Help, my rabbit doesnt like me at all.

Good Morning Everyone,

Im very new to these forums, but I desperateley need some help/advice and I thought this would be the best place to go!!.

I have an extremley gorgeous French Lop called Digby, I have had him just over 2 weeks now and he's 12 weeks old, we have a love hate relationship in that I love him to bits, but he hates me lol. I dont know if or what I am doing wrong if im honest as I am trying so hard to get him to like me but he really doesnt seem too.

In the mornings, he does rush over to see me when I go to hes cage, if i put my finger in hes cage he will lick me, but as soon as i open the cage to let him out, he will run from me, and when i do manage to pick him up, he hates it, he tries climbing up me, wriggles and writhes like mad, scratches me so i put him down, and he will then look at me in disgust and thump hes foot at me.

When I first got him, i spent hours just sitting by him so he got used to my voice, when hes out hes cage and i get on hes level he will approach me, sniff me and put hes front feet on me and sniff my noise, or lick my toes or fingers lol, but he just seems to hate any contact really or when i am honoured enough to be allowed to sroke him (when hes eating only) its clearly very much on hes terms.

Crikey, sorry for the long post, i just love him to bits, and am worrying that perhaps I am doing something wrong, i just want him to love me like I do him. Any advice or tips would so so much appreciated.

Jodie x

Hi Jodie :wave:
It's perfectly normal for bunnies not to enjoy being picked up and it's probably likely that Digby now associates you stroking him even with the act of being picked up. My bunnies are both 4 now and, while they don't struggle once I've got them, they still do their best to avoid me picking them up in the first place. :roll::lol:

This is a great article which helps to explain things from a bunny's point of view; it's mainly working towards the aim of being able to pick your bunny up but there is also some advice on how to get bunny used to being stroked too.

http://www.therabbithouse.com/behaviour/problem-picking-rabbit-up.asp

I would have a read of that and, for now, don't try to pick him up but go back to what you were doing at the beginning - spend lots of time just being around him. If you can sit in his space (with a book even as it's likely to be a slow process) and just let him explore his surroundings, and you, on his own terms then he will gradually learn that you aren't something to be afraid of.

What Karen said!

Most rabbits dont like being picked up, they're a pray animal so being picked up is like they're being hunted and caught to them
I only pick my 4 up when necessary, nail clipping, grooming, health checks etc. 2 of them sit quietly when I have them, the other 2 fight it all the way, but ALL of them are a nightmare to catch! :roll:
But they are all very friendly and because I dont pjck them up often theyre all very affectionate and like strokes. They'll all happily sit on me for a snuggle
With your bun I would not try to pick him up atall for a couple of weeks (unless necessary of course.) Sit with him quietly and ket him sniff and explore you without you touching him atall. When hes abit more comfortable doing this give him short gentle strokes and be sure to stop stroking him before he moves away, otherwishe he'll learn he has to move away everytime you stroke him or you wont stop.
Im sure you'll get there with Digby, 2 weeks is still early days and hes still just feeling very insecure. My Max was very antisocial when I first got him. He'd been scruffed regularly :evil: so wouldnt let me touch him atall and would lunge and grunt at my hand at first. He wanted nothing to do with me or my OH. I spent many hours just sitting with him and over time he mellowed and began to trust me. Hes my best friend now, I cant get rid of him he even escorts me to the bathroom! :lol:

Thank you so much, you have both made me feel a whole lot better!!.

Karen - I think your spot on with what you said, about Digby associating being stroked with being picked up and I do tend to stroke before picking him up everytime so i will stop doing that.

Gemma - I have a Max too!!, he lives in a converted playhouse with he's sister Ruby, I think I may of been just very lucky with them too as they seemed to take to me straight away, and have always liked their strokes. But I will step back with Digby and go back to the beginning and start from scratch...

Thank you both so much for your fab advice!! xx

One of my rabbits doesn't like being touched or stroked. At first I was gutted and thought she didn't like me. She follows me around, nose bumps me, licks me and loves being around me as long as I don't touch her. That's just how she is. I know from the way she loves being around me and my hubby that she likes us, she just doesn't want to be touched so we try to respect that, but we do sometimes try and give her a sneaky stroke when she's eating! You could look for signs that your bunny likes you such as licking you or running over to see you.

I rarely pick my rabbit up as she hates it. We all love her to bits, but some rabbits just aren't the cuddly type.

I have a grumpy bun too, she tolerates me as the bringer of food lol. Wish I could have her free roaming in the house with me but she tries to chew the woodwork and it's a rented house with a fussy landlord so my interaction with Misty is when I put her in or fetch her from her run. she'll generally sniff me and let me stroke her for a little when I put her in her run though.

As far as I am concerned though I didn't get a rabbit for a cuddly pet, she's cute and lovely to watch and I love her very much. As long as she's happy I'm happy.

As KarenM has already said.

Patience, patience and more patience on your part.

Best of luck.:thumb:

Mr B won't tolerate being touched at all. He is a cashmere and so has to be groomed every day which he hates and so he hates all physical contact. He is a nightmare to catch and won't come over to me even if I have treats.

Strawbs is fine with being touched, he doesn't care much for being picked up but he will let you do it no problem. He follows me everywhere.

Snowdrop is very timid, she doesn't like being stroked but she is ver easy to pick up and will sit still one our knee for hors but it is out of fear and not enjoyment so I avoid handling her.

All bunnies are different, some like being touched and others dont.

It a very good sign that your bun licks you. As other people have said only pick him up if you NEED to. With him being a large bun you don't want to risk him wriggling out of your arms and really hurting himself or hurting you.
I have one bun that doesn't mind being picked up, he doesn't like it but he lets me and another bun that hates it. It totally depends on the bunny and I would only attempt to pick him up when you gain his trust, even then he will probably struggle but hopefully he may calm when he realises you have got hold of him safely.
Sit on the floor with him and hand feed him treats (watch your fingers!) give him some nose rubs whilst he is eating and he will associate you touching him with good things happening

I have tried to step back today, I havent approached him at all, I have just called hes name and let me come to me and he will take a treat from me and let me stroke him while he ate it, but when i moved he ran away, I had another lick from him thou just now so im guessing thats good.

Hes such a scrummy boy and your right, as longs as hes happy and loved, then Im happy x

pickles79 said:

I have tried to step back today, I havent approached him at all, I have just called hes name and let me come to me and he will take a treat from me and let me stroke him while he ate it, but when i moved he ran away, I had another lick from him thou just now so im guessing thats good.

Hes such a scrummy boy and your right, as longs as hes happy and loved, then Im happy x

Click to expand...

That seems like positive behaviour Even my bunnies will sometimes run off when I stand up. Don't forget they aren't like dogs, they are prey animals and so any sudden movement may spook them. Think of them more like horses (but small and fluffy :lol , even the most placid horse can spook and bolt. It doesn't seem like he doesn't like you, I'd say the opposite tbh. I've never been licked by my bunnies! They show their love in other ways but I'd be very flattered to get a lick from them Seems you're doing everything right, letting him come to you is the important thing. My buns will run if I approach them (unless they think I have food :roll but if I do it slowly and then sit down they will come straight over to me.