Does she like to be pet or not?

[Wenet]

Hi all, I am a new proud bunny owner! I got my baby Holland Lop exactly three weeks ago, she’s 11 weeks old now. Since Wenet is my first rabbit I am still struggling to understand her, so I’d appreciate help from other rabbit owners 

The first two days at my place she was, of course, very shy. She didn’t want to get out of her cage even though I let the door opened, after a couple of days she was already hopping around my room. However she was very shy with me, she would run away everytime I would approach her, and of course she wouldn’t let me pet her. The breeder who sold her to me told me to held her everyday so she would stay friendly, but all the information I found online discouraged me to pick her up. I still had to do it occasionally to put her inside her cage when I had to leave (I give her free range of my room whenever I’m home, but put her in her cage overnight and when I’m at work), but as I said, I do it very rarely. Every time I held her, I put her against my chest and she stays very still, she still moves her head, or tries to climb up to my shoulder, but she seems calm, and she can stay for many minutes like that. I guess she’s not in trance, and that is not immobility either because she does move, but the thing is that she seems to enjoy it. However, every time I try to pick her up she will try to run away, and she kicks like crazy until I put my hands under her feet, then she automatically relaxes. That is an indication that she doesn’t like to be held, but then why does she remain still, with her eyes semi-closed when I pick her up? I don’t want to do something that might be stressing for her, but she does not seem stressed, nor in panic. 

Another weird thing that I noticed: she only very occasionally would let me pet her when she’s out of her cage. She puts her chin down, closes her eyes and does teeth purring when I pet her inside of her cage. She sometimes moves to the door, looks at me, puts her chin down and wait for me to per her. When I stop she insistently pokes me with her nose so that I keep petting her. Does this happen to you as well? 

Apart from these things, she’s still really shy, she won’t let me pet her outside of her cage, and she never ever comes to me or jumps to my lap or tries to request my attention. And I do spend lots of time at her level in the floor. What do you think? Does she enjoy the petting when I pick her up? and why does she only want attention when she’s inside her cage? Do you think she’s still very afraid of me, and she will eventually warm up in the future? Thanks!

[DanaNM]

Welcome

You are doing some things right, and a few things I would do differently, so I think your bunny likes you and is starting to trust you, but still isn’t sure because you pick her up so often. Breeders often give poor information about handling…. because they are trying to sell you a bunny. Most bunnies will trust their owners far more if they are only picked up for necessities (like nail trims, medication, etc.). In general, most bunnies do not like being picked up (as you read), so this is why she sometimes runs away from you when you reach for her.

When held correctly and used to handling, many bunnies don’t struggle, but that doesn’t mean they are enjoying it.

I would keep spending time on the floor with her, pet her when she asks for pets (putting her chin down and nudging is asking for pets, which means that she must like you already). Very few bunnies like being on laps, but many like to lay next to you and get snuggles and pets.

So I would stop picking her up (make sure she can come and go from her cage on her own so you don’t need to move her all the time), and keep spending floor time with her and petting her.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[LBJ10]

I agree. My boys will tolerate being held. I worked with them so they accept being held for necessary things. They will settle in nicely, but that doesn’t mean they enjoy it.

As for the petting, she probably feels secure in her cage and feels she can demand pets there. When she’s out of her cage, she’s probably more interested in doing her own thing rather than stopping to demand pets.

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