3 Month Male Lionhead

Question
A little over a month ago I got a male lionhead rabbit that was said to be two months old. He is a perfect pet in the sence that he was easily potty trained (he has a pretty large play area with a litter box and feeding area) and does not chew on much. I even managed to teach him a few tricks like Up or Come in order to get treats. The problem is that he does not sit well with me and does not like me petting him or holding him. I understand not all bunnies enjoy this treatment but im wondering if with age he may cuddle more or even enjoy me petting him? Also, I heard that female rabbits often have a snotty attitude and if that could be the cause of his lack of affections.  

Answer
Hi Lucy

Normally when you get a rabbit that doesn't like to be cuddled or to be pet they pretty much stay that way for life.  There are some things you can do to get him to like you better.  I have a holland lop that is very similar.  If I pick him up or pet him he runs away and gets very mad.  What I do is lay on the floor and ignore him and then suddenly he wants to know what I am doing and he will come up to me.  We have a daily routine now.  I hold out my hand with 1 raisin in it and then he eats the raisin and gives me a kiss on the nose.  Sometimes he will let me pet him briefly but its not very often.  I guess I only get to pet him on his terms.  

The best thing to do is let him know that hands aren't bad things.  Just giving my rabbit 1 raisin everyday and sitting there with him has made him run right to me whenever I hold out my hand.  Usually after he gives me my nose kiss I will try to pet him on the head.  Sometimes he lets me and sometimes he doesn't.  I still love him just as much.  

You might also want to get him neutered when he is old enough, usually about 4-6 months.  It definitely makes their temperament a lot nicer.  I personally don't neuter any of my rabbits unless they are bonded but I am a breeder so occasionally I use them for breeding.  Some of the bucks I have that I have saved are neutered and they seem to have a much more affectionate personality.  I guess rabbits are just like people, they all have their own attitudes whether buck or doe.

Another thing is that he is probably just starting to come into his hormonal age.  You are going to have to keep an eye on him and if he acts angry or circles you or runs around like a mad man he is probably just becoming of age.  It is really no worse than having a bratty teenager.  That is another good reason it is good to get them neutered.

I can't believe you were able to teach him tricks.  You have one smart bunny.  I have a few tricks with some of mine but it literally took me months to get them trained.  

You just have to look at his adorable traits and weigh those against the one's that are less adorable.  One other thing is that if you want to pet him let him smell your hand first.  Rabbits have amazing long distance sight but their up close vision isn't so great.  He may feel threatened by your hands if he doesn't know exactly what is coming at him.  He will probably never want you to hold him though, honestly most rabbits don't like to be held.  They just don't feel secure and safe.  Unfortunately he will have to be picked up on occasion to check for lumps, illnesses and of course the dreaded toe-nail clips.  That is when you have to let him know you are the boss and he is getting it done whether he likes it or not.  Generally if you lay them on their backs like a baby to check them over they become extremely relaxed.  Many will actually go into a trance.  They learned this from their ancestors bunnies who used it as an escape tool for predators.

You are just very lucky to have such a great rabbit.  Young rabbits litter habits aren't always the greatest.  

I am attaching a site that I just love.  It will help you to understand your rabbits language to you and help you understand what he may be trying to say.  I honestly look at it all the time and I literally train rabbits almost every day.

Good luck and please if you have any more questions or I missed something let me know.

Thanks so much

Pam

http://www.muridae.com/rabbits/rabbittalk.html