I have had a mixed dwarf rabbit for about 1.5 years now and he doesn't behave like I hear other people's rabbits do. He HATES to be picked up (even to have his nails cut), he doesn't like strangers in the house, and in fact he really doesn't like anyone but me to pet him. My boyfriend works at the zoo in an amusement park, and their rabbits are very friendly and docile. Is my rabbit's behavior abnormal? Should I have socialized him more as a bunny ? Did I do something wrong?
2006-07-10 05:56:16 · 4 answers · asked by Amaunette 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
You didn't do anything wrong. Each rabbit has a different personality, just like people. Most rabbits hate being picked up. It's because they are prey animals and they feel they are in danger when it happens. You might want to start clicker training him. I did it with my rabbits and it's great. Check out these links.
2006-07-10 06:04:24 · answer #1 · answered by sugarcarat 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Most rabbits hate to be picked up. They don't like the feeling of being up in the air and need to be held firmly so that they don't squirm and hurt themselves. Cutting my rabbits nails is a two-person job and requires at least 15 minutes to 30 minutes to complete. If your rabbit isn't fixed it might think that you are its partner and get jealous of any other people. If your rabbit is fixed it might just take some time to get use to other people. It can take a while for any pet to warm up to new people just set some ground rules, like no fast movement, tell people where your rabbit likes to be petted and then see if your bunny allows other people to pet it on the ground. My rabbit warms up to people after a while, but she does not like strangers picking her up. It is just the way she is.
2006-07-10 13:19:39 · answer #2 · answered by Lady 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are fine. I'd recommend that if you have other people besides yourself pet him, that you have them pet him outside of his cage. Some rabbits tend to get territorial inside their own cage. Since you handle him regularly, he may not act territorial to you. Also don't have people try picking him up when he's hungry. Some rabbits will act mean when they are hungry. The rabbit may not be mean at all, but just wants food.
Most rabbits don't like to be picked up because they get scared when they don't have the feeling of something underneath their feet. Also, when you pick them up, the rabbit wants a place to hide. Here's how I pick my show rabbits up to keep them from sqirming:
Place one hand under the rabbit's chest (whichever is most comfortable for you). Then place the other hand on the rabbit's rump. Pick the rabbit up with both hands by supporting it from the chest and rump. Put the rabbit's head into the armpit of whichever hand is on the rump. Putting the rabbit's head into your armpit gives it a place to feel like it is hiding by covering its eyes. To calm the rabbit, pet the rabbit on its forehead between the eyes. This has a calming/trance-like effect on the rabbit and even extremely mean rabbits will calm down when petted between the eyes.
2006-07-10 14:15:01 · answer #3 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no you didn't do anything wrong. most bunnies, surprisingly don't like to be picked up or held, they like to do their own thing half the time. One of the bunnies i had was a little bit like that but think it was because he was part wild.
2006-07-10 14:17:37 · answer #4 · answered by bigbrowneyesisme 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