Bunny hunkers down low every time I pet him, what’s this mean?

[bunnnnnnie!]

I’m still learning my rabbit behavior, so bear with me!

Whenever I pet my new bunny, he lowers his head and hunkers down close to the floor.  He doesn’t try and scamper away or anything, and will actually approach me for pets almost every time I open his cage door, but the second I start petting him, he hunkers down.  Is this normal?  What does this behavior mean?

[Elrohwen]

That means he likes it! It’s called a bunny puddle or pancake when they get as flat as possible to enjoy the pets more. You may find that he puts his head down on the floor before you start petting him and in that case he’s demanding that you give him some head pets right away 😉

[kralspace]

Congratulations on your new bunny and welcome!

Here’s our suggested primer for learning Bunnese:

http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

Besides learning what bun’s asking you for, you’ll learn just how many ways a bunny can show you they’re mad at you and how to talk back to him.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By kralspace on 05/11/2010 08:22 AM
Congratulations on your new bunny and welcome!

Here’s our suggested primer for learning Bunnese:

http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

Besides learning what bun’s asking you for, you’ll learn just how many ways a bunny can show you they’re mad at you and how to talk back to him.

I’m reading this right now!  Thanks!

I’m glad his hunkering is a good thing!  He is settling into his new home really quickly, I’m super-glad.  He’s had a LOT of changes in his life the past few days!  New cage, new owner, new home, his whole cage isn’t bedded anymore because we’re litterbox training, etc, etc!

 

[LoveChaCha]

And if he closes his eyes while you pet him, he loves it

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Brittany on 05/11/2010 09:59 AM
And if he closes his eyes while you pet him, he loves it

 

He doesn’t completely close them, but if I pet him long enough he usually half-closes em.

[Elrohwen]

I find they close them more if you pet them on the cheeks – probably so you don’t poke them in the eye 😛 But they look so cute when they’re enjoying their cheek pets.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Elrohwen on 05/11/2010 10:48 AM
I find they close them more if you pet them on the cheeks – probably so you don’t poke them in the eye 😛 But they look so cute when they’re enjoying their cheek pets.

He closes his eyes totally if I rub the ends of his ears, it’s cute.

 

[Elrohwen]

Awww. I heard somewhere that the tips of the ears are an accupressure point, and rubbing it is supposed to relax all animals. It certainly seems to work for him!

[Nibbles_NZ]

My Bella does that. She puts her head down and closes her eyes. Baxter just gets excited and nudges me non stop to pet him. Your bunny definetly likes the lovin your giving!

[bunnnnnnie!]

He actually came up and put his front paws in my lap last night!  I think he likes me!

[RabbitPam]

He does!

And he’s saying “a little to the left. Now to the right. Now in the center. Ahhhhhh. That’s the spot.” *lowers head even more*

[Balefulregards]

I call it “Za-Zen Bun Loaf”

[JellyD]

I just saw this post. I recently got my Holland Lop named Buddy a few weeks ago. He has warmed up to me a bunch and I always knew that the hunkering down meant they liked it. Buddy did this normally but recently has started to fully lay down when I start petting him. Is this still a good sign? I’d imagine so but I wanted to ask.

[Bam]

Jelly D, it’s a very good sign. He’s relaxing and enjoying getting pet. For a prey animal that’s a huge compliment to you =)

This is a very old thread, and we ask members not to revive old threads. Feel free to start a thread of your own if you want to. I’m locking this one now.

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