The Long Game: A Deep Dive into Winning Your Rabbit’s Heart

In this guide, we break down the Three-Three-Three Rule, the "Looming Hand" mistake, and why laying on your living room floor might be the most important thing you do all week.

Learn how to speak "bunny language" and build a foundation of trust that will turn your shy new arrival into a confident, floor-flopping best friend.

1. The "Three-Three-Three" Rule for Rabbits

Just like dogs, rabbits go through distinct phases when entering a new home. Understanding this timeline helps manage your expectations:

3 Days:The "Decompression" phase. 

They will likely hide, eat less, and be very jumpy.

3 Weeks:The "Routine" phase. 

They start to realize when breakfast is served and will begin to explore beyond their safe zone.

3 Months:The "Trust" phase.

This is usually when the "true" personality emerges—whether they are a sassy explorer or a total cuddle-bug.

2. Setting the Stage: Bunny-Proofing 101

A rabbit cannot trust you if they are constantly being scolded for "getting into things." To keep the environment stress-free, you need to "think like a rabbit."

Cover the Cables: To a bunny, a phone charger looks like a tasty vine. Use plastic cord protectors to prevent accidents.

Safe Flooring: Hardwood and tile are slippery and scary for rabbits. Provide rugs or yoga mats so they can run and binky without losing their footing.

The "No-Go" Zones: Use baby gates to block off areas that are off-limits. This prevents you from having to "chase" them out of a room—which is the fastest way to break a bunny’s trust.

3. The Art of the "Floor Sit"

If there is one "secret" to rabbit bonding, it is the Floor Sit. Rabbits live at ground level. When you stand up, you are a skyscraper. When you sit or lay down, you are a friend.

The Exercise:

• Enter their space with a book or your laptop.
• Sit quietly on the floor. Ignore them.
• Let them approach you. They may nibble your clothes or sniff your feet.

The Golden Rule: Do not reach out to grab them. Let them finish their investigation and hop away. This gives the rabbit "agency"—the feeling that they are in control of the interaction.

4. Understanding the "Looming Hand"

In the wild, things that come from above are hawks or owls. When you reach down to pet a rabbit’s head, they often flinch because they see a shadow descending on them.

The Pro Move: Instead of reaching from above, approach with your hand low to the ground, slightly to the side of their face. Let them sniff your knuckles first. If they lower their head to the floor, they are "asking" for a forehead rub!

5. Why We Don’t Recommend "Cuddling" Right Away

It’s the hardest part of being a bunny parent:

Rabbits generally hate being picked up. In a rabbit's mind, being lifted off the ground means they’ve been caught by a predator. If you spend the first week constantly picking them up to "cuddle," they will start to run away whenever you enter the room.

Focus on "Four on the Floor":

Interact with them while all four of their paws are on the ground. Once they trust you on the floor, they will be much more tolerant of being handled for grooming or health checks later on.

6. The Love Language of Treats

Rabbits are highly motivated by their stomachs. You can use this to "program" them to love your presence.

Hand-Feeding Greens: Instead of putting their daily salad in a bowl, hand-feed them leaf by leaf. This associates your scent with their favourite thing in the world, food.

Healthy Rewards: Use high-quality treats (like the forage mixes we carry here at That Bunny Farm) to reward them for coming when called or for hopping into your lap.

Final Thoughts: Every Bunny is Different

Some rabbits are "bold" and will be begging for head rubs within an hour. Others may take months of quiet floor-sitting before they feel safe.

Be the person your rabbit needs you to be: calm, predictable, and patient.

The moment your rabbit finally "flops" next to you or nudges your hand for a pet, you’ll realize that all that patience was worth it. You haven't just bought a pet; you’ve gained a tiny, fluffy best friend.

Need to stock up for your new arrival?

Check out our [New Bunny Starter Kits] and our [Organic Forage Blends] to make those first few bonding sessions extra delicious!

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