Ive just had a rabbit... shes gorgeous. When you pick her up she just sits in your arms and doesnt make any attempt to move. Does she enjoy being held or is she just scared, Id like to think she loves me but can anyone reassure me that this is true.
2006-09-28 04:05:05 · 21 answers · asked by sad_but_pretty 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
We have a new bunny too, and I was wondering the same thing last night while I was holding him. If she is hyperventilating or showing her teeth, she is scared.
You can also tell whether she enjoys being held or is scared by how she reacts to being put back into her cage. If she leaps into it and gives you dirty looks, she doesn't like to be held much. If she struggles not to go into the cage, she wants to be held. Be sure that when you are holding her that you sit on the floor or couch so that if she jumps away she won't hurt herself.
2006-09-28 04:13:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
awwwww lucky you...
I had a bunny years ago - I now have Guinea Pigs.
When we first got Bun he fitted into my hand he was sooooo small. He grew up to be a giant of a rabbit with a huge personality. He loved being stroked and would stay very still. He particularly liked a back massage and would spread out till he looked like a fur rug!!!
He would spend many hours sitting on my lap or on my back if I was on the floor watching TV.
Don't worry about your Rabbit she seems very relaxed with you - a good start to a promising friendship.
Don't shut her in a hutch, have her running around you in the house - they can be trained to use a litter tray - they make wonderful house pets - a word of warning though you will have to rabbit proof any electrical wiring!!
Good luck with her and enjoy.
2006-09-28 11:45:37 · answer #2 · answered by Hedgehog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most rabbits do not enjoy being held. They are prey animals and it is scary for them to have all four feet off the ground or to be hovered over by a "large animal" like you. When rabbits hit puberty they become aggressive and will mark territory and possibly begin to bite you or attack you if you try to go into her cage.
You can tell a rabbits mood by its ears. Rabbits communicate through body language since they don't make very many noises.
http://www.paperglyphs.com/rabbits/rabbittalk.html - Language of Lagomorphs - this is a good website to learn about rabbit body language and be able to tell if your rabbit is comfortable with you right now.
The best bonding you can do is with her on the floor. Bring out some healthy treats like dried raisins or freeze dried carrot slivers and feed them to her by hand. You can build trust with her over time.
Think about spaying your bun, it creates a healthy, happy rabbit in the future and even makes litterbox training much easier!
2006-09-28 11:52:36 · answer #3 · answered by Monet_Star 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bunnies do get frightened when they are picked up - but more so if they can clearly see that they are up in the air! A sure sign of 'bunny love' is if she licks you! If she is 'terrified' you will probably see the whites of her eyes and she will actually look scared. If she is twitching her nose and seems generally relaxed - she is fine! Bunny's all go very still if you stroke them from the top of the head down their back - smoothing their ears down. At least you care enough to ask. One thing though - contrary to popular beliefe - lettuce is NOT good for rabbits and carrots contain quite a lot of sugar - so feed them sparingly. Lots and lots of grass and hay is the most important thing! Enjoy her.
2006-09-28 11:21:47 · answer #4 · answered by pyronaught2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 2 house rabbits and they love attention. Here is a link to the House Rabbit Society web page on interpreting rabbits body language http://www.rabbit.org/behavior/body-language.html It is a great resource web site. Rabbits have as much if not more personality than cats. They love to play with toys and can be trained to use a litter box. Good Luck with your new pet.
2006-09-28 12:53:23 · answer #5 · answered by tinar92 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my bunnies let me hold them awhile then go hopin all over the room we have them in until shes used to you shell stay still not so much that shes scared its just your new to her an she needs time to warm up to you hold her often show her lots of love an affection give her treats an toys an shell know your there to love her not harm her mine even love to eat saltine crackers an cornies an fresh cut grass i have 5 we get them out one at a time for one on one attention about 20 minutes a peice then let them all out together an all mine will hop into my lap an lick my hand or cheek or my nose its cute is she fixed ? you could even get her a buddy i have 2 boys an 2 girls one i have a boy an a girl in each cage with their house the toys the food an water the treats the blanket a kitty bed an balls with bells in them mine are not fixed because they are verywell tempered an i dont want them to get over weight an lazy i personally dont believe in it we have a male mini rex an an angora a tan an 2 of the angora an mini rex offsprings that i couldnt part with the angora is my sister in laws but we have her from time to time to sit for hope this helps an gives you some ideas good luck with your bunny ..
2006-09-28 12:17:50 · answer #6 · answered by misty w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you talk to her lots cos small mammals like rabbits learn to identify your voice and after a while will actually come to you when they hear your voice near them.
2006-09-28 11:15:23 · answer #7 · answered by Jooles 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's scared at the moment but once she gets to know you she'll be more herself but the more you handle her she'll get used to you and know how to judge you and be the cuddly bunny you want her to be! Good Luck!
2006-09-28 11:12:58 · answer #8 · answered by xxBritneyxx 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i love bunnies .....
she may or may not enjoy being held its early days ..
are u house training her??
mine was house trained and she used to come and sit on my lap on the sofa for attention and to be stroked .... sweet ....
good luck they are lovely pets to have ...
2006-09-28 11:16:10 · answer #9 · answered by jizzumonkey 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like your bunny loves you, that is so sweet. no shes not scared cause if she was, she would be freaking out and using her back legs to get away.. she is most defiantly loving you,,enjoy!!
2006-09-28 11:15:06 · answer #10 · answered by feline 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