It cannot be overstated: TRUST IS EVERYTHING with rabbits. It is the foundation of any relationship a rabbit will have during his life. Breaking a rabbit’s trust, however accidental, is a common mistake new rabbits owners make.
Rabbits do not communicate the way dogs or cats do. When caretakers expect rabbits to behave like other pets, frustration and fear can follow.
Chasing, picking up frequently, cornering, or forcing social interaction teaches a rabbit that humans are unpredictable and unsafe. Rabbits express comfort and discomfort through posture, ear position, movement, appetite, and subtle behavioral cues.
Learning rabbit body language allows you to respond appropriately. Body language is a big topic, but here are a few examples:
When a rabbit lowers his head, he may be asking for grooming. He’s not expressing guilt or apologizing. When he retreats or freezes, he may be feeling threatened or perhaps he hears something in the environment that is not perceivable to humans. Respecting these signals builds trust.
If a rabbit cowers in the corner and refuses to come to you even for a treat, it could mean he is in pain, which is a different topic. More often, this behavior signals that the rabbit does not trust you… yet.
Rabbit Bonds
In the context of rabbits, bonding refers to the process by which two or more rabbits form a close, mutually benefiticial relationship. Rabbits can bond with other animals too AND they bond with their human owners. To a rabbit, bonding includes affection.
Rabbit bonds are very strong. Breaking those bonds haphazardly can diminish trust. For example, passing a rabbit from home to home (frequent rehoming) is not good for a rabbit. They form a bond, and it is broken. They trust again, and are rehomed again… breaking yet another bond they have formed with humans or other animas.
When rabbit bonds are broken, rabbits can become depressed. Since rabbits are warren animals at their base, bonding replicates the social structure of wild rabbits.
Bonding is not about making a rabbit adapt to human expectations. If you acquire a rabbit that has been rehomed mutiple times, be patient. Meet the rabbit where he is and give him some time to adjust. Even if he is displaying aggressive behaviors in the presence of a kind human, it is typically a result of a harsh beginning–it is about the rabbit’s past. He needs to learn to trust humans again.
Many rabbits instinctually try to “protect themselves” by showing aggression toward humans. They may have been hit, abandoned, overcaged or otherwise not cared for properly. Remember, behavior has a history.
Living with a pet rabbit will be much easier when you learn at least the basics of the rabbit language, biology and behavior. This will ensure you are prepared to help your rabbit establish new relationships and build trust from early on.