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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 Socializing bunny

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    • SeaTurtleSwims
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        Okay I’ve had my holland lop about a month now and he’s just over three months old. He’s super friendly and perfect with me, my two dogs and cat. However when people come over he doesn’t know them and he freaks out when they pick him up. I’ve thought about taking him to the pet store (that’s how I socialized my dogs with people?) But I’m thinking that’s morely going to be entertainment for humans and unnecessary stress on bunny? I don’t want strangers to be a scary experience. It should be a positive one!

        Suggestions?


      • pinknfwuffy
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          Hi! I think you have good intentions, but strangers are scary in almost any situation for rabbits. Most don’t like being picked up in general, but especially not by people who don’t handle them regularly. I would suggest not having company handle your rabbit. Instead, if they’re willing, maybe sit on the floor and let your rabbit come to them (if he chooses to). I find that the more people trying to pick up or reach out to a rabbit, the more fearful it can be.

          I also don’t think bringing your rabbit to the pet store is a good idea. I agree with the concept, but dogs respond better to meeting new people and learning that crowds and noise is okay over time. Rabbits can be stressed in these environments and it could make him more afraid of other people.

          I think the passive approach of letting the bunny choose when, and with whom, they want to socialize is the best idea. My rabbit doesn’t like to be handled by strangers but his curiosity will get him to come over to friends and family if they let him do so in his own time. Then he’ll crawl all over them! Give your young bunny time to know people are safe.


        • SeaTurtleSwims
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            Thank you! Still working out the knack of bunny behavior. I would much prefer to do that as opposed to enabling a negative experience!

            So on a different note, when floor time is over, he neverr wants to go back so I just kind of walk behind him to ‘herd’ him back to his crate. He’s out a couple times a day for 5-6 hours in all. Is there a better way to put him back when it’s time? I don’t want him thinking a massive T Rex Wookie is raiding his village. His body language doesn’t say ‘scared’ at these times, more like ‘catch me if you can’ which is why I just sort of started herding him home instead of trying to pick him up and look like a predator swooping in. Is that an okay way to be doing this or is there a better way?


          • pinknfwuffy
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              I think what you’re doing is fine as long as he isn’t scared, as you mentioned he doesn’t seem to be. I sometimes do the same when Olaf is being elusive.

              That said, if you want it to be less stressful for the both of you it might be worth trying to use a lure of some sort. I usually let my bunny out to play and only feed him at the end when I’m trying to get him back in. I put his bowl of pellets in the cage and shake it. He’s associated the sound with dinner and will usually go in for it.

              This takes time but it can work with some patience. If I feed him before he plays it’s harder to convince him to go back in because he’s already full. Others have trained their rabbits to enter on command, but my bun would laugh in my face if I tried. :]


            • SeaTurtleSwims
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                Ohhhhhh that’s a clever idea. I hadn’t thought about that. He pretty much always has hay and pellets but the precious kale and cilantro etc I’ve been giving him as soon as he comes out of the cage (which has made him a tiny pez dispenser for the dog). I think withholding the leafy goods until floor time is over could make going back to the crate more easily and help with litter training haha. Thank you! You’re a wealth of information for the new house rabbit owner!


              • Excript
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                  For me, all I need to do is enter my bunny’s area and she’ll come rushing back to her territory and that’s when I’ll fence up the entrance


                • Mikey
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                    To help my buns socialize with other people i carry around treats and greens with me or have some near their cage so when people come over, they have something to offer the bunnies and usually the bunnies warm up fast with pets and food! One of my bunnies is my ESA so he sees people much more often than my other two. Again, i just carry around treats and he opens right up to them


                  • Azerane
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                      Bandit was very friendly with strangers, however that doesn’t mean he would be ok with them picking him up. For me, no one would be allowed to pick up my rabbit without my permission (except my husband), and if they don’t really know Bandit, then certainly not. In fact, I wouldn’t let anyone except ourselves, a vet, or experienced rabbit handler pick him up. But for just visiting and people wanting to handle him, no you can not pick him up! Rabbits are bad enough about being held by people they trust, let alone people they don’t. So for me it’s just not worth the risk of letting someone else pick them up when a) they don’t know the rabbit well enough, b) the rabbit doesn’t trust them, and c) they don’t have the experience in handling bunnies.

                      As for getting him back in his cage. I used to use a treat to lure Bandit in, and when he got inside the cage I would feed it to him and say “bedtime” and shut the door behind him. Once he learned that, I could simply say “bedtime” and he would race inside his cage for a treat.


                    • Brambino
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                        My bun is exactly the same but we have just given up on her!

                        She is TERRIFIED of strangers. No one has ever tried to touch her or pick her up so we don’t know why she’s so scared.

                        As soon as a stranger comes into the room, she roadrunners behind the sofa and thumps until they’re gone and my partner or I go and reassure her.

                        Because she’s so stressed we don’t push her with strangers. Friends and family now just accept we have a rabbit room they can’t go in to!!


                      • SeaTurtleSwims
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                          I really like the idea of using treats to positively influence his interactions with guests. “You like my bunny? Me too. If you want to pet him we can sit on the floor. I’ll get you a treat to feed him if he comes up to BE PET NOT HELD by you ” Sounds like an easy enough fix that will be leaps and bounds better for his social skills long term than forcing him aginst his will to snuggle a stranger haha.

                          Also, ‘bedtime’ is a good idea with the treat/leafy goodness as a way to make going back to the crate a good thing and not a herding chore haha. We will practice that! I’m thinking he will need a high value treat to train leaving behind something as awesome as the living room. He doesn’t like fruit too muich- no idea why, he just loves his veggies! I know lots of people feed their guineas yogurt drops. Might try and see if he likes them and use them strictly for returning to the crate Thanks for the great tips!

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                      Forum BEHAVIOR Socializing bunny