


                    • mocha200
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                        Thanks guys! I am glad I am not the only one who gets very uncomfortable with people around my rabbits. I wouldn’t be so picky except that I have been trying to get Mocha used to people for 3 years and every time some little kid (or adult) comes in I feel like part of that all goes down the drain in one short instant!

                        I will admit I haven’t been strict enough…. I always have just said “Don’t pet the lop because he doesn’t like it” and that never worked. I always thought that people would be scared if I told them he might bite, but I guess it might be better to scare them!

                        I like the idea of the baby gate but sadly Lulu chewed an escape route through it Naughty bun! Also I have an attic bedroom above the rabbit room that people always want to see. Maybe for that day I will block off part of the room with an xpen and not let any one cross it. That way they can see my room and the attic room without interrupting the bunnies.

                        The worst part when kids come over is the poor cats! They never leave them alone! Luckily we don’t have cats that bite or scratch… I sometimes get mad at how much people don’t control there kids at other people houses. Don’t get me wrong, I love them, but I don’t think my Mom would have ever let me do that when I was younger! Once we had a little boy dump one of our cats head first into a garbage can before we caught him! Agh!


                      • Roberta
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                          That child would have been banned from my property along with it’s parents. If they come to your home and can’t respect your pets or property it’s is not a friendship or association worth maintaining.


                        • LBJ10
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                            Oh Mocha, nothing surprises me with people anymore. For some reason there are no boundaries anywhere anymore. I have kids trying to harass wild animals when I take them out to events. You would think at a formal event, people would tell their kids to respect things. Then there are the adults that push the boundaries and that really ticks me off. Oh boy. o_O So don’t feel bad for being direct with people about not messing with your rabbits. They are your pets and it is your house. People should respect the boundaries.


                          • mocha200
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                              kind of hard as that little kid was my cousin! haha!


                            • bunnygirl
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                                I understand how awkward that situation would be mocha! When we lived in England I had a 3 year old cousin who really ‘loved’ my bunny. (Seethe seethe…) she used to grab her ears and physically pat her, like a dog, really hard! My bunny was really patient and sat still but once my cousin reached out to grab her tail, i saw the change in my usually very placid bunny. I saw the change in her facial expression, and she turned around and nipped my cousin on the hands very hard. She did draw blood, but when my aunt complained to my mum, my mum told my aunt that she should have warned her daughter when I told my aunt that my bunny should be ok, but she’s an animal not a machine, and pretty much unpredictable at that. Ever since then, I’m so over protective of who holds my current bun (we moved to Australia, snowbell, my bun in England passed away just before we moved, binky free little snowy) Apollo and who pets him. Everyone who comes over now either listens, or is very gentle with him, which is good I tell them “Apollo is a little fussy bun, but he’s only young, so he doesn’t really understand what is right and what is wrong. he’s a bit grumpy sometimes, so please try not to pet him too hard or for too long. He likes his head petting though!”


                              • Cupcakesmom
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                                  its frustrating when people dont understand. i get the “whatever, its a rabbit, calm down you freak” looks and comments all the time from people. my cupcake is great with people, but she is handicapped and people dont understand that they need to be extra careful with her. my mom is the only one besides myself that i let pick her up because she knows how to handle her properly. dizzie is ok with people once she warms up, but she definately doesnt like it when new people are in her room. she will change and growl at someone if they try to come near her in her room. if i let her out, and she can come up to people, then she feels more secure. dizzie has her own room, so if a lot of people are over, i put up 2 baby gates so they are high and no one can take them down. i also put a sign on the gates that says “my name is dizzie and i love to play, but i am really scared of new people, so please dont come in my room.” that way, people can see her, but she doesnt have to get all stressed out. i bought gates that are made for pets, as opposed to kids, because they have a plastic coated wire so they cant chew out. those have been a complete lifesaver for me and Dizzie!


