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Forum THE LOUNGE Bonding with a Single Rabbit

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    • pinknfwuffy
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        This is a bit of a ramble about my experience with Olaf. I’ve seen a lot of questions in the forums about how to bond with your rabbit and while I don’t think there is a one size fits all prescription for every rabbit, I thought this might be helpful for those of you who might be having trouble with your bunny (especially if you only have one and are their sole source of interaction). I’d also love to hear other tips.

        I’ve had Olaf for a year and a half, since he was 6 months old. He is the classic adventure bun–hates to be picked up, loves to run around and investigate, will occasionally settle for head pets and back strokes. It took a year for he and I to develop a relationship similar to that of bonded rabbits. It started slowly as he gradually became comfortable with me and our routine.

        1. Keep your distance. The best advice I can give anyone trying to bond with their rabbit is to try and be as neutral and passive as possible, especially in the early stages. Find a spot on the floor where you can observe their activity and do your own thing. I would lay on the living room floor and watch movies while Olaf hopped around, near, and often on me. I never reached out. I never tried to instigate. Let them come to you for the first few weeks.

        2. Food helps. As you get to know your rabbit and their favorite foods, use them to your advantage. If you rabbit is timid, leave a few treats or fresh greens around you while you sit or lay on the floor. As they build trust, start to leave the food in your open hand. Don’t reach out. Just let them eat it from your palm or off your body. Over time, depending on how quickly your rabbit relaxes, you can start to offer treats to them directly. Building the foundation of safety is necessary.

        3. Training really helped me bond with Olaf. It also showed him he could trust me to be a provider of good things. We do clicker training (you can research it online, lots of Youtube videos) everyday. Not only to keep his tricks fresh but also to strengthen our bond. Over time, I have been able to use this positive response to assist with grooming, getting him in his carrier, and overall care.

        4. Use your face. WHAT? Rabbits don’t give handshakes, they sniff noses when they meet. Instead of reaching out to your little friend, trying laying down on your belly or kneeling with your head low to the ground. See if they investigate your nose and face. NOTE: Be smart about how close you get. Not all rabbits enjoy this behavior and you know your rabbit best. If they are a serial nipper, I would suggest you skip this technique. When Olaf sits up on the back of the couch I lean forward and let him sniff me. This has started a cycle of grooming where he licks my forehead and I pet him in return. Not all rabbits will offer this delightful service but it is worth trying if you think your rabbit might accept you as they would another rabbit.

        5. Have a routine. Rabbits are creatures of habit and, as such, are likely to be more comfortable and accepting when they know what is happening and when. Every morning around 6am I wake to Olaf’s cage rattling. I let him out to run around and then we lay on the couch together before work. He hops up and lays with me for a while before doing his own thing and having breakfast. At night he gets lots of playtime, clicker training, and more couch time. It can be difficult with work and family to have a perfect schedule but the more you spend time with your rabbit, and the more consistent that time is, the easier bonding will be.

        These are not applicable to everyone and I realize it is not possible for all lifestyles. I live alone and have a set work schedule so this has been easier for me than someone with a family, school work, or a shift-based job. I would suggest trying at least a few of these options to see what works best. It took a lot of time and patience but eventually he got the message that I’m not trying to eat rabbit for lunch. :]

        Good luck!


      • sarahthegemini
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          I think this is really helpful!

          I myself have two buns ; one of whom is very shy and timid, and it took time for him to realise I wasn’t a threat. Due to routine constantly changing – him and my doe being together, then separated, surgery and bonding, we sort of regressed a little or maybe just stopped progressing? So I’ve gone back to basics with him – he is much more comfortable in general around me, my partner and his environment (I’ve never seen a bunny flop so much in my life!) but he’s still not as confident as my doe with human interaction. I think this is partly because that’s his character (my girl is quite attached to me, whereas he is attached to her – he’s a bun’s bun!) but I am, as I said going back to basics, I’m sitting on the floor and ignoring him and allowing him to approach me in his own time and we’ll see where it goes

          Sorry bit of a ramble there!


        • pinknfwuffy
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            I think your plan is a good one. It can be hard with a bonded pair. As you mentioned, he seems like a “bun’s bun” and might just be more inclined to enjoy her company than people’s. But sitting with him is a great idea. I hope he warms up soon.

            I think the easiest way to bond with your rabbit is also to accept who they are and their personality. Trying to fit a square peg in a round hole will always feel disappointing. I had a lot of family members pressuring me to try and pick Olaf up and “cuddle” with him. They didn’t get why I was trying to let him be his own rabbit. It wasn’t until the six-month mark of passively spending time together that he took the first step towards laying by my feet and being close.

            All in time. Good luck!


          • sarahthegemini
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              Posted By pinknfwuffy on 2/24/2017 1:38 PM

              I think your plan is a good one. It can be hard with a bonded pair. As you mentioned, he seems like a “bun’s bun” and might just be more inclined to enjoy her company than people’s. But sitting with him is a great idea. I hope he warms up soon.

              I think the easiest way to bond with your rabbit is also to accept who they are and their personality. Trying to fit a square peg in a round hole will always feel disappointing. I had a lot of family members pressuring me to try and pick Olaf up and “cuddle” with him. They didn’t get why I was trying to let him be his own rabbit. It wasn’t until the six-month mark of passively spending time together that he took the first step towards laying by my feet and being close.

              All in time. Good luck!

