Bunny is scared of the new sofa!

[MrBilboBagginsMammy]

i bought a new 2nd hand sofa yesterday and normally my bunny is the most nosey, confident bun around but he is really timid and anxious around the sofa. he used to jump all over the old one but this one he won’t come near. my other bunny hasn’t come on it either but seems less nervous around it but bilbo is genuinely scared. is there any reason why this might be? i think it may be because there was a dog on it as there seems to be alot of dog hairs underneath the cushions. my partner and i have cleaned it up as best we can and used a  fabric odour air freshner spray to try and cover up any potential smells. i can’t smell anything but i know the bunnies noses will be more sensitive than ours. any advice or suggestions to help my bunnies would be very much appreciated because although id rather they didn’t jump all over them (to save the risk of pee’s!) i don’t want either of my bunnies to feel scared in their own home. 

[Sarita]

Sometimes its the smell…

Otherwise it could be the shape as they are not familiar with it.

Also rabbits are suspicious of anything new :~)

Give them time they’ll get used to it.

[Bam]

I think they will get used to it. My bunny was scared of my actual dog at first, but he got used to her, and she’s a big dog. I think your bunnies will get use to your sofa too, as long as it doesn’t chase them, or bite =D But it may take som time since bunnies are reluctant learners (imo).

All you really can do is clean the sofa like you have done, and then the bunnies sonner or later will realize that it’s not a predator.

[MrBilboBagginsMammy]

Yeah, it’s just in the past he has never been scared e.g. in house moves or when i’ve changed the sofa before but i think it’s because the previous owner had a dog and he can smell the dog on the sofa.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Hi! Longtime, no see.

I agree. He probably smells something that is making him nervous. I’m sure he will get used to it in his own time.

[Author]

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