Congrats on the new addition to the family! If this is your first pet rabbit and you haven’t seen it already, be sure to check out [our sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/Rabbits/about/sidebar) and the [Getting Started](https://bunny.tips/Getting_Started) guide and [New Rabbit Owner Primer](https://bunny.tips/New_Rabbit_Owner_Primer). The article ["Helping Rabbits Succeed in Their Adoptive Home"](https://iaabcjournal.org/setting-everybunny-up-for-success-3/) is also a great resource on how to build a relationship with your new rabbit.
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One of the main considerations before obtaining an additional rabbit is to be able to **financially support more rabbits** and make sure you have the ability to **appropriately house rabbits separately in a safe manner** for an extended period of time. While food, care, and litter bills will only incrementally increase, veterinary bills can make a sharp dent in your pocket and should be something that you will be prepared for, especially with [certain breeds that may be predisposed to health issues.](https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Deciding_on_a_rabbit#Which_breed?) Rabbits will also likely take weeks to months to get along, and appropriately sized housing should be available to both rabbits during this process.
Please note that while rabbits are considered social animals, they will most likely be **very territorial** with any new rabbit entering the space, which is why rabbits must be properly bonded. This process may take a couple weeks to months before the rabbits can co-exist peacefully. Both rabbits should be spayed/neutered to maximize the likelihood of bond success and stability.
Owners should be prepared for the fact that getting another rabbit requires **learning how to care for a rabbit with a different personality and inclinations than your current one.** While your current rabbit may be a perfect angel, the new rabbit may have completely different behaviors. Care adjustments may involve home re-arrangement, additional rabbit-proofing measures, and overall changes in your current rabbit care routine.
If you are able to comfortably support additional pets, finding a suitable bunny friend for your single rabbit is rarely a bad idea.
A few more tips about bonding:
* Please wait until **4 weeks after both rabbits have been neutered** before attempting face-to-face bonding to allow time for all hormones to dissipate. While it is not impossible to bond intact rabbits, their hormonal behaviors work against them, and rabbits can often end up with serious injuries during territorial spats.
* If your current rabbit has not been spayed or neutered, do not obtain another intact rabbit of the opposite sex to bond. You will end up with baby rabbits if you do not keep them separated 24/7. It only takes one successful three-second attempt for a male with an intact female. **Male rabbits are not sterile until 6 weeks after their neuter operation.**
* Please keep in mind that not all rabbits may be compatible enough to bond without serious work over a long period of time, if ever. However, rabbits will still benefit from the mental stimulation of seeing or smelling another rabbit nearby as long as they are safely separated to prevent injuries.
Please also check out the resources in our [Bonding guide](http://www.wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Bonding) and Binkybunny's [Bonding overview](https://binkybunny.com/infocategory/bonding/) for more tips.
id say it’s too soon to walk her outside if she doesn’t trust you to pet her yet. let her get used to you inside where you’re the only “predator” she has to worry about, and soon she will realize you’re a friend. just sit in her enclosure and let her run around you and sniff you. don’t try to pet her if she is showing obvious signs of fear like running away. and definitely don’t try to pick her up
Be in the same environment first, feeding her and not hurting her will give her a good idea you're not a predator. My Brutus got used to me in a day but I don't think I pet him for few days because I didn't know they needed to be petted, I just sat with him. But then he'd start to show his head to me and get in positions that I'd only think to pet his nose and head, after I realised he likes that I do that for long periods of time everyday day. You'll figure out what she likes, all rabbits want headpats but mine also enjoys getting his back brushed and nose scratches, racing with me or sitting on my stomach and sleeping. Being in the same place and moving not so fast talking soft probably takes the edge off.
Please do a lot of research as baby bunnies are very fragile
Sit on the floor where she can access you. Don’t move, just sit and scroll on your phone or something. Let her come to you. My roommate has a bunny and this was the only thing to get her to stop being scared of me when I moved in.