                                • Hazel
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                                    Posted By mocha200 on 01/27/2013 06:12 PM

                                    The worst part when kids come over is the poor cats! They never leave them alone! Luckily we don’t have cats that bite or scratch… I sometimes get mad at how much people don’t control there kids at other people houses.

                                    I think that sometimes a nice little scratch can teach an unruly child more than a thousand words…

                                    I agree, it’s very rude for people not to control their kids in someone else’s home. Especially if they start terrorizing the pets.

                                    Just be more firm, tell them what you want them to do/not to do, and be there with them at all times to make sure they act accordingly. Don’t feel bad about enforcing your rules, they are your bunnies and depend on you to keep them safe from grabby strangers.

                                    Blocking the bunnies off with an x-pen so that people can still come in to see your room is a good idea!


                                  • longhairmike
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                                      ‘you toucha my bunny i breaka you face’


                                    • jerseygirl
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                                        You gonna get that printed on a tshirt Mike?


                                      • jerseygirl
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                                          Maybe for that day I will block off part of the room with an xpen and not let any one cross it. That way they can see my room and the attic room without interrupting the bunnies.

                                          I think this is a good idea. Or even put them in their old condo in a garage or over at your Grandparents. That might give you peace mind and you can relax with the visitors. Plus it would be quieter for the buns. Just having more people in the house in general can get them on edge sometimes. I’d consider doing that when you know there’s going to be lots of people and lots of children about.


                                        • mocha200
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                                            Jersey: It is way to cold in the garage or at my Grandparents house! It is only like 30F out! Oh and the reason my grandparents is so cold is because the go on vacation all winter so they don’t have heat on! But that is a good idea when it is summer! I could put them in the garage or in their outdoor pen as long as it wasn’t to hot! Thanks!

                                            Thanks guys! I HATE to be strict! A lot of people come in and think they know everything about rabbits because they have them themselves or they used to when they were a kid….


                                          • IsabellaRobyn
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                                              Have you tried asking your parents to have a word with them? Maybe because you’re younger guests might not take you as seriously as they would your parents?

                                              I hate it when people try and act like they know all about rabbits too! Most of the time they are the kinds of people that keep their rabbit out in a tiny cage, feed it rabbit muesli and limited hay and say their rabbit is aggressive and doesn’t play!


                                            • longhairmike
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                                                our garage gets up to like 140 in summer,, you go all raiders-of-the-lost-ark if you stay in there for more than a minute.


                                              • MimzMum
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                                                  How to tell guests to stay away from rabbits?

                                                  With a cricket bat? :/

                                                  Sorry, probably not helpful but that was the first thing that came to mind. I have no patience for people/children who have no boundaries. It’s insulting when guests don’t listen, but it’s your home. You have a right to set limits.
                                                  However I have to agree that Sarita has a point with the teaching moment…I just wouldn’t want my bunnies to be the educators.
                                                  It’s just my way is all. In fact, no one touches any of my animals without permission. Period.


                                                • mocha200
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                                                    Mike: All I have to say is I am glad I live up north were thee hottest in the summer is normally only 90F! haha! We have gotten in the 100F but not very often!

                                                    Mimz: Every one who knows me knows I own rabbits and is crazy about them. I get questions all the time and I am happy to answer them! I don’t think that they have to touch my rabbits to learn though! :p If they want to see my rabbits and learn about them they can watch my youtube videos! Haha!

                                                    I don’t care if some people are around them like my family on my Moms side as we see them all the time and know how to act around them!


                                                  • CamandBun1101
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                                                      Im glad Bun is very people friendly when in a neutral area. He hops right up to you and gives you kisses. (: He has only once bit someone, but they deserved it! My sister had a friend over one night when I was gone, and her friend went and picked bun up out of his cage. She got a nice, hard nip!


                                                    • Stickerbunny
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                                                        Never had the issue. Most the time when people enter the house, the rabbits run and hide and no one has been dumb enough to chase them down to pet them. If they had, they would have swiftly gotten a kick out the door. Poor Stickers is so skittish she won’t even let me pet her 90% of the time and stress causes her to have tummy issues, so people better leave them alone or they can leave.

