rabbit taming

Question
Hi, I recently bought my lop eared dwarf rabbit from a pet shop. He is very sweet
in the cage but as soon as I let him out, he will not let me come near him or pet
him.  I have tried to merely sit near him and let him get used to me, and I have
also tried to handle him a lot from the cage etc, but it doesnt seem to be
working. Any tips? xxx

Answer
Hi Christina

You said you just got him so he doesn't really know you.  You don't know what kind of background he had.  Perhaps the people who raised him never let him out of the cage and he just doesn't know what to expect.  It is probably very scary for him.

I will tell you how I had success with a rabbit with a similar personality.  I would lie on the floor and watch TV.  I completely ignored him.  Sometimes I would just sit in the middle of the floor and read a book, the newspaper or do some crafts.  The whole time I completely ignored him.  Eventually he came up to me and sniffed me and I just pretended like he wasn't there.  I didn't try to reach out and grab him but instead just let him smell me and get used to my scent.  

This is a long process and sometimes takes weeks.  Patience love and affection almost always do the trick.  Your rabbit needs to learn to trust you.  You have no idea what he might have gone through before you got him and who knows maybe he was abused or mistreated somewhere along the line.  

After my rabbit learned to trust me and came up to me more I would start putting a raisin in my hand and he would eat it right out of my hand.  Raisin's aren't really the best treats because they are high in sugar but one or 2 a day isn't going to hurt.  My rabbit and I have a nightly ritual now.  I hold out my hand to give him a raisin and he will in return give me a nose nuzzle and then let me pet him on the head but only briefly and on his terms.

Just give him patience and love and you will be amazed at how his personality turns out.  Perhaps the rabbit was abused or scared and didn't realize any other life until you came along.  Eventually you will be rewarded with more love and affection than you could ever imagine.

Good luck and I hope the 2 of you can create a wonderful bond.

Pam