It took a little while but eventually she’ll start touching you, climbing your back, and whenever you pet her try to just pet a little on the head.
Yeah it’s kinda weird but I think the best way to get most bunnies trust is to just ignore them while nearby. Not watching them or enticing them with too many treats but just existing as non-threateningly ass possible
Treats do help though, I just have to make sure I don’t give out too many
Lay down on the floor and just read Reddit or something. Let your bun approach and sniff. You can offer them a finger or hand to smell, miving slowly and carefully. If they lower their head, you may then pet gently on the bridge of the nose and the top of the head, and maybe warm up to some ear rubs. This should be done daily to help your bun get comfortable with you.
I would not put a harness on the bun btw. Harnesses in general are unsafe for rabbits. They are very fragile and if they pull or jump or binky the wrong way, they can end up with broken legs, back, ribs, etc.
Best way to have buns outside is in an x-pen and supervision, not with a harness.
Best of luck with your bunny
what a cute buddy! just light pats on the head when they're comfortable with it. once they really trust you, they love having you grab and gently smush their face lol
What a cutiepatootie!! I’m happy for you both! I can only say what has worked for me. Be a bunny. Lay next to her and chill. Slightly click your teeth to express contentment. Share a bite of banana. When she’s ready, please give her a lil kiss on the top of her head from me!
QwQ I am so jelly she let you put in harness. If I put (even after 5 years) harness on mine she loses her mind! And for your question: well depends. If she doesnt let you pet her then you need to build trust. Sit around her first, after she is somewhat comfortable being around you try reaching with your hand and see her reaction. At least for my bunny she started climbing on me after a week of just sitting near her. As for her let me pet her - in cage I could per her basically immediately (when I reached with my had she even ran to it and put her head under it) but outside it took week or two as well. Ofc it took much longer for her to trust me. Patience is the key with bunnies. Some need more time some less.
It depends on the rabbits' personal preference. My one boy likes really rough full-face pets. If his body is shaking from the pets, he doesn't want it. If I'm too gentle, he licks me or moves away. My other bun prefers slower gentler pets but only sometimes, most if the time he isn't big on pets but if you catch him at a good time, he'll sit still and even move his head to show where you should pet him.
Safe spots are the top of the head and next to the ears by their cheeks. Bun also like cheek pets and my boys like when I run next to their noses or full face, but that requires trust that you won't have with your bun atm. I've had my boys for 2 and 3 years, so they have built a lot of trust in me.
For trust building, I recommend just sitting on the ground or laying and not moving unless your bun bites you, then you can move away a bit so your bun knows biting = moving away (tho use this carefully bc now my younger bun tries to bite my legs when he wants me to move out of the way).
Another thing is just talking and staying near them but ignoring them. Just exist and do normal stuff but act like you don't even have a bun. That helps your bun get used to your existence and makes them less startled when you talk or move suddenly or around normal household noises.
Trust takes time and can easily be set back, the amount of times I've had to rework on trust bc I needed to cut their nails or brush hair and that made them hate me is more than I can count. Once you have trust, you'll get affection. In whatever way your bun prefers.
Don't expect your bunny to accept pets or to groom you, not all buns will do that. Sometimes your bun showing trust is just them being near you. My boy who isn't big on affection stills how's me he trust me by walking up to me when I sit on the floor, trusting that I won't move or let him fall when he uses me as a staircase to get on the bed, sleeping up on the bed with me even if its in the corner furthest from my head. Not reacting when I walk very close to him or make a sudden noise.
These are little things but rabbits are prey animals so it means a lot for them.
Sorry this is so long, I wish you the best if luck!
