Bunny Befriending Tips

Hi:)

As our bunny is still a new part of our family, we are still in the initial bonding phase. He doesn't thump at us at all anymore and spends a lot of time laying and cleaning himself in front of me while I lay on the floor so I know he feels comfortable to a certain extent. But at times it still feels as if he doesn't want to be near me and I feel as if I'm doing something wrong.

I know it's only early days but I thought it might be nice if we all shared some tips on how to get bunnies to trust you. I often lie on the floor with Mr. Magoo and he comes up and sniffs me. He'll also let me stroke him at times without hopping away. But I would love to reach the stage where he comes up and 'asks' to be stroked.

What works and what doesn't work in getting bunny to trust you? Thanks in advance:)

If I am totally honest the thing tht has always worked best for me is bribery. Hand feeding something the rabbit views as a treat is a sure fire way to get them coming up to you of their own accord, even if it starts out as being to see if you have any yummies on you.

Eventually the food based treat can be repalced with a tactile treat such as a nose rub or ear tugs once the bunny is comfortable enough with you touching them to enjoy the attention. Before you know it you will be sought out and nudged, which is their way of saying give me affection!

He hasn't wanted to eat treats from me yet. From my hand I mean. But it has been only a week. I might try when I get him out next. Maybe leave it near him and if he takes it move onto offering it on my hand.

I often sit still near him and the other evening he came up to me and put his two front paws on my back! as if to smell my hair and then move on!

Magoo sounds so gorgeous! I used to sit on the floor near him and put little bits of food on my legs, it took a while but he'd come over and sniff them out! Try tieing something to the end of a bit of string, and roll ot round on the floor in front of him, see if her responds, that kind of thing

That's a really good idea:) I did just put a treat on the floor and he rang around in a circle right over the treat a few times as if he couldn't see it. Then when he was ready he decided to eat it! There's really no rushing him! I think I'm going to try the treat on the leg trick next

The treat idea has always worked the best for me too! Also, I used to just sit with mine until they would come up to me and start sniffing around and slowly progressed to giving them nose rubs and cuddles.

Piper will now come up to me anytime I come near and demand nose rubs from me, she certainly isn't shy about it anymore! I feel like she definitely trusts me. Alfred, on the other hand, will still only rarely come up to me first for nose rubs. It's almost like I have to get him to trust me again each new day If I have a treat then he's my best friend, but if not he doesn't want anything to do with me

Yup food is a definate trick. Lying on the floor is a brilliant start as well. They are much happier when you drop to their level. You wait til the nudging starts! Princess used to sit under my chair and nudge the bottom and an old bun I had called Bugsy, used to eat the bottom of my jeans to get attention. You have got this all to come. You are doing a great job with Magoo x

Thank you:) It's so rewarding. I feel I need to trust him more too though. I can be quite nervous with him, and flinch a little if he sniffs me. I'm not used to handling bunnies yet I guess but we're both still learning

Catswhiskas wrote:Yup food is a definate trick. Lying on the floor is a brilliant start as well. They are much happier when you drop to their level. You wait til the nudging starts! Princess used to sit under my chair and nudge the bottom and an old bun I had called Bugsy, used to eat the bottom of my jeans to get attention. You have got this all to come. You are doing a great job with Magoo x

Mack used to do that too, when he had teeth. However he also used to seek out anyone on ground level (but especially DF) to nip them and it blooming well killed! I think we were both grateful in a way when he had to have his teeth out for health reasons (his not ours)!

Oh dear! I'm still nervous of Mr. Maggo's teeth as it is. I think I'm more like a rabbit caught in headlights when he sniffs me!