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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.

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Forum BEHAVIOR Does my rabbit not trust me?

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    • BouncingBunny
      Participant
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        My rabbit is 3 years old and I had him for almost a month now and at first he was scared and never came out of his hiding box but two days later he did but now whenever I tried to take him out his cage to clean it or just play with him he growls,slap my hand and sometimes bits me.
        Is this his way of playing or does he not like me or trust me yet?
        Because im really worried I want him to be happy and know I’m not a threat to him.


      • Gina.Jenny
        Participant
        2244 posts Send Private Message

          Bunnies can take a long time to build up trust, a month isn’t very long in terms of bunnies learning to trust. Its sounds like he feels you are intruding by cleaning his cage, and invading his space when you try to play, neither of which helps build trust. Can you clean his cage while he comes out for floor time, or something? And instead of trying to play, sit quietly on the floor holding something he likes to eat, and let him come to you. The route to a bunny’s heart is usually through their tummy! And if he feels he is in control of the interaction, he will feel safer.


        • Bam
          Moderator
          16836 posts Send Private Message

            A month is a very short time for a 3 year old bunny. My first bunny wouldn’t let me pet him for a year! He was an adult, and I don’t know what kind of life he’d had before me. Eventually he did warm up to me though, and he became very fond of being pet, esp on the head. The head or the ears are good places to start with, most buns like a head-rub, whereas most buns hates it when you touch their rear, not to mention their underside.

            As GJ says, rabbits can be territorial and want to defend their home. It’s best if you can clean his cage when he’s out playing. And if you let him come to you while you just sit quietly on the floor, he won’t see you as an intruder but as sth very interesting, esp if there are treats involved.


          • LittlePuffyTail
            Moderator
            18092 posts Send Private Message

              Ditto the others. My littlle Bridge girl took a really long time to warm up to me and almost a year before she would enjoy getting pet. I think she had been neglected and/or abused so this is a bit extreme but we hear of bunnies quite often that take several months to really feel at home with their new place and person.

              The growling and biting may be territorial. Is he neutered?

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          Forum BEHAVIOR Does my rabbit not trust me?