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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 Rescued & adopted rabbit

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    • Sadbunman
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        I do not know what to do with him, I’ve done research and had much patience with him, hes a rescue bunny so I’m unaware of his age but hes mature. He gives me the normal issues i can work with but its been months since I’ve adopted him and he will not respond or come to me when called. I’ve used every method of training him to come but to no avail. He only wants his treats with his meals and he only wants his meals at specific times. I don’t understand. Also, he rarely eats his hay as i provide him with fresh hay every day, and won’t eat his food until later if i give him greens of any kind. He just pieces greens over everything else?
        Any help you guys could offer would be wonderful. He acts as though he only trusts me a wee bit but I’ve done almost nothing to make him scared of me. I even crawl toward him when i want to pet him or something. He also doesnt seem interested in any toys anymore,he liked them before but randomly left old and new toys alone. Only to put them in his food bowl when its empty.


      • LongEaredLions
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          Bunnies are prey animals and often do not respond to human interaction in the same way that other animals, such as dogs, might. Training a bunny is largely a hit-or-miss subject, most bunnies are not interested in it. Is it necessary that you “train” him? Bunny-owner relationships can thrive when the animal is able to drive the relationship.
          Rabbits actually often prefer a schedule, so his meal timing isn’t necessarily out of the ordinary. However, he should be eating hay throughout the day. Have you tried different hays? If you are concerned about your bunny’s eating habits, a vet visit is always a good idea. Preferring greens is normal, in my experience, however, if you think his greens are preventing him from consuming hay, you should talk to your vet.
          Having a trusting relationship with a bunny can take days, months, years….try not to get discouraged but remember that bunnies are prey animals and it can take a long time before they trust you. Talk to your bunny a lot, and don’t chase him, or try to pet him if he isn’t ready. Offer rewards-positive reinforcement is key.
          All bunnies like different toys. Try a bunch to see what he likes. They don’t have to be expensive either-bunnies love anything make out of cardboard.
          Good Luck!


        • Bam
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            I can only second what LEL has said: Rabbits need lots of time, especially mature rabbits. They don’t respond to humans like dogs for two major reasons: 1. Dogs are predators/scavengers, rabbits are prey animals and 2. dogs have been domesticated for around 30 000 – 40 000 years wheras bunnies have been domesticated for about 200 years.

            I’m very glad you rescued this little guy – he needed you and he needs you. I’m glad you came here with your questions and worries, because we really do want to help all bunnies and bunny-owners.

            My first bunny Bam was mature when I found him abandonned in the woods and it took him a year to warm up to his new humans. Then it was like a switch had been flipped – he became much more adventurous, explorative and started to enjoy being pet and cuddled. Before that he’d more or less just sat under the coffea-table in the living-room, he’d probably been used to being caged at all times. He didn’t trust people – he does now though. He even likes to sit in my lap and be pet and brushed. So don’t give up on your bunny! They can be slow learners and they have deep instincts that tell them to be very, very cautious. in nature, just about every other animal that isn’t a herbivore is their enemy.

            As LEL also says, postive reinforcement is the way to go with a bun. They tend to love treats. They hate it when you stare at them face forward (we have predator eyes, ie eyes that face forward. That allows us and (other) predators to very accurately determine distance, and fixating on prey is the step leading up to pouncing. Rabbits instinctively knows this.

            To get to know your bun or rather to get him to know you, it’s really good if you can be on the floor both of you. You can just sit and read a book or listen to music in head-phones (but keep an eye on the cords, a bunny likes to snip cords esp thin ones). When your bunny approaches you, don’t do anything. You can put a few small pieces of treats rather near you to attract him. This is again not at all how you’d do with a dog, but it’s a way that often is successful with bunnies. Don’t make big gestures, sudden movements or noises. Above all, be patient. I know you have been patient, patience really is key with buns.

            Getting him neutered can help, it tends to make buns less skittish, but unless he’s aggressive and territorial (pees and poops all over the place, defends his living-space), neutering a male won’t make a huge difference. (It’s different with girl rabbits).

            We’d be very happy for updates and more info about your bunny. We appreciate bunny pictures a lot, and we have a lounge-section where there’s a monthly picture thread and a monthly cat, you’re very welcome to join. And don’t hesitate to ask more questions. We have encountered “difficult” bunnies here before, but I don’t think we’ve had a hopeless case yet =)

            As for him preferring greens over hay, that’s normal. Hay still is the most important food though.