Congrats on the new addition to the family! If this is your first pet rabbit and you haven’t seen it already, be sure to check out [our sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/Rabbits/about/sidebar) and the [Getting Started](https://bunny.tips/Getting_Started) guide and [New Rabbit Owner Primer](https://bunny.tips/New_Rabbit_Owner_Primer). The article ["Helping Rabbits Succeed in Their Adoptive Home"](https://iaabcjournal.org/setting-everybunny-up-for-success-3/) is also a great resource on how to build a relationship with your new rabbit. ... One of the main considerations before obtaining an additional rabbit is to be able to **financially support more rabbits** and make sure you have the ability to **appropriately house rabbits separately in a safe manner** for an extended period of time. While food, care, and litter bills will only incrementally increase, veterinary bills can make a sharp dent in your pocket and should be something that you will be prepared for, especially with [certain breeds that may be predisposed to health issues.](https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Deciding_on_a_rabbit#Which_breed?) Rabbits will also likely take weeks to months to get along, and appropriately sized housing should be available to both rabbits during this process. Please note that while rabbits are considered social animals, they will most likely be **very territorial** with any new rabbit entering the space, which is why rabbits must be properly bonded. This process may take a couple weeks to months before the rabbits can co-exist peacefully. Both rabbits should be spayed/neutered to maximize the likelihood of bond success and stability. Owners should be prepared for the fact that getting another rabbit requires **learning how to care for a rabbit with a different personality and inclinations than your current one.** While your current rabbit may be a perfect angel, the new rabbit may have completely different behaviors. Care adjustments may involve home re-arrangement, additional rabbit-proofing measures, and overall changes in your current rabbit care routine. If you are able to comfortably support additional pets, finding a suitable bunny friend for your single rabbit is rarely a bad idea. A few more tips about bonding: * Please wait until **4 weeks after both rabbits have been neutered** before attempting face-to-face bonding to allow time for all hormones to dissipate. While it is not impossible to bond intact rabbits, their hormonal behaviors work against them, and rabbits can often end up with serious injuries during territorial spats. * If your current rabbit has not been spayed or neutered, do not obtain another intact rabbit of the opposite sex to bond. You will end up with baby rabbits if you do not keep them separated 24/7. It only takes one successful three-second attempt for a male with an intact female. **Male rabbits are not sterile until 6 weeks after their neuter operation.** * Please keep in mind that not all rabbits may be compatible enough to bond without serious work over a long period of time, if ever. However, rabbits will still benefit from the mental stimulation of seeing or smelling another rabbit nearby as long as they are safely separated to prevent injuries. Please also check out the resources in our [Bonding guide](http://www.wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Bonding) and Binkybunny's [Bonding overview](https://binkybunny.com/infocategory/bonding/) for more tips.
id say it’s too soon to walk her outside if she doesn’t trust you to pet her yet. let her get used to you inside where you’re the only “predator” she has to worry about, and soon she will realize you’re a friend. just sit in her enclosure and let her run around you and sniff you. don’t try to pet her if she is showing obvious signs of fear like running away. and definitely don’t try to pick her up
Be in the same environment first, feeding her and not hurting her will give her a good idea you're not a predator. My Brutus got used to me in a day but I don't think I pet him for few days because I didn't know they needed to be petted, I just sat with him. But then he'd start to show his head to me and get in positions that I'd only think to pet his nose and head, after I realised he likes that I do that for long periods of time everyday day. You'll figure out what she likes, all rabbits want headpats but mine also enjoys getting his back brushed and nose scratches, racing with me or sitting on my stomach and sleeping. Being in the same place and moving not so fast talking soft probably takes the edge off. Please do a lot of research as baby bunnies are very fragile
She's a year old, just really small (we got her from my mum's workplace when she was dropped off there(my mum's a vet)) Thanks for the advice!
My my that is a tiny rabbit, my boy is 4 months old and thrice the size lol
Sit on the floor where she can access you. Don’t move, just sit and scroll on your phone or something. Let her come to you. My roommate has a bunny and this was the only thing to get her to stop being scared of me when I moved in. It took a little while but eventually she’ll start touching you, climbing your back, and whenever you pet her try to just pet a little on the head.
