Will our bunny ever enjoy being touched?

[Harriet]

Hi guys 🙂

I am new here and would like to ask for your advice. 3 weeks ago me and my husband have bought a wonderful bunny. He was 8 weeks old at that time and was kept outdoors with his mom and his siblings. He probably did not get much attention then, as the breeder had about 30 “babies” at that time. Occassionally she would carry him to be checked, photographed and stuff. More or less against his will, I guess. Do not get me wrong, she is an excellent and experienced breeder.

We bought a cage and a fence. Most of the evenings we let him either run in the hall, where at least one of us is with him, or in the fence in the living room. In the hall he allways runs around and is curious about everything. In the fence, sometimes he runs and jumps, somtimes he seems a little bored or tired. He gets less attention there, as I may be cooking atc. during that time.

He is now nearly 3 months. He got used to many household noises and he is hardly ever scared. He happily reaches out (even of his comfort zone) for a treat. However, he does not need to be touched. He tolerates us stroking him while he eats or gets attention. does not seem to particularly like it. It got quite a lot better since we have brought him – he avoided touch then.
I am unsure, whether to take things slow and let him approach us (and risk that while the “babyhood” of his will be soon gone, we might miss the opportunity for him to become a bunny that enjoys cuddling) or grab him every now and then, stroke him, carry him and maybe ignore a little that he is not particularly fond of it (and risk that he might lose trust in us or start avoiding being touched). Or is it still too soon – are we expecting too much of him?

He is a wonderful and very smart bunny, we often look in surprise what “assumptions” he is capable of. He is also very curious and active, so as long as he is out of the cage, there is literally no time when he would calm down and get a bit tired, sleepy and more approachable. When he is out in the hall, he is comfortable enough to jump on our lap, touch us, run around us. But does not seem to perceive a stroke as a reward.

Thank you very much in advance for your comments.

[Lyia]

Hi Harriet,

I understand how you feel.

Noah is the same, we adopted him from a rescue and he was quite shy and frightened at the beginning. After the first couple of months he was binkying, curious about us and taking food from our hands but running away every time I was trying to touch him. At the time I decided to not insist and let him be. He was bonded with Billy (who incidentally is a cuddling machine!) and for many months, Noah received all his affection from Billy only. He was coming to me and nudging me but always avoided being petted. I thought he did not like to be touched.

Slowly, I realised that he did not mind being stroked when he was lying with Billy or in his cage. He felt secure and safe and seemed to enjoy it as long as I kept it short. At the beginning of this year I decided to give him a small cuddle once a day to see if he could get used to it. I have to say that I have seen a massive improvement, sometimes he just flattens his head and wait for some more! At other times he just pushes my hand away. He is comfortable with us since he lies on his side next to me, but it seems that he only wants affection on his terms. I just offer him a stroke a couple of times a day now and see if he accepts it or not.

When he decides he is ok with one, it can vary from 15 seconds to 2 minutes (Billy could go on for hours). I guess there are some bunnies who like strokes less than others (NB: We had Noah for 1 year 1/2 now, so we have been taking it slow).

I hope this helps!

[Bam]

My bunny Bam was an adult bunny when I got him and he didn’t enjoy cuddles or being touched at all. It came very slowly and gradually with him. Eventually, after a year , he started to accept being pet. Then he started to like it. Then he started to seek us humans out for cuddling every night. He esp likes to be pet on his head and ears. But it’s almost exclusively on his own terms, it’s only my mother who is ever allowed to lift him up and sit him in her lap and pet him.

So I don’t think babyhood is the only time they can be taught to love cuddling. My personal belief is that it’s best to let the bun come to you, but others may disagree. It is important of course that the bunny learns to tolerate necessary handling, like getting his nails cut etc.

Come to think of it my other bun was past babyhood when he came to me, I had him neutered right away, he was probably like 5-6 months, and he has developed into the cuddliest pet I’ve ever had. He’s a cuddle-junkie =)

[LBJ10]

When it comes to affection, it is usually better to let them learn to trust you slowly. This doesn’t mean you can’t test the boundaries, just as long as it is a baby step at a time. However, there are also benefits to getting them accustomed to being picked up for necessary things (nail trimmings, emergencies, etc). So most of the time, my buns are allowed to approach me on their own terms. They may allow me to pet them or they may not, depends on what they are seeking (usually food o_O). But I also spent a good amount of time picking them up, particularly Leopold, and rewarding them with a treat. I didn’t hold them long, just long enough for them to feel comfortable. Do they like it? Of course not. But I think it’s important.

[Flopsie]

In my opinion, there are three groups of bunnies (of course, of varying degrees between them).

1. Bunnies that love being picked up and cuddled
2. Bunnies that hate be cuddle or be picked up.
3. Bunnies that can cuddle or be picked up on their terms only.

It seems like if the bun belongs in the first one, it is the exception and not the norm. If you have one of those bunnies, I consider you to be very lucky

I feel like most of the buns don’t like to be cuddled or picked up or they only do so on their terms. I would classify my bunny this way. She doesn’t like to be picked up and doesn’t cuddle. But will like to be put a lot but on her terms. Also she shows affection by giving bunny kisses, but again when she wants to.

Bunnies typically aren’t into cuddling and we have to accept that. And if they do, they may only tolerate on their terms or for a short while.

I would say don’t rush it, do it in a slow but systematic way and eventually the behavior will get better. Will the bun ever love to be picked up, likely not, but you can make it so that she can tolerate it for a short bit.

[Harriet]

Thanks a lot to all of you! Your answers are really helpful. It’s great to hear a different person’s point of view and all of you have definitely more experience in this area than I do 🙂

Thanks!

[Bam]

I agree that not many bunnies like to be picked up. Before I had bunnies, I’ve had German Shepherd dogs, so I’ve never been used to picking pets up for cuddles. To a bunny it’s stressful to be picked up because they feel they’re about to get eaten.

I don’t know if being cuddly necessarily means being willing to be picked up. To me it seems bunnies like to be pet a huge lot.

[Author]

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