          • Sadbunman
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              Well he likes new toys every once in a whole I’m going to try rotating them. But, hes very territorial and recently began to spray, but not enough to be a problem. He sure poops a while lot though lol. The problem i have is he’s got a rabbit run ( larger than most because i built it) and he digs under it and roams the yard ( again not a problem) but, after he’s hit the yard he won’t come back until he’s ready. I’ve had to “heard” him back in from around the house at 4am and such for fear the other wild animals will get him and i know that makes him hate me.. If i sit patiently he runs circles around me ( we’ve done this for over an hour before & i try my patience with him every time) he doesn’t care for treats except with his meals so those won’t help me get him to me. When he does rarely lay down and wait for me to walk over and pick him up he tried to scratch and run as soon as we get near the rabbit run or i try to put him down, i usually try to hold him a little bit snug because i don’t want him to hurt himself jumping from my arms. The only thing i find necessary for training is to have him come when called. But, if its going to take a few more months or years then I’m on it. And yes i give him different hays to choose from, I’m not saying he doesn’t eat it but, i don’t know how much is enough? I appreciate the help and ill catch a good picture for you guys today. I named him Chester btw.


            • BinkyBunny
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                I just wanted to pipe in to ditto what the others have said, but also offer some additional advice.  I have never had a rabbit come when called.  But it’s not like I tried to train them for that specifically. I have trained them to do other things, like do a circle or go into the litterbox when I say the word litterbox.   If you want your bunny to come when called, you should do clicker training.  Most bunnies do know the word “treat treat” or what the shake of treat bag sounds like.   (usually they coincide which is why they learn quickly the word “treat”.   They are very food motivated.    Does your bunny have a favorite treat that he goes nuts for?   If so, only give that to him when it’s time to go in.  Get a sounds (like a bag shaking, or say the word treat when you give him the treat.  He will quickly come over to you for that and you will be surprised how quickly they learn “treat!”

                Also, for now, until he’s trained, figure out a way to limit his run space so you aren’t running around til 4am to get him.  And if you ever get into a bind that you cannot lure him inside, you may need to get a blanket and toss it over him.  Better than you both stressing out for hours.  As you chasing builds fear in him, and resentment in you.   

                Schedules are very important for bunnies.  As prey animals, the predictability of the day being the same makes them feel safe.   The safer they feel, the more trusting they may be.    So if you are able, do your best to keep feeding schedules the same, play time etc as well, this may help with the feeling of security — may help with less marking then as well.  Though neutering is your best bet.     Do you have any other animals?  Sometimes marking can be made worse with the presence of other animals too.   (but again neutering may help).

                To help with trust –just lay down near him, (crawling may make him a bit scared still).   Hang out and let him come over to you and sniff you.  Just read a book, or do stuff on your phone or tablet.  Basically ignore him.  This is what rabbits do to let each other know they mean no harm.  You may find that he will come sniff you, but  then go away and just lay near you.   Just let it be like that for a bit.  You can also have treats so that when he does come over, you can give them to him.   Yes, you are going to feel like your only use is a food dispenser, but this is building trust. 

                I would also refrain from trying to snuggle with him (just for now) unless absolutely necessary.   Let more time pass and more trust be built. 

                Patience, and understand that this is a prey animal, and there is no way for you to fully communicate, in HUMAN terms, to make him understand you are not a threat.   You have to speak rabbit — which is all body language and lots of patience.  What we consider love or care, they may react like they are being caught or trapped.   What we would consider being aloof or ignoring a nervous bunny, would read as a non-threat to the bunny.   Then once trust has been established, he will learn that you reaching for him is to pet him, (not to pick him up or to catch him).  It will take time for him to get that.     




              • Bam
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                  My bunnies don’t come when they’re called, but they will come when I shake the treat-jar. Both my buns are neutered, neutered bunnies are more likely to be interested in treats than intact males. It is very, very hard to compete with the freedom of your yard though. Treats are way less rewarding than being able to roam free, he can’t of course understand the risks.

                  It’s correct that you should try and hold a bunny snug when you need to hold it – you don’t want it escaping or kicking out (the bun’s back can snap if he kicks out back when you’re holding him.


                • Sadbunman
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                    So today i let him out in my room abs bun proofed a small area while i played a game of league on the floor too, he decided to spray me. So, i put him in his cage and took him out side. He decided hed spray me 3 more times… Hes being a real hassle today and i don’t know why. He was super happy this morning when i got up and he was fine until i let him out.


