Rabbits are suspicious and skittish animals by nature, so when you have one at home you can't expect it to be all love and affection right off the bat. Sudden or abrupt gestures, loud noises, and trying to pet him when he doesn't want to will only create more problems in getting him to trust you and feel comfortable in your company.
The relationship with your rabbit needs to be built little by little, with patience and a lot of tact, since it is very possible that you are doing something wrong without knowing it. Do you want to know how to make your rabbit cuddly? In the following article we show you how to achieve it.
Meet your rabbit
Winning the trust of a rabbit is a bit more complicated than gaining that of a cat or a dog, for example. It is a mammal used to being prey, so it interprets any other larger being as a possible predator. That is why your main task is to make your new friend understand that it is not among your plans to make him dinner.
Understanding what intimidates or worries him is the first step to starting the relationship off on the right foot. In general, rabbits hate being picked up off the ground, so doing so will only make them afraid of you and run away from you. On the other hand, one of the moments in which they are calmest is right after eating, so this is the most appropriate to weave the threads of your relationship.
If your rabbit is scared, he will try to hide and may even be a little aggressive, because something you have done has told him that you are a danger to him. They generally prefer not to have their tails or feet touched.
If you want to know more about these precious animals, don't miss this other article on Rabbit Behavior.
Let me know the space
If you have just brought a rabbit home, the first thing to do is Let it identify its new environment and feel safe in it. Let him walk on his own in the different spaces of the house, always under your supervision, of course, to prevent him from having an accident or escaping and losing him forever. Be especially careful with the cables, since if you bite them you run the risk of suffering an electric shock. In other words: before you let your furry loose, make your rabbit's area a safe zone
Let him sniff as much as he wants, nibble and jump and explore every corner. Do this especially with the areas of the home where you have determined that the rabbit will spend the most time. When you accompany him on this tour, remain attentive but a little distant, so as not to scare him and allow him to explore calmly, without feeling threatened.
Respecting their spaces is another key point in the relationship and making your rabbit more affectionate. If at any time he doesn't feel like playing with you or being caressed, understand him and let him be at his pleasure, without harassing him with too much attention.
How to make my rabbit love me?
The relationship between you and your rabbit must be built with patience, understanding and a lot of affection, only in this way will you not only achieve he is affectionate with you, but also that you become a person he really trusts and with whom he feels comfortable. So that your rabbit is not afraid of you and trusts you, the best thing you can do is:
- Position yourself at his height, literally: when you spend time with him, sit or lie on the floor, so your figure and your height won't be as intimidating.
- Give him time: watch what he does and let him come to you when he's ready, don't push him.
- Keep treats handy: At the same time, keep a tasty rabbit pellet nearby that you can offer if he gets too shy. When he approaches to try the treat, caress him gently, without frights; this will serve as positive reinforcement and, little by little, you will get him to associate your presence with pleasant situations. Making your rabbit not be afraid of you can be easy if you follow the right techniques.
- Don't pick him up off the ground: As mentioned above, rabbits hate moose, this makes them feel very insecure, so try not to pick it up off the ground unless strictly necessary.
- Soft voice tone: use a soft and calm tone of voice whenever you address him, avoid yelling or shouting at all costs. make loud sounds, try to convey tranquility and relaxation.
With these mammals, one misstep can cause any progress you've made in gaining your rabbit's trust to be wiped out, so keep these tips in mind at all times, otherwise, you will again cause fear and mistrust.
What should you never do to your rabbit?
As you may have noticed, making your rabbit affectionate depends largely on gaining his trust and making him feel absolutely comfortable and safe in your company. And so that you can achieve this, apart from the advice we have given you, there are some final recommendations on things you should avoid doing if you don't want your little friend to have you fear:
- Never approach him from behind or by surprise, this will only scare him.
- Don't play chase, because he will feel that you are a predator and will stop trusting you
- Never yell at him.
- Don't force spaces for affection, he lets him come to you when he feels comfortable
- If he is nervous, don't try to touch his face, his nose or his chin, as he will bite you and take it as a sign of dominance on your part
- If you try to take him out of his cage and notice that he is nervous and does not want to go, it is best to wait for him to calm down.
- Never pick him up without protection, it is preferable to place a towel on your lap and the rabbit on it, this way you will prevent him from jumping or slipping from your hands.
Also, we recommend you review our article on "Signs of stress in rabbits" to learn how to identify the signs and act quickly.
How to know if your rabbit is happy?
As with other animals, to know if your rabbit loves you, you have to learn to read its reactions and understand what he expresses with his gestures is crucial to knowing if you are doing things right, and if your furry friend feels good with you. For example:
- A happy rabbit will never growl at you: on the contrary, when they feel comfortable they make a kind of chattering with their teeth, similar to purring of cats, ideal time for you to pet it.
- He'll look for you: When he wants to be with you, he'll look for you around the house and tap his head gently on your foot or want to climb up your leg, this is a sign that you want to play.
- He will lick you: In addition, when he is comfortable with your caresses he will gently rub his nose against your hand, or even lick you.
All these actions indicate that he loves you very much, he is showing you his love! And finally, be sure to consult our article on "Basic rabbit care" to ensure not only their happiness, but also their well-being and he alth.
