Behavior FAQ

My bunny never wants to come to me. I can never pet him/her. What can I do?
This is a common issue with new bunny owners. The bunny seems very stand offish and never want to come to you. People want to think that they are like dogs and like being with people naturally. As a prey animal, bunnies tend to be very skittish towards new environments and people and take time to warm up to you.

The best thing you can do is to make a somewhat small enclosed space where you can sit and spend time with him. Have treats like fresh veggies and pellets or fruits near you and completely ignore the bunny. Don't try to make any sort of active contact with him, and let him come to you on his terms. Bunnies are very curious and will sooner or later approach you to figure you out. If you move, you might scare him away. Placing the treats nearby will give positive reinforcement that it's okay to come near you and that you won't hurt him. In case of boredom, you can read a book or go on your laptop to pass the time. Just be careful of any chargers, as most bunnies love cords and will be tempted to take a nip out of them.

If he seems okay with hanging around you to eat his treats instead of grabbing them and running a bit further away to nibble on them, you can try seeing if he will eat veggies or treats out of your hand. When comfortable with that, try gently petting him over the head to get him used to your touch. Try not to approach him from the side or on his back so that he can see where your hand is and won't be scared. Don't be afraid to go back to a previous step if your bun seems too timid.

Spend time everyday or as often as you can for an hour or so, and you can be guaranteed to see some progress as quick as a couple days or as long as a month or more. All bunnies are capable of bonding with you and become very loving given enough time. The length will depend on previous experiences, so if you adopted your bunny, it may take longer if he had come from a bad place.

My bunny always scratches me when I pick her up. How do I make her stop?
Most rabbits do not enjoy being picked up. Rabbits are prey animals and associate their feet off the ground with being eaten. We advise that you do not continue to try to pick her up except for emergencies and vital care such as placing your bun in a carrier or trimming his nails. There is no need to continuously pick up your rabbit. If you need to pick him up to get him in and out of his pen or cage, please invest in another type of pen or cage. Take a look at our Housing article for more information.

But to answer the real question, to protect yourself from scratches when picking your rabbit up, there are several options. The simplest way is to protect yourself with long sleeves and gloves when handling your rabbit. Another option is the popular bunny burrito. In this instance, you would wrap your bunny in a blanket or towel when picking him up and hold his legs close to his body so that he is unable to kick out.

Another concern is proper bunny handling. You should be properly supporting your rabbit so that he feels as secure and safe as he can while being picked up. This means holding him against your chest or snuggled in your arm with contact all along his body.