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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

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 4sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 12 months ago by Love4Bunny.

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- 04/19/2016 at 11:19 AM
  Ashtonblaire98
  Participant
  2 posts
  I recently gave a 1 year old lionhead a new home. His previous owners didn’t have time for him and I don’t believe held him very often. I love him dearly but he will not let us do anything with him. He won’t even let me brush him. I feel bad that I’m not able to care for him like he needs. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get him more use to me and let me handle him?
- 04/19/2016 at 4:01 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  Treats and yummy greens are almost sure fire ways to get your new bunny used to you. Remember that most rabbits dont like being picked up and some dont like cuddling either. Some will tolerate it and others will jump away as soon as they realize youre trying to hold/cuddle them. For grooming, youll want to keep him on the floor as much as possible if hes one who doesnt like to be held at all. My bunnys dont care for grooming too much, so i like to set out their greens then start brushing them. It keeps them mostly still for me so i can get them all brushed
- 04/19/2016 at 4:30 PM
  MiNinoJack
  Participant
  226 posts
  I recently posted this on another thread, but it helped me so much when I adopted my rabbit. There is some stellar advice in here:
  
  http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/shybun.html
  
  Good luck!
- 04/22/2016 at 3:15 AM
  Love4Bunny
  Participant
  878 posts
  You can also just sit on the floor in the middle of a rabbit-proofed room, and let your rabbit explore. Read a book, play games on your phone with the volume down, do homework, even take a nap. These things will allow you to bond properly with your rabbit, and help him feel safe. If he comes near, offer him a treat, and let him go on his merry way without petting him. He will eventually allow you to pet him as you consistently do this, unless something spooks him in the moment. He may never be okay with being picked up and put in a lap, but you know, that is a very common thing on the forum. Took me about 8 months for my girl to trust me (and I spend time with her everyday). Considering you will possibly have your rabbit for upto 12 years, something like 8 months is really nothing, and will go by fast, if your rabbit is as shy as mine!
- 04/22/2016 at 3:28 AM
  Love4Bunny
  Participant
  878 posts
  Also, if you need to get loose hair off and your rabbit is molting up a storm, you can start by petting the top of his head with a couple of fingers, then ears, then *fingers crossed* his back. If you find hair just coming off, use this time to gently lift loose hair as you “groom”. You can also distract rabbits using pellets when you need to get something done.
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