r/Rabbits • u/KlarkieMoon • 21h ago
Care How much does you Rabbit trust you?
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
My rabbit lets me hold her from under her belly and even lift her up without trying to run away or struggle. I know many rabbits dislike being picked up, so I'm curious: how much trust does your rabbit show toward you? 🐰💕
52
u/Fine_Understanding81 19h ago
I think my bun trusts me pretty well.. until I sneeze.. then he thinks I am some kind of monster for 3 seconds.
13
50
u/FlowerPowerVegan 18h ago
I'm sorry, where's the rabbit? I only see you picking up a powder puff! 😆
24
u/LostMyBoomerang 19h ago
How old is your bun? It looks like a baby :o Was there something specific that you did that helped you build trust the most?
16
u/miastella 17h ago
Lay on the ground with them for hours and offer treats. No sudden movements lol basically just pretend that you’re also a bunny. Once the trust starts to build is when you can slowly start joking with them (my bun is almost 13 and is far too trusting)
9
3
u/LostMyBoomerang 11h ago
Oh wow, 13 years old! Your bun is beautiful :)
And thank you for the tips. I'll definitely be using those
9
u/Amphy64 16h ago
Looks like they have angora in them - early handling is important but the increased tolerance is genetic, they had to be bred to accept handling for the grooming. Living on the ground with them still helps build trust with any rabbit.
Mine has no problem with tummy touching, poking the tail, holding feet, and although she can get very done with grooming, likes being picked up, she purrs.
0
19
12
9
u/Travelpuff 15h ago
It took a year for my first bun to really trust me. Now she jumps onto my lap on the couch every night for pets and treats.
It took 2 hours for my second bun to trust me. But he trusts everyone he sees (including small children). We rescued him and he is an older bun (close to 7 years old) so his friendliness is not because he is young.
He will run up and headbutt anyone for pets and will binky off for a second and then return for more pets.
7
7
u/Any_Secretary_1810 18h ago
My bun completely trusts me. He actually loves to be hugged and the vet told me they’d never seen a rabbit with a lower heartrate than his when I’m holding him (much more calm than in his carrier). He just snuggles in, closes his eyes, and sighs. 🥰
7
u/raisinbizzle 18h ago
Without pellets? Ethel trusts me 0%, Claire trusts me 60%.
With pellets? Trust boosts to 80% for Ethel and 95% for Claire lol
5
3
3
u/AeonNova 14h ago
Mine don't trust me even after 3 years. I can pet one, if the stars align just right and he's too lazy to move. The other...rare head scratches here and there but she moves if I even think about attempting to pet.
3
u/Vivid-Gur0822 13h ago
My free range bun is practically a feral roommate until it's meal time. Then she's my best friend
3
u/pasqals_toaster 12h ago
Completely. I can even insert my finger in his mouth without worrying, he would never bite me. I only do it to check his front teeth, though, don't worry. It doesn't hurt him. He lets me touch his stomach, hind legs and tail too.
Your bunny is amazing, by the way. :)
1
1
u/bunkdiggidy 18h ago
They seem surprised when you take your liberties, but they don't run or struggle so they at least allow it and trust you not to actually hurt them.
1
1
1
u/jammin_j9 13h ago
question- how hard is it to maintain the long fur? what's the schedule like? i'm currently wanting another rabbit and i met the sweetest girl at this one shelter and i think she'd fit perfectly with my son but she's got long fur and im afraid of matting.
1
6
u/Similar-College4253 18h ago
She trusts me more than I trust myself by the way SHE RUNS UNDER MY FOOT RIGHT WHERE IM ABOUT TO STEP!
4
u/JordanDubya 20h ago
About like yours. My old girl is much larger than yours and has never liked being picked up. I respect that and believe it's because it makes them physically uncomfortable, especially larger breeds. She lets me pet her stomach and even her feet though!
3
u/phantomzero 19h ago
One of my buns (Puddle, male Dutch) loves belly scritches. He also lets me hold him in very strange and adorable ways. My other bun (Velvet, Mini-Rex) does not...
3
u/lilofeverything 17h ago
Adorable bunny. My bunny doesn't like to be picked up. My bunny follows me around the house and sits next to me. He sits in my lap or by my feet if I am sitting on the couch.
1
u/lilofeverything 17h ago
My bunny trusts me as long as I don't pick him up. He sits in my lap on his own when I am on the couch. He sits next to me on floor anywhere else he follows me.
1
u/bippityboppitybooboo 11h ago
Mine lets me pick him up and he snuggles into my neck. He swings by and gets his hand fed snacks from me often. I also gets kisses from him (I'm honorary bunny)
So, I think he trusts me
1
1
u/GlisaPenny 6h ago
If I’m in her space 0% otherwise I may as well be a decoration that pets her cus she doesn’t care what I do.
1
u/1E_R_R_O_R1 6h ago
My bun is like a cat she will come to me if she wants pets or anything she needs
1
1
u/ShiinaYumi 5h ago
I don't think mine trusts me much yet 😂 she let's me pick her up generally but shes not a fan, shes just very tolerant! Mainly when I pick her up its either a necessity or a small pick up for getting her used to it (now with treats since shes a little older! She's just a baby rn)
1
u/sparkleye 7h ago
My bunny Bun actively sought out being picked up and patted. She was okay with being touched anywhere except her tail - she would even sit there patiently whilst I cut her hind toenails. She was the most calm, gentle soul ever. Lost her in September at 14 years 7 months old.
1
u/llotuseater 6h ago
3 of my buns trust me but one of the 3 would rather fling himself into the abyss than get picked up. I don’t count ability to pick up as a sign of trust or not. They’re allowed to have preferences and boundaries, and he trusts me because he knows I won’t do it unless I have to. I can do anything else to him and he doesn’t care, but that’s his line so I don’t cross it.
My 4th trusts me more than anyone else but she doesn’t trust me completely. She is extremely stressy and I’ve had to pick her up twice a day for an inhaler she hates for the last 2 years so our trust went away a little bit because of this, but she has asthma so it has to be done.
108
u/No-Jellyfish-1208 19h ago
Yea that is one trusting bunny.
I can say I have basically 75% trust level, because out of 4 buns I've had in my life, 3 trusted me like that. The fourth bun, well, he is a bit skittish around humans but I am allowed to brush him, he comes to say hello and he cleans himself next to me. When he was tiny, my mother decided he's oooh so cute and basically overcuddled him so he's really unhappy to be grabbed and all that. And over 7 years later, whenever my mother is visiting, he thumps at her.