                                                        But… this is my home, I don’t live with parents. So I get a bit more control over who is allowed to stay in my home. Also, I have a parrot and he is way more fascinating to people and very friendly (to the point of landing on a neighbors shoulder and making her freak out “omg is he going to bite me?” lol when all he wanted was a kiss)

                                                        When they ask to see the bunny room stop them for a short explanation of rules on how to treat your buns. Say something like Mocha does not like to be touched, he’s very skittish and may bite if you invade his personal space. They are not very fond of strangers and a bit shy, so please respect their home and only pet them if they come up to you. Do not try to pick them up. Treat it like a zoo, explain the rules for their safety and the animal’s safety. If you put a baby gate (you can get metal ones that your buns can’t chew) or a x-pen up at the door, if the guests really get antsy about wanting to interact with the cute animal, give them a craisin or piece of banana or something they can offer them through the bars.


                                                      • NikkiBun
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                                                          I tell people flat out that my rabbits are wary of strangers and that they will come to you to be pet not the other way around. Also if the rabbits go in to their cage then they are not to be touched, and that they are not to be picked up by anyone but me or my roommate. If they don’t like it then they don’t get to hang with them.
                                                          Luckily all my guest have followed these rules and the only person one of my rabbits have bitten was my dad. That was because Pan is afraid of him and he didn’t understand that dad was trying to feed him while I was gone on a trip.


                                                        • RabbitPam
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                                                            I like the xpen idea to keep them contained, and keep big and little hands out of reach of them.
                                                            Since Sarita has a point about a teaching opportunity, you could (if you feel like spending time with the little monsters) ask if anyone wants to sit on the floor with you and learn how to handle and pet a bunny the right way. Then carefully let one at a time in the xpen with you, or bring someone out onto your lap, show them how to reach out palm upward, and slowly pet their nose and between their ears. Period. Then put the bunny back. Next. Done. Back to the other room for TV or adults who don’t bite – much.

                                                            LHMike – like the t-shirt slogan.


                                                          • SamieLee
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                                                              A situation like this is a bit weird for me because I have two bunnies with very different personalities. Jack loves people, and I mean ANY person. He’d probably lead a thief to my nice jewelery if he could! So as long as the person is a teenager/adult, picks him up and handles him the “proper” way (I always demo it to them beforehand), and it’s all done only under my supervision, then I really don’t mind them handling him so much. Sander on the other hand is very shy. He’s not agressive in any way, he just gets very timid around anyone but me. As a result, when people pick him up and he tries to flee he accidentally ends up scratching and clawing at them. He still does this to me on occasion. So in his case it’s quite different. My approach to it will most likely be the least popular one here, but I go about it through some lighthearted humour. I usually just say something along the lines of: “I really suggest that you don’t try to pet Sander. He may look super cute and cuddly, but inside him lies the heart of the grizzly-bun. Seriously though he’ll probably leave some deep cuts on you if you try to pick him up. You’re much better off just leaving him be, trust me.” Usually that gets the point across fairly quickly and people don’t take it as me being rude or being a “crazy bunny lady”. In the end it’s a win-win for me. However, I will stress that this may not be the right method for everyone. It really depends on each specific situation. Personally I just try my best to make light of serious subject while still getting the message across, so for me this sort of tactic works perfectly


                                                            • Bunny Daddy
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                                                                I have a sign on the wall beside the rabbit’s area that says “Do not feed or pick up the rabbits without asking.” in big letters, because I have that problem, along with my dad wanting to feed them pieces of fruit ALL the time. (Without asking, so then I don’t know if they’ve had fruit already or not.) And had to put a sign up. Maybe that’ll work for you? 


                                                              • mocha200
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                                                                  Thanks guys! I am going to try this next time we have people over!


