Rabbits are wonderful pets. You can form an incredible bond with them if you do things right. Suppose you’re a newbie to having a rabbit companion, or you just got another rabbit and would like to successfully bond with them. In that case, how do you build that connection?
There are several ways you can bond with your rabbit, such as: ensuring that you aren’t towering over them, using treats so they associate coming to you with good feelings, giving them space to roam free, slowly introducing yourself to their territory, and only petting them when they are ready.
Because bunnies are prey animals and not quite as social as dogs, it takes them much longer to warm up to you. Knowing some tips on how to create a bond with your rabbit or even how to deepen a bond that already exists will go a long way in making you and your bunny incredibly happy.
Contents
Here’s All You Need To Know On How To Bond With Your Rabbit
Creating bonds with people is excellent. However, creating bonds with pets, particularly rabbits, is even better. There are quite a few ways to develop a deep and heartwarming bond with your bunny.
1. Put Yourself On Their Level
The first and probably the simplest way to bond with your rabbit is to get yourself on their level. Sounds too good to be true, right? The trick here is to ensure that you don’t make your rabbit feel intimidated. They are pretty tiny and low to the ground. Therefore, it’s not surprising that a human towering over them can make them feel like you are a threat.
The best course of action is to sit down, even lay down, so your height isn’t above their head. This will, in turn, make you look less scary to your rabbit. The closer you get to your bunny’s eye level, the better. Be patient and let your rabbit get used to its surroundings, sniff you, hop on you, etc.
It can be tempting to reach out and give them a pat when they hop on you but refrain from doing that. The reason is that this will startle your bunny, and it will most likely end up running away. It may sound counterproductive, but the best is to almost act like you don’t notice them hopping around you while they are trying to warm up to you and get used to you.
There have been a few cases where the rabbit has taken a wee on top of its owner during this process. However, who cares about a piece of clothing when you get to create a deep bond with your rabbit in return?
2. Offer Your Bunny Treats To Bond With Them
Who can say no to treats? Almost no one can. The same can be said for bunnies. Once they have gotten more comfortable with you, an excellent way to further bond with them is to offer them treats. Ensure that you do this while you’re sitting or lying down.
You know how you associate your grandmother with all those warm fuzzy feelings of being loved and taken care of because she is constantly feeding you, giving you hugs, treats, etc.? That’s exactly the same with rabbits.
This trick works like a charm as your bunny will start associating coming up to you as something that benefits them, is good, and makes them happy. Rabbits adore food, and any food incentive is much appreciated.
3. Slowly Introduce Yourself Into Their Territory
When you first get a bunny, you will set up an exercise pen for your rabbit, don’t barge into their territory and take up the space where they feel safe. The best thing to do when trying to bond with a newly brought home rabbit is to sit outside their pen.
Occupy yourself with a book or something similar and show them that you’re there for them but won’t infringe on their space. Slowly but surely, you’ll notice your rabbit sniffing at you from inside the pen and kind of getting closer to you through the pen.
This is when you can slowly move into their territory and sit or lie down with them.
4. Ensure That You Give Your Bunny Free Space
Setting up a pen is recommended as caged rabbits will not bond with you well. This is because they aren’t allowed to interact with you much if they are constantly confined. Providing them free space to roam around and be closer to you will help strengthen the bond between you and them.
You can let your bunny roam in one room, multiple rooms, etc. The goal is to give them space to do their own thing and to have access to you whenever they want. Bear in mind hidey spaces for your rabbit while giving them free rein.
Rabbits like getting away and having some alone time. This makes sense as rabbits generally barrow when in the wild. Not having a safe space will create stress for them, and that isn’t going to help with the bonding process.
5. Only Pet Your Rabbit When They Are Ready
There is no telling how long it will be before your rabbit allows you to pet them. This is because it differs from rabbit to rabbit. Some rabbits take a couple of weeks, while it can take others months before they are fully comfortable with you.
What you can do once she is comfortable with you is try and pet them. If your rabbit allows it and is happy with it, then you know they are ready. Ensure that you know whether or not your rabbit had a previous owner.
Sometimes, rabbits may have suffered trauma at the hands of their previous owner and now associate petting with negative vibes. In that case, it could take your rabbit a few years before they will allow you to pet them. Be patient and continue being there for them. Forcing to pet your rabbit when they clearly aren’t ready will sabotage the bonding process.
Conclusion
It can seem like getting rabbits to bond with you is impossible as they are prey animals and are generally wary of everything. However, all you need is patience and the tricks mentioned above, and all will be worth it, and you’ll be set for a lifetime of bunny love.
