Afraid I might have been too "rough"?

I was tired of my rabitt not bonding with me. It had gotten better, but sometimes he was still afraid when I showed up.

I wanted to teach him manners, so I punished him. I locked him in his cage and didn't let him walk around freely in my house 24/7 as is the usual freedom he has. And I used a leash on him, stopping him from running away. He seems really scared now, so I undid everything and he's not leaving the cage to do his house walks.

Was I too rough?

Well rabbits don't learn like that. Rabbits need to trust on their own terms, some, even after months of careful interaction still won't trust a human being. If you want a pet you can cuddle and carry a rabbit is not for you. Being swooped up off the floor and held in someone's arms is like being caught by a fox or similar. A leash especially is just going to panic him and teach him to associate you with those feelings.

You're far better off sitting on the floor with him, reading a book, letting him explore you, completely ignoring him, not even raising a hand to stroke him. And you must accept that even with your greatest efforts you may only get acceptance from him.

For example, Smudge does not like people at all. I have no idea what happened to him before I got him, I dread to think to be honest. He likes other rabbits though, but people he only tolerates, and only a few people. I sit in the room with him on the computer or reading or knitting ignoring him and he will accept me to a point.

Locking him in his cage probably didn't do anything, since he wouldn't have realized he was being "punished". He was probably just confused about that. The leash was probably what made him fear you, some rabbits don't like leashes and they especially don't if you use it to control them like you would a dog. With rabbits you have to use a leash in the opposite way you do with dogs- you let the rabbit lead you. Rabbits are delicate so the main concern is if they're pulling when they're on a leash that they could injure themselves.

I agree with what Elena said about letting the rabbit bond to you by sitting on the floor with him. And offering him treats too.

I found that since giving Misty the run of the livingroom, we have bonded great. When i first got her she couldnt care less about me, but now she follows me everywhere and circles my feet. If im not in livingroom when she comes out to play, when i do appear she starts doing binkies round the room as if to say ' look at me mum'. She's just a wee show off :lol: Sometimes i will lie on the floor on my stomach and hide my face and she will nudge me til i look at her..attention seeker or what!
I done what Elena and William both said and let Misty come to me and now we seem to be joined at the hip :lol: I cant go to the toilet without her waiting on me

Would you trust someone who treated you like that?

He needs to learn to trust you, and to be hones, you're not showing you are very trustable, so it's not really a surprise that he is still nervous. You need to have a shift in how you view this bonding process to enable it to be successful.

Here is an article about Bonding with your Bunny which might be worth a read.

Yes you were too rough. Why would you want to punish an animal for being scared?

You can't force an animal to trust you, you have to win their affection. You more you try and force them, and 'punish' them, the more they will be scared or dislike you. You are going to have to work doubly hard to win his trust now.

Some rabbits just do not like humans that much. My Annabelle hasnt had bad experiences to make her afraid of humans, she was born in rescue and then came here so she has always been respected, treated well and given the right care. Yet she really does not like being touched, and doesnt like humans near her. It has taken 6 months of patience, kindness and not forcing her into anything she wasnt comfortable with, but now she is confident around me, will come and sniff me and she will now even accept nose-rubs from me very occasionally, and enjoy them too. She accepts me now, although she still doesnt like other humans.

If you put in the work and patience it can be very rewarding, but it has to be on their terms, and you have to accept that some rabbits just dont like humans much and will never become cuddle-buns.

Well, he seems to have forgiven me. He sniffs on my toes and doesn't run away from me.

When I pet him on the cheeks he closes an eye, is it a reflex or is it cause he enjoys it? Cause he only does it on the side I rub him, not the other.

He will be enjoying it.

If he's only doing it on the side you're stroking him I'd be incliined to say that it is part reflex, part a flinch, basically 'you're getting very close dont poke me in the eye'. My bun does this when I clean around his eyes (his eyes run due to snuffles).

But as long as you are careful and not forcing him into it, bunnies can really enjoy cheek rubs. Try stroking from his nose to his head (noserubs) too.

You are lucky you didnt permenantly damage your relationship with him. Remember to treat him with more respect next time. Think, 'would I treat a small child like this?' if no, then dont do it. And remember he is a prey animal.

Hi! :wave:well done for asking for advice on here...there are so many people on RU who have years of expereince with rabbits and their ways - youve def. come to the right place!
Im sure your frustration with him and the way you dealt with it is a learning curve for you...basically we cant expect any animals to understand why we do things or how we take things away to "teach them a lesson"...Humans have to learn the language of the animals they want a relationship with. If we threaten, lock up, abandon for hours on end, ignore, hit or shout at animals...they will def. not trust us and they will not understand why we are acting in this way...thats how some humans communicate (sadly)...not animals.

Your bunny sounds like a single bun...so try to imagine being in his positions...taken away from their family and other bunnies and placed in a foreign place by themselves. Humans like to socialise...so do bunnies...

I think the link Sky-o mentioned is great and also as others said ..sit or lay on the floor in the same room...make sure the bunny can have easy access to you (in other words make sure there is a carpet or something he has a good grip on - you dont want him freaking out and slipping on a wooden floor) but its also very important that the bunny doesnt feel claustrophobic...basically let the bunny come to you...it took ages with my girls and my Archie is very confident so all buns have different personalities like humans, and need different ways of forming a friendship. My buns come to me for attention when THEY want to..sometimes I go to see them when I think they came to see me and then they run away - sometimes they just want to watch you - not interact with you.

I do hope your relationship can growna d the more you watch and see how they communicate with their body language..the more you will realise he is trying to tell you things, and when you get the message right and he rewards you with a little jumo (binky) or nose nudge...your heart will just melt.

One thing my bunnies have taught me....is patience...no bunny in the world will be pushed or rushed into doing something they dont want to. When you feel upset...take a deep breath...relax, as bunny will feel your vibes and show bunny that actually its ok, you need to let him be a bunny...and not conform to what us humans want bunnies to be!

Goodluck with your friendship...Im sure in time he will grow abit more confident in himself to show you he loves you!
oh...and mine dont enjoy being picked up either...they much rather a fuss on the floor.