You may think your rabbit doesn’t like you very much. They bite you when you try to touch them, they run away when you come near, and you wouldn’t dream of trying to pick them up for a cuddle.
Despite the fact that domesticated rabbits are usually much more docile than wild rabbits, it doesn’t mean they are going to be automatically friendly and trusting of you.
However, this isn’t unusual. These animals are prey animals, which means they have natural instincts to run away from anything they think might hurt them or cause them to be in danger.
Does Your Rabbit Hate You?
Here are some of the most common rabbit behaviors which have led bunny owners to thinking their furry friend hates them.
They Are Aggressive
Rabbits can sometimes be aggressive and might lash out and try to bite you. There are two main reasons why your rabbit may act aggressively towards you. These are because they are scared, or because they are being territorial.
Fear-based aggression can be common within rabbits if they have had bad past experiences with humans or you accidentally scare them. They may act aggressively because they have learnt that this will make you go away and leave them alone.
Territorial related aggression happens when rabbits feel the need to protect their area. They may become aggressive if you get too near their hutch, or put your hands in to stroke them. Usually, spaying or neutering your rabbit had help with this.
They Won’t Let You Cuddle Them
Despite popular belief, rabbits are not actually the most “cuddly” animal. They will let you pet them, but many rabbits do not like being picked up or cuddled close because it can make them feel trapped.
However, if your rabbit isn’t letting you pet them, this might be because of trust issues. They might have had bad experiences with humans in the past which makes them fearful of being touched. Some other rabbits simply don’t like to be pet.
It is important to remember that young bunnies are very energetic, so if you have a young bun that doesn’t want to be cuddled or pet, this is probably because they would prefer to spend their time hopping around!
They Try To Run Away
If your rabbit runs away, this is usually due to fear. Your bun may have had some bad experiences with their previous owners or handlers so they have developed a phobia of humans. Over time you will be able to earn their trust.
Reasons Your Rabbit Acts Like They Hate You
As we have mentioned above, even though your rabbit may act like they hate you, they probably don’t. They are most likely just behaving like a rabbit.
However, there may be some reasons why your bun is acting aggressively towards you, biting you or won’t let you touch them. Let’s take a look at some of these reasons below.
Their Past Experiences
If your rabbit has had bad experiences with humans in the past, it is no wonder they are going to be a little wary of you. They now associate these bad experiences with all humans! You may find they run and hide from you, or act aggressively and bite you. Fortunately, over time, you can earn their trust.
They Are Territorial
Your rabbit may be territorial if you find they try to bite you when you come too close to them or their belongings. This is because they want to assert their dominance, or they feel they need to protect their home from any invaders! The best thing to do in this situation is to get them spayed or neutered, which helps to calm their hormones.
You Try To Pick Them Up
Rabbits generally do not like to be picked up. While you may want to cuddle your bun, they will be most appreciative if you leave their paws on the floor and give them a stroke instead. Being held at a high height or too close to your body can make them feel scared and trapped, which can lead to them dangerously jumping out of your arms.
You Smell Like Another Animal
Rabbits have a very good sense of smell and will be able to tell straight away if you have been with another animal! Therefore, they may get scared or be aggressive towards you if you have spent time with another of your pets or another animal somewhere else. Make sure to shower and change your clothes before spending time with your bun.
They Don’t Feel Safe
When your rabbit doesn’t feel safe in their home, you will find they spend a lot of time hiding away from you. They may not want to come out and interact or play with you. This could be down to the fact that your bun doesn’t feel comfortable in their home. They need a quiet place that smells familiar and has lots of hiding places for them.
How To Bond With Your Rabbit
While it may seem like your rabbit doesn’t want to spend any time with you, or doesn’t like you because they try to bite when you go near, there are in fact ways in which you can bond with them. This can help to build trust in your relationship so you and your bun can live in harmony!
Get Down To Their Level
You can seem pretty big and scary to a small bunny, so when spending time with your rabbit, get down to their level. You can sit with them on the floor, which will make them much more likely to hop up to you to say hello.
Don’t Try To Pick Them Up
As we have mentioned before, many rabbits don’t like to be picked up and prefer to have all four paws on the ground! If you want to give them a pet and a cuddle, we recommend you spend time with them at their level, and wait until they come up to you for attention.
Pet Them Only When They’re Ready
Don’t try to pet your rabbit if they’re not ready or don’t quite trust you yet. This can be one of the reasons they try to bite when you go near them.
Getting them to trust you can be a bit of a long process, but they will appreciate not being petted until they know you’re a safe person!
If they hide from you, just sit in the room with them until they venture out from their hiding space. You could give them a treat, and when they come up to you, try petting them then.
Give Them Treats
Giving your bun treats is a great way to bond. Bunnies love their food!
Some rabbits may come right up to your for a treat, while others will be more wary. If they don’t want to come up to you right away, put the treat on the ground, but make sure your bun sees you are the one who put it there. Then they will begin to associate you with all of the good things in life!
As you give them treats, you can pet them too. This will make them understand you do not want to hurt them! They will also associate your hand with food, which makes them less likely to bite you.
Get Them Spayed Or Neutered
A lot of rabbit aggression and behavior, such as biting, comes from their hormones. Luckily, this can be fixed with a simple spaying or neutering procedure. You will find that your bun is much more relaxed and less territorial after they have been fixed.