                  • Vienna Blue in France
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                      Lucky bun to have been rescued by you! Well done and keep perservering. Was he used to being with other buns in the rescue centre? Maybe he’s missing a friend or a smell?
                      Running circles around you when you’re sitting patiently is what my bun does to me sometimes – she thinks its fun (I think!).
                      I’m sure if your bun didn’t trust you he would not stay running around you in circles… he’ll come when ready…. but it will take time.
                      You are giving him what he needs (food, water, love from a distance and security safe from the elements) so for the moment you are doing your ‘job’. The rest will take time… if at all. Non social buns are a bit like wild animals, or birds, or aquatic life…. they are to be admired from a distance. For now.

                      Keep going and please keep us updated. We’re all patient bun lovers who have been there and experienced what you are going through.
                      You are not alone.


                    • lunavenus
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                        I’m a new bunny owner and only had my two lops for a bout 3 months now, but during those 3 months I realized some things. I didn’t have them rescued though, I got them from a breeder and got them when they were still babies.

                        Bunnies like to do things on their own terms and conditions lol. My two rabbits pay attention to me when THEY want to but they already respond super well to me shaking their treats bag. They sort of respond to their names when I call them. Depends if they feel like responding or not (sometimes I know they are ignoring me lol). At night they usually respond to me again on their own terms. When I call them, they usually start sprinting out of their cage and towards me OR sometimes they totally just ignore me but usually at night they don’t.

                        When I come home, they come out of their cage and run to me to greet me majority of the time. They don’t go back until I acknowledge them with some head rubs. I’ve heard some bunnies respond to names but others don’t…. I guess it all depends on the personality of the rabbit.

                        My two bunnies litter trained pretty quick as I got them when they were only 2 months old but their litter training got a lil shaky when they started hitting maturity especially for Luna.
                        My Luna peed on my foot a couple times and she started marking various parts of my dorm room as she got older.
                        I added a second litter box and the peeing on carpet stopped for a bit. She is now spayed and she doesn’t pee on my carpet anymore.
                        If you haven’t gotten your Chester neutered, I think you should for behavioral reasons but that’s totally up to you since fixing bunnies can be expensive. Male bunnies don’t need to be neutered anyways as they are not in high risk for cancer like female bunnies. I think Chester may be spraying you to mark you as “his” so that’s sort of a show of affection haha

                        Only reason I say get him neutered is because there is a good chance some of his behaviors might stem from hormonal issues.

                        Don’t lose hope in your bunny. He probably just need more time to get used to his surroundings especially since he’s a rescue bunny. Prey animal instincts can be a big bummer haha 


                      • Bam
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                          If a bunny sprays you, it’s a compliment. He finds you attractive. Circling a person’s feet is also part of bunny courtship. Nipping and grunting and following you around are other components of bunny-courtship that he might or might not display. It’s never an insult or discontentment when a bun sprays you with pee, it’s about sex and it’s not a deliberate choice the bun makes, it’s about hormones. It’s very frustrating for him that you don’t respond like a girl-bunny would to his invites, so he might get a little impatient with you. This happened with my German Shepherd dog and my Bam, Bam fell in love with her, she was NOT pleased, Bam didn’t give up, he pestered her all day – in the end we decided to get him neutered and the courting-behavior went away after 1-2 weeks.

                          To me your bun sounds like a happy buck with quite some bunnitude and rather a lot of hormonal activity going on. If you’re in the Northern hemisphere, this is an effect of being exposed to lots of daylight (amount of daylight controls the production and release of many hormones, not just sex-hormones). Even neutered bunnies that are always inside get more sexually aware in the spring and summer, although with neutered bunnies it’s of course rarely very apparent.


                        • Sadbunman
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                            Well over the last week ive noticed hes much nicer and sociable with me when hes in his run, when hes in the yard he isnt so cool ha. He comes to his name, gets hella happy when i cone over to pet him and he started nudging me for pets yesterday. As for the sound of treats in a bag is a nogo seeing as all of his food is bag oriented and he likes to be on schedule lol. But, yes i have a cat and a dog hes become pretty acquaibyed with the dog. Tried to mount hwr once but no more, tries to get her to chase him aeound the yard when hes out. But the cat i dont think he likes too much., not sure though.

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                        Forum BEHAVIOR Rescued & adopted rabbit