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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR How can I get my bunnies to like me more?

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    • Tonks and Padfoot
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        I got my rabbits about a month ago and one of them will often come up to me and sniff but then run away when I try to pet him. I have been letting them roam around my room, but the one (Padfoot) never wants to go back to his cage, so I have to end up chasing him around my room and herding him back to his cage… How can I get my rabbits to want to see me and not be afraid when I approach them?


      • Sarita
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        18851 posts Send Private Message

          No chasing – that is a big no no for a rabbit. It’s the flight for fright mode.

          It’s a matter of trust and time and you need to be patient – one month is not long enough for trust to develop and stop chasing.

          Keep a routine and when they are out allow the to come to you but don’t reach out – let them come and sniff you. Rabbits are so much different than cats or dogs – get on their level :~)


        • Kbana
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          529 posts Send Private Message

            Have you tried leaving their favorite treats in a path back to their enclosure? Maybe that will help you stop chasing him. My bun is really motivated by his pellets but really he’d eat just about anything if I let him. And I agree with Sarita, ignore him for a while every time they are out and allow him to come to you. When he does, don’t reach out to pet him, but instead have some treats handy. Over time he will start to associate you with yummy treats.


          • Eepster
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              Bribe them with carrots. Sit still reading or watching a video on the floor near them, just be with them not trying to pet or handle them.

              Once they start to relax, put your face down on the floor nose to nose with one and wait for the eyebrow grooming to begin.


            • buddyboy
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                It took a while for my rabbit to feel really confortible having me walk up to him, I never pick him up. I pretty much ignored him when I first got him, just let him roam around and investigate. When he did come up to me, I wouldn’t touch him. After a few days, I would put my finger by his nose and let him sniff. Then he would run off. When I would get up from a chair or bed, he looked like he was about to run, but I would slowly just walk by him to get him used to me walking around him. Then I would quick little pets, then walk away. Slowly making them longer pets.
                Just take everything slow. I’ve had my rabbit for about 4 1/2 months. Now he loves being pet, Wakes me up each morning pushing his lips on my eyelid and wiggling his whiskers. He does this in my ear too, and if I don’t respond, he will jump on the side of my head till I move. He links my head/grooms me when I lay down.
                Your rabbit will change. You just always have to give them attention especially if they come up to you. I drop everything when BUDDIE hops up to me, and I talk and pet him.
                Give your bunnies lots of attention and talk to them. Your bunnie will come around before you know it


              • Annabel93
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                  Spend lots of time on the floor with them, waiting for them to approach you rather than vice versa. You can offer them treats on your lap or from your hand which will gradually teach them that you = food and they will therefore love you no matter what

                  Also don’t try and chase them or pick them up, tempt them into the cage with treats instead. Given time they’ll trust you but depending on the rabbit they may or may not enjoy being stroked and picked up. Mine took about a month and now they seem to be in love with me, and even more so with my boyfriend. If we’re sat on the floor with them they place themselves on our laps/in our arms, demanding strokes :3


                • Elrohwen
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                    Spend a lot of time around them quietly, offering treats if they approach, but don’t try to grab them or pet them for now until they are coming up to you more consistently.

                    Instead of chasing him, use treats or even his dinner to get him back in the cage.


                  • buddyboy
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                      When two rabbits play, they chase each other around. I just have one that is really confortible around me. I started out saying… I’m gonna get you…. Then I would tickle his foot, or face which he loves. Then he binkies and backs up, then I repeat.. I’m gonna get you… And move towards him fast till he runs and binkies away. I chase him all over till he stops. Then I pet him and say good boy… Then I run to the kitchen and he chases me, then to the closet, then to the bathroom. He loves this game. He’s learned… I’m gonna get you… And it gets him so excited. It took awhile to get him to play this game, but he loves it so much now., and I know this is how bunnies play, so he’s really confortible with this.


                    • Tonks and Padfoot
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                        Omg thanks so much for all the advice everybody, today I was doing homework on the floor and my shy bun came up to me and sniffed around!

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                    Forum BEHAVIOR How can I get my bunnies to like me more?