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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.

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Forum BEHAVIOR Help with behavior problems? Young male (fixed) Lionhead

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    • LeafyRabbit
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        Hello, I hope this is the right place for this.

        I love my 3 year old Lionhead rabbit, Ty. Ty is a beautiful and smart rabbit, however he has a few quirks that I’m starting to think are my fault.

        The main problem is that he runs away from everything, even me. If I open his cage door to put him out in his run, he’ll run away from my hand. On the flip side, when it’s time for me to put him back, he’ll run away from me again. If I’m sitting on the couch and he climbs up on me, I can’t pet him, else he’ll run away from me. Basically, Ty only likes contact when it’s on his terms, and I can’t move or pet him. This makes me really sad, because I love him and I want him to love me back.

        Ty has shown signs of this behavior since he was very young. However, I always thought that he would eventually grow out of it. I thought that once I got him neutered, or once he got a little older, things would change, and they haven’t. I’ve tried tempting him with treats. Ty will now eat outside his cage, in the past he wouldn’t touch food offered to him outside it. However, he wil not eat out of my hand or anything.

        I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me about helping him feel more comfortable around me/other humans. I have been considering looking into getting him a partner, however I am a senior in high school so my parents would have to look after both bunnies.

        Thanks!

        Some information that might be helpful:

        I got Ty from a friend (their rabbit had babies) when he was 8 weeks old. No prior abuse or anything to make him so wary of humans

        He has acted standoffish from the beginning. I thought it would disappear the longer I kept him, no such luck.

        Ty was neutered at about a year old. Procedure went fine.

        I have had one rabbit in the past, a sweet female mini lop.


      • skysblue
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          Maybe Ty is not having enough play time, and is associating you/ your hand has a sign of locking him back in.
          or he just doesn’t enjoy being handled/ touched much, which that’s just the personality of the rabbit.

          Given your situation and the rabbit behaviour, i am not too sure if it is the best idea to introduce a new partner. Keep in mind bonding can be very difficult, and some rabbits just never bond, so it might add to your burden. It is easier to introduce a spayed female rabbit, if you are really considering it.


        • LeafyRabbit
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            Posted By skysblue on 1/03/2016 11:01 PM
            Maybe Ty is not having enough play time, and is associating you/ your hand has a sign of locking him back in.
            or he just doesn’t enjoy being handled/ touched much, which that’s just the personality of the rabbit.

            Given your situation and the rabbit behaviour, i am not too sure if it is the best idea to introduce a new partner. Keep in mind bonding can be very difficult, and some rabbits just never bond, so it might add to your burden. It is easier to introduce a spayed female rabbit, if you are really considering it.

            I try to get him out for 1-2 hours a day, but I get really busy during school, so sometimes it’s a bit less. Getting him out is hard if there’s no one else around. As pathetic as it sounds, I have trouble getting him back in his hutch (he’s fast and very smart). I think it might just be his personality, but I don’t understand why he wouldn’t at least be excited about coming out of the cage/getting a treat.

            Yeah, I hadn’t considered it really before today. I’d definite talk to my local House Rabbit Society before I did anything.

            Thanks for your help.


          • skysblue
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              I understand what you mean, I was in school also when I had my other rabbits. Try your best to give him the maximum roam time possible (eg 3-12 hours)

              For your case, is your rabbit indoor or outdoor? He might get less excited because he is being handle when getting out, it has an involuntary/forced reaction. I suggest trying to keep an opening and let the rabbit out at its will if possible.


            • LeafyRabbit
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                Outside (Don’t worry, I live in a place with no real winter/snow). I generally bring him into the house to run around, so I do have to catch him to bring him in. I recently moved Ty’s run around his hutch, so all I have to do is open the door.

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            Forum BEHAVIOR Help with behavior problems? Young male (fixed) Lionhead