              He definitely prefers her company but over the last week or two he’s really shown that he does enjoy my company, and better yet he does seem to enjoy being pet, just in much smaller doses, so we’re building up He’s a lovely little boy  And I absolutely agree that it all comes down to accepting (and respecting) their personalities. I also had pressure from family members – well, my Mum – because apparently I should be able to pick him up whenever I like and “he’ll get used to it” She also used to say if Peanut didn’t approach her (when she visited)  she was gunna “reach in to his cage and grab him” 

              Me and Peanut have come a long way tho, he actually puts his paws on me and even climbs on my lap sometimes when I’ve got treats 


            • vanessa
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                I like your post. I’v got the distance, food, and routine down. With food, I found that it helps GREATLY to feed pellets twice a day, instead of free feeding. I have 1 pair of super snuggly cuddly bunnies, and a pair that I’ve had for about 3 years, that only recently allow me to pet them consistently. I have a thread about “getting Avalon and Morgana to trust me”. We’ll see if they ever become cuddly with me. If not, I’m ok with it. They step on my toes and dance for their twice-a-day pellets, and allow me to pet them while they eat, so that’s progress. I scoop them into cat carriers for transport/handling. I don’t try to pick them up with my hands, but once they are in the carrier, I can lift them out and wrap them in a towel. I like the clicker training idea, especially since these two are destructo-bunnies. I’m going to give it a try. I think after clicking for treats, I want to train them to go into their carrier when I click, so I don’t have to corner them.


              • Gifty
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                  Gifty Hello All I would like to enquire regarding certain Specific Blood Tests for my Pet Rabbit. Would anyone please tell me if these tests can be performed anywhere in the world . I have a referral letter from my veterinary doctor for performing these tests for import of my pet. These tests are advised from Government of India. I want to import my pet from Saudi Arabia to India. I am really struggling to a find a lab . Please help. 1) RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE ( ELISA) 2) TULAREMIA -( ELISA) 3) MYXMATOSIS – ( ELISA)


                • Bam
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                    Hello Gifty!
                    Your question have a better chance of being spotted by someone who might know about antibody testing if you create a thread of your own. You do that by clicking the “Add Topic” button at the upper left corner of the approprite sub-forum (I suggest “House Rabbit Q&A). I’d move your question if I could, but it’s not among the things a forum leader can do.


                  • sarabelle
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                      Is it odd if I say it was kind of easy to bond with Zeke? Then again, I did get him really young.


                    • sarahthegemini
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                        Posted By sarabelle on 2/24/2017 7:28 PM

                        Is it odd if I say it was kind of easy to bond with Zeke? Then again, I did get him really young.

                        Not odd at all, I bonded with my Buttercup really easily and quickly


                      • vanessa
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                          So I got a clicker! Now I need to find a treat that Avalon and Morgana like… trouble is, they are such healthy eaters, they don’t really go for treats. All they want is their hay and pellets. They get 1/4 cup pellets a day each. They weigh 8 and 6.5 lbs each, and could probably lose a pound a piece. But they eat lots and lots of hay. They eat their greens only after they have filled up on hay, where my other two go for greens first. Baked treat cookies? Morgana eats them without no show of enthusiasm, and Avalon isn’t interested. So I am starting with the clicker at regular meal times. When I give them pellets and fresh hay, I click it as they start eating. We’ll see how it goes 🙂


                        • pinknfwuffy
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                            Fantastic! I hope it works out for you. I think using it at meal time is a great idea. I’ve seen a lot of people use pellets as “treats” for their training so I think you’ll be fine if that is something they enjoy. Once they get the hang of the click meaning something tasty it all gets much easier.

                            I found that spin was the easiest to teach as it is at their level and you can take your time. After Olaf learned that the click was associated with food (which can take a few weeks to learn) I lead him around in a circle with a treat. Sometimes he would only get halfway but we’d keep going slowly until he made it around. Once he completed the circle he got a click and a treat. Practice practice practice! It’s a delight when you finally realize they’ve understood. Good luck!


                          • vanessa
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                              Yea I could teach Guin and Lancelot to spin in a heartbeat because they are very food motivated. Lancelot is blind, so when I give him anything edible, I pet his head and then bring my hand to his nose. If he is facing the wrong direction and I just want to turn him around to face his food dish without picking him up, I touch the side of his face, and that acts as a target. So I can lead him around the room by toughing the side of his face that I want him to turn towards, or holding my hand just in front of his nose, to get him to go forward. Guin is just as easy. But Avalon and Morgana just couldn’t care about treats, and are only exited about veggies if they are hungry – like first thing in the morning. Lancelot is also deaf… so I’ll just focus on using the clicker to work on my bond with Avalon and Morgana 🙂 Since they are always exited to get their ration of pellets, that will be their treat. The same with my dogs – I don’t use anything different as a treat. They love their pellets – one pellet per treat 🙂
                              I wouldn’t mind teaching Guin to spin and wait in one spot, because that would give Lancelot time to eat his pellets without her being a piggy! What all can your rabbit do?


                            • pinknfwuffy
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                                Great ideas! I love how you’ve got two pairs who have very different ideas about what is tasty and worth working for. :] I think it’s great what you’ve been doing with Lancelot, too. That’s fantastic for him and for you. I love how well animals adapt. I’ve been working with a blind kitty at our local shelter and he’s absolutely fearless. We have so much to learn from them. Good idea to keep Guin’s attention!

                                We’re always working on new things but as of right now Olaf can spin, run through his tunnel, hop up onto the couch, and jump (usually over his tunnel). I’ve been trying “paw” or “high five” but it will take more time to train. A lot of people think I do it for the cuteness factor but, as you’ve done with Lancelot, it’s really to get him comfortable being handled (without being picked up) so I can touch his feet or groom him with the incentive of rewards.

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                            Forum THE LOUNGE Bonding with a Single Rabbit