i have a question about my pet bunny?

Question

hi... i have a bunny that is about two years old now, and i was just wondering why it always seems that she doesnt enjoy being around me?
uhmm.. when i take her out of her cage, she runs around the house, and the backyard, acting all happy, but when i reach out to pet her, or pick her up, she always runs away as if she was scared. I was just wondering if there is something i can do to make her "trust" me more?

and also, whenever i try to play with her, she looks like she isnt interested at all... lets just say, she isn't one of the playful types. . . is this normal? and is there any way to fix this?

and lastly, i cant ever get her to eat, drink, or use her litter box when she is outside her cage... she only does these things if she is in her cage. .. is there any way of training her?

thank you verrrrryy much!!! i appreciate it!!!

also, it seems like she (my bunny) loses a lot of fur when i brush her.. there are not any bald spots or anything.. but it is kind of weird that so much fur flys off..

thanks!! =]

Answer 1

Rabbits are not dogs.
They don't "play" like other pets do.
Rabbit games include chewing on stuff, running around, jumping and sniffing.
They also don't like being put back into their cages. Which is how she sees you when you reach for her.
So, here's what you do.
Bribe her with food.
All things good and yummy come from you from now on. Only pellets, water and hay in the cage. If she wants the good stuff, she has to come over and be friends. Keep in mind that play time is not meal time. She may be distracted by playing and not want to eat.
Don't let the only time you reach for her and pick her up be when you put her away. Pick her up, hold her for a second, praise her (give a treat if you want) and release her back to play some more. If you quit being predictable, she won't know when to run from you.
As to the litter box, try getting a few more and put them out around the house. At least 2 in each room. Some rabbits don't see the need to take a special trip to the bathroom, if it's handy, great, if not, well, they have a busy day after all and can't be bothered looking for the toilet. ;-) Probably why she uses it in her cage.

Try this: Let her out in a smallish room where there is not a lot of hiding spots. Lay down on your back. That's it, just lay there. Sleeping and laying down signal trust to rabbits. Rabbits who sleep together are true friends. If she sees you "sleeping" she will realize that you are a friend. Also, she will get a better sense of you as a friend as opposed to your legs and shoes.

It's long, but thanks for reading.

Answer 2

Don't deliver them too many carrots because it involves plenty of sugar and will purpose them to get Diabetes. Also do not deliver them any vegetable with plenty of starch (like potatoes) no onions, garlic, cabbage, Beans, Cauliflower, kale, Parsnips, Potato or Potato peelings, Rhubarb, Spinach, Swedes and Tomato leaves. DO NOT EVER FEED YOUR RABBIT LETTUCE. Lettuce involves lactucarium which factors diarrhoea in a rabbit. Lettuce has been recognized to purpose GI Stasis, a deadly situation. If your rabbit has loose use of the lawn or facet of the lawn, then you definitely have to preclude Anemones, Arrow Grass, Bluebells, Broken Fern, Burdock, Buttercups, Clover ,Daffodils, Dahlia, Deadly Nightshade, Delphiniums, Fireweed, Foxglove, Hemlock, Horehound, Honeysuckle, Iris, Ivy, Jimson Weed, Lilies, Laurel, Lupine, Milkweed, Poison Hemlock, Poppies, Primrose, Snowdrops, Sweet Clover, Tarweed, Tulips, Water Hemlock. Foods which might be secure to feed a rabbit in small quantities are Basil, Beet Greens, Carrot and Carrot tops, Celery leaves, Dandelion leaves and flower, Dill, Mint, Parsley, Watercress, Wheatgrass. Fruit could be very sugary so most effective feed once in a while in small quantities, Apple, Bananas, additionally Blueberries, Cranberries, Pears, Raspberries and Strawberries. Do now not feed Beans, Breakfast cereals, Bread, Cookies, Corn, or nuts which would possibly give a contribution to enterotoxaemia, a situation where the blood involves toxin from the intestines.

Answer 3

Unfortunately that is the nature of bunnies a lot of the time. Just continue to hold and pet her and eventually she will become more relaxed.

As far as the eating, etc. She has learned to associate those things with the confines of the cage and so that is when she thinks about and feels safe to do them. As far as the litter issue, I assure you, leave her out running around long enough and you WILL be picking up after her. When she is out she is exercising and following her natural instict to explore and search so dont worry about the eating part. If you were to leave her out overnight or something you would see that she would indeed seek food or other delicous things to eat (like books, cardboard or any paper based item).

Answer 4

unfortunately your rabbit may never enjoy being picked up. it is a prey animal and its their nature. the reason it doesn't eat or drink when out side its cage is because he is enjoying his freedom. as for the litter box, that comes down to training, and how much time is spent outside the cage. and rabbits shed --A LOT. especially the long hair breads. but even short haired rabbits shed year round. nothing to worry about. check out this site, it has lots of info http://www.rabbit.org/
and get the book called "HOUSE RABBIT HANDBOOK"
I found it very useful when I had my first rabbit.

Answer 5

Awe that's a shame. I've had two rabbits, both had different personalities. Mine were like yours, they liked when I pet them in their cage but when let loose they were very frighteded little things. Not sure what you can do really, try getting a book on rabbit care, maybe you can find some help there. Good luck:)

Answer 6

I have a guinea pig that is quite shy as well... just catching him to get him out of the cage is difficult. I find that small animals respond well to rewards. If you give them a treat (veggies work well) even better if you give it to them in the palm of your hand. that way they learn that comming out of the cage means treats! Also make sure you use slow deliberate motions and talk in a low or soft voice this will help your bunny be less afraid of you. sometimes letting them sniff your hand first helps as well.
Goodluck
Renae

Answer 7

rabbits dont often like to be picked up esp from a great height. they are prey for many animals in the wild and to them you bending down and scooping them up is as good as a bird swooping down to grab them. they will also run away cas its instinct and yes she prob is scared.
shes probably really enjoying her free time outside the hutch. rabbits dont tend to ''play'' with humans. they can jump all over you and nudge if they want noserubs. try just sitting on the grass and letting her come to you when shes ready. my rabbit wont eat or use litter tray when having free time in the garden whereas in hutch he will use the litter tray because hes used to it. theres really no reason to have a litter tray if they just running about in garden to be honest or to eat.
you could try and hand feed her some small treats to get her used to coming upto you.
my rabbit doesnt pay any attention to me when free but when in his hutch/run he will let me pick him up if im at a low level.

i wouldnt worry about the fur unless you spot bold patches. the weather plays havoc with a rabbits coat esp when its hot then cold from one day to the next. shes probably just malting. my rabbit is the same

Answer 8

Some rabbits are just more shy than others.... that's just how some are... that and when they are running around, they are having fun and don't wanna be bothered..... let the rabbit come to you... sit on the floor... that makes it so you are not so intimidating... can you imagine how scary that is? some huge person coming up to you? if you get down on their level, they aren't intimidated so much and will come up to you.... they will come to trust you more if you do this..... :)

Answer 9

Bunnies are very fragile. She might be scared of you b/c you are too rough with her when you pick her up. The correct way to pick her up is to put your hand under her hind legs and your other hand infront of her back or carry her like a baby.