Bonding with your Bunny
One of the things I like least about having a rabbitry is that it is very difficult to bond with your bunnies. Sure you can always bond with one or have favorites, but the reality is that you have to split your time between all your bunnies. If you leave one or two out, they definitely sense it. For that reason, I tend to keep a small herd. Even then, it has fluctuated in size depending on what is going on in the rest of life. For instance, this summer was a great time to expand for me. But with the school year and some other changes to our family schedule, the need to cut back has returned.
Occasionally I will sense a bunny is sad. This calls for a little extra loving. These bonding tips will work for lifting bunny gloom, and also just generally strengthening the trust relationship you have with your bunny. Probably one of the best things that you can do is to just study your bunny. Watch to see when your bunny is bored, nervous, excited, etc. Doing this consistently for even a week will give you a better understanding of what your bunny thinks about his life, and what he needs.
1. Bunny treats. Always and forever the best way to break down bunny walls initially. Just like with dogs, bigger is NOT better. One treat broken down into five little pieces is preferable to one treat. Your bunny won't know or care. Plus you have the added bonus of teaching your bunny to accept things from the palm of your hand - which requires trust on their part. What treats should you use? Whatever they love. Our rabbitry favorites are basil, banana, apple, carrot, dandelion and papaya.
2. Massage. This can be really relaxing for you once your bunny gets the hang of what a massage is, and relaxes right at the beginning. With a tentative bunny, you can start by just doing the head, ears, cheeks and bridge of the nose. You will know that you are doing a good job if your bunny grinds it's teeth or nudges your hand when you stop. Eventually you want to extend the petting along the backbone and if you have a laid back bunny, you might even be able to rub it's belly. I have one bunny that is only cuddly with me. She greets me with a lowered head and a look that say, "I'm ready to be pet." Taking five to ten minutes during a particularly hectic day to pet an adorable soft ball of fur isn't so bad for me, either.
3. Flattery. I can't say enough about this. I know I have mentioned it in other posts, but bunnies LOVE to be told how great they are. They might not understand the words you are saying, but they definitely understand the tone. I actually pick out something I love about each of my bunnies, and I don't duplicate compliments. Whenever I stop by to pet or talk to that bunny, I mention that thing. (If you want examples: cute white belly, handsome little guy, chocolate bunny, little white angel, big puppy dog). Make your bunny feel special.
4. Share a space with your bunny. This works best if the space you are sharing is a space that is new to your bunny. Ideally it would be a space that is bigger than 4 square feet, but smaller than 10 square feet. In other words, big enough for you to hang out with your bunny, but not so big that your bunny can avoid you the whole time. You also need to make sure that the space is bunny proof, that your bunny cannot escape, but has a few things that they can explore - a toy, a cardboard box, a rock, grass, a pile of hay, a blanket, a pillow, etc. So when you are all ready, get your bunny and go sit in the space, holding onto your bunny for a few minutes and just petting it. Don't let your bunny jump out of your lap. This would be a great time to do some bunny massage. Then, just as your bunny starts to feel like a captive, let it go. Let your bunny run around and explore. In the meantime, lay down so that you are on your bunnies level, and just read a book or catch up on texts, eat a snack or drink something. Eventually, your bunny will get interested in what you are doing, in how wrinkly your clothes are, or just want you to pay attention to it instead of your book. This is when you know you have succeeded. Your bunny has had fun, and respects the space you are giving it, and now it wants you.
Many times, when a bunny is adopted by an entire family, it will single out one or two people to bond with and claim as it's "special people". If you are one of the chosen, you might find that your bunny will "chin" you.
5. Bunny gifts. The most important thing to remember here is that more is not better. Specific is better. Study your bunny. Every bunny likes different things. Giving a bunny several toys does not make it feel special, but giving it the things it wants will. I have a bunny that never really liked anything until I gave her a ceramic food bowl. You would not believe the extent to which this little bunny likes her bowl. She tried to drag it into her nestbox. I have another bunny that loves long pieces of fleece. She likes to twist it into a clump, then squeeze into the middle of it and "wear" it like a long flowing cape. She gets really upset if I take it away. I have a buck that loves to sit on box lids. I think it makes him feel like a king. Another buck I have loves open boxes with a raised front so he can prop up his front paws on them and watch everything that's going on in the rabbitry. If I gave a pine cone to any of those bunnies, it would roll around in their cage and just get dirty. Figure out by trial and error what your bunny likes. A few more ideas: wiffle balls, paper towel tubes, willow balls, a pillow...