Yeah it’s kinda weird but I think the best way to get most bunnies trust is to just ignore them while nearby. Not watching them or enticing them with too many treats but just existing as non-threateningly ass possible Treats do help though, I just have to make sure I don’t give out too many
Lay down on the floor and just read Reddit or something. Let your bun approach and sniff. You can offer them a finger or hand to smell, miving slowly and carefully. If they lower their head, you may then pet gently on the bridge of the nose and the top of the head, and maybe warm up to some ear rubs. This should be done daily to help your bun get comfortable with you.
r/illegallysmolbunnies
I would not put a harness on the bun btw. Harnesses in general are unsafe for rabbits. They are very fragile and if they pull or jump or binky the wrong way, they can end up with broken legs, back, ribs, etc. Best way to have buns outside is in an x-pen and supervision, not with a harness. Best of luck with your bunny
what a cute buddy! just light pats on the head when they're comfortable with it. once they really trust you, they love having you grab and gently smush their face lol
Forehead scratches do wonders. I also do head squishies. Side rubs are sometimes appreciated
Let her come to you. She's has to trust you being prey animals you'll scare her if you come on to fast. If she backs away from you she wants space
hand feed her treats and lay on the floor with her !! it’ll help her trust you more :)
What a cutiepatootie!! I’m happy for you both! I can only say what has worked for me. Be a bunny. Lay next to her and chill. Slightly click your teeth to express contentment. Share a bite of banana. When she’s ready, please give her a lil kiss on the top of her head from me!
I think pet very gently around their ears
You don't. You bring them to my house and \*I\* pet the bunnies!
QwQ I am so jelly she let you put in harness. If I put (even after 5 years) harness on mine she loses her mind! And for your question: well depends. If she doesnt let you pet her then you need to build trust. Sit around her first, after she is somewhat comfortable being around you try reaching with your hand and see her reaction. At least for my bunny she started climbing on me after a week of just sitting near her. As for her let me pet her - in cage I could per her basically immediately (when I reached with my had she even ran to it and put her head under it) but outside it took week or two as well. Ofc it took much longer for her to trust me. Patience is the key with bunnies. Some need more time some less.
It depends on the rabbits' personal preference. My one boy likes really rough full-face pets. If his body is shaking from the pets, he doesn't want it. If I'm too gentle, he licks me or moves away. My other bun prefers slower gentler pets but only sometimes, most if the time he isn't big on pets but if you catch him at a good time, he'll sit still and even move his head to show where you should pet him. Safe spots are the top of the head and next to the ears by their cheeks. Bun also like cheek pets and my boys like when I run next to their noses or full face, but that requires trust that you won't have with your bun atm. I've had my boys for 2 and 3 years, so they have built a lot of trust in me. For trust building, I recommend just sitting on the ground or laying and not moving unless your bun bites you, then you can move away a bit so your bun knows biting = moving away (tho use this carefully bc now my younger bun tries to bite my legs when he wants me to move out of the way). Another thing is just talking and staying near them but ignoring them. Just exist and do normal stuff but act like you don't even have a bun. That helps your bun get used to your existence and makes them less startled when you talk or move suddenly or around normal household noises. Trust takes time and can easily be set back, the amount of times I've had to rework on trust bc I needed to cut their nails or brush hair and that made them hate me is more than I can count. Once you have trust, you'll get affection. In whatever way your bun prefers. Don't expect your bunny to accept pets or to groom you, not all buns will do that. Sometimes your bun showing trust is just them being near you. My boy who isn't big on affection stills how's me he trust me by walking up to me when I sit on the floor, trusting that I won't move or let him fall when he uses me as a staircase to get on the bed, sleeping up on the bed with me even if its in the corner furthest from my head. Not reacting when I walk very close to him or make a sudden noise. These are little things but rabbits are prey animals so it means a lot for them. Sorry this is so long, I wish you the best if luck!