Hi guys, I am new here but I am very worried about my bunny.
I got him around 6 weeks ago, adopted from another family. He is about a year and three-four months I believe. When I adopted him he was a bit shy at first, but within days was very very settled and seemed to love being free in my room in my old place.
We had a very strong bond, I clicker trained him to do some tricks, he would always jump onto my bed for cuddles, and he loved being stroked and cuddled. He would always come to me for pets and so on. I was so happy that he liked me and seemed strongly bonded to me.
However, yesterday I had to move to my boyfriend’s house. My boyfriend’s house was about a 4 and half hour drive away, so obviously we had a very long car journey for bun. He wasn’t in a travel carrier, we put him in a small cage with a hidey tent, food, water, toys and so on, so we tried to make it as comfortable as possible for him. He was very scared and shaking, but when we stopped at services he nuzzled to me for cuddles etc so I thought he was still fine with me.
However, once we got him home last night at around 7pm he was very timid, and didn’t want to be touched anymore. I understand this, obviously, as he was scared and settling into a new place. He has a nice big room all to himself upstairs in my boyfriend’s house, but it is now the next day and, although he seems very happy with his new room (lots of exploring and running around), he still seems to be angry at me.
He won’t let me pet him for more than a second without running away, he hops away from me when I approach, even when he smells me he turns his nose up (this may be because my boyfriend has dogs downstairs and I might smell like dogs). He will eat in front of me so I know he’s alright, but he won’t eat from my hand. He used to do anything for a treat from me. If I lie on the floor next to him (which used to prompt immediate grooming), he will just hop away instead of licking my face like he used to.
I know it hasn’t been long but it feels as though the bond has just been destroyed. I am scared he hates me now or thinks I’m a different person because I don’t smell exactly the same. I don’t want him to be scared of me. I cried last night because I thought he hates me forever now. I know it sounds silly but he seems settled in the room but still so unsettled with me. It makes me feel really upset.
Will he come around? Does he hate me? Will I have to rebuild our relationship from scratch or will he remember our bond soon and be himself around me again soon?
I also need to know some tips on making a rabbit less aversive to car journeys. It won’t be for a long time, but next year I will have to move again and I don’t want him to be terrified. I’m really scared that I’m being a bad owner by moving him two or three times in a couple of years (which unfortunately I will have to do as a student), but he has a room in every home he’s in and is very very well looked after. Please give me some advice as I am really worried. Sorry for the long post.