                                                                • BinkyBuster
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                                                                    I live in a student house that’s up for sale, so we’ve had tons of people coming through to look at the rooms. All of them want to see him, so I put a big sign on his cage that said “he is very shy and scared of people, please do not bother him” and they seem to not worry about him. As far as my friends/family go, if they insist on seeing him I let him out of his cage and let him go to them. Sometimes they’ll get a little treat to make him like them more (hehe). But I tell them that he’s very cautious and often he’ll run back into his cage after he gets his treat. They’re usually pretty good – I think being stern in your decision is best. I also have to agree though that SOME socializing is probably good for them.
                                                                    However, he did nip at my roommate once because she was petting him like a crazed lady. I guess you need to get some sort of in between somehow. Good luck!


                                                                  • FooFoosMommy2
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                                                                      We tell people that if Foo wants to be social she will come to you and to leave her alone otherwise. We’ve only ever had trouble with one person and she never comes over anymore, even our 3 and 4 year old niece and nephew understand. However, Foo normally hops right over to say hi to everyone, especially if they take her seat on the couch, lol. She has one of our friends trained to bring her a treat when he comes over, and will hop into his lap. I would think just straight up telling people to leave bun alone unless she wants attention would be enough.


                                                                    • FooFoosMommy2
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                                                                        We tell people that if Foo wants to be social she will come to you and to leave her alone otherwise. We’ve only ever had trouble with one person and she never comes over anymore, even our 3 and 4 year old niece and nephew understand. However, Foo normally hops right over to say hi to everyone, especially if they take her seat on the couch, lol. She has one of our friends trained to bring her a treat when he comes over, and will hop into his lap. I would think just straight up telling people to leave bun alone unless she wants attention would be enough.


                                                                      • BinkyBunny
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                                                                          Posted By mocha200 on 01/27/2013 06:12 PM

                                                                           I always thought that people would be scared if I told them he might bite, but I guess it might be better to scare them!

                                                                          Funny, because I always thought it would be impolite if I didn’t fully warn people what they were in for.   

                                                                          The first thing I tell people is…”Viv may bite.”  That usually stops any approach. Now, she hasn’t bitten anyone in two years, but she has one scary bluff and honestly, I don’t know if she would bite someone.  The last time she bit someone, Steve, she left a life long scar on his hand.   Rabbit bites hurt and the cut from their teeth is sharp like a razor making the bite bleed a lot.  So I don’t want that for my guests!  And no one has ever decided to tempt the “She bites” statement.  They always back up.  THEN I say, she is actually sweet once she trusts you, but it takes about a week. (and that’s true – at least it was for our house/pet sitter) .

                                                                           Then, if they are up for listening, I do what Sarita suggested and I use the opportunity to educate them.   Even Jack, who wouldn’t bite guests, would sometimes lunge, but with a treat, he melted for anyone.  With him, I gave people the opportunity to pet him.  With my niece and nephew I made sure they knew that rabbits need to trust and can be upset by sudden movements and sounds. I prepped them before they were allowed to enter the bunny room —  and so they were old enough to understand to be very quiet and gentle,  and Jack enjoyed being pet by them.   When my nephew and niece were younger, I would have to make sure they were secure in my arms and we approached the bunnies gently together. 


                                                                        • thebunnier
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                                                                            I like the baby gate and the sign idea. You could put up a baby gate just behind or in front of the door, and on the door put a sign that says “Rabbit Room – DO NOT ENTER”. Then if you had your friends over that wanted to see the rabbits, you could just open the door, and have no problems because the baby gate would simply block anyone from invading their privacy. Also, if you wanted to do one or the other, out some rules under the “Rabbit Room – DO NOT ENTER” sign, like, no one enters without supervision, rabbits can be aggressive, so please stay away, and stuff like that.


                                                                          • Bwbedard
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                                                                              Tell them they bite. That’ll scare em off!


                                                                            • LittlePuffyTail
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                                                                                Hey, guys. I’m going to lock this thread since it’s a few months old. We generally try to encourage members not to respond to older posts so we can keep all posts to current topics. Thanks

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                                                                            Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A How to tell guests to stay away from rabbits?