How to Befriend a Rabbit and Earn Its Trust (Vet Advice)

Rabbits generally have a reputation for being shy and skittish, especially those from smaller breeds. That makes sense though as they're prey animals, so they naturally see the world through a more cautious lens than a dog would. However, what many people don't realize is that rabbits have the potential to grow into a confident, curious and playful creatures, or at the very least they can become animals who are not fearful of humans, especially if they are pets. The trick to that, though, is building a strong connection with them. To help you figure out how to befriend a rabbit and earn its trust, according to a vet, keep reading.

Here's the thing about rabbits: while some of them may be shy, they're also very social animals. In the wild, they live with other bunnies in big warrens, but as pets, they're dependent on their caregivers for that social outlet. So, if you have a pet bunny, or you have a bunch on your property, you just need to let them know they can trust you first.

So, if you're wondering how to get a bunny to like you, we spoke with JustAnswer's veterinarian and rabbit expert, Kim Meijer, to learn how to bond with a rabbit, how to help them acclimate to their new home, and how the two of you can have fun together! We even give you tips on how you can safely befriend rabbits in the wild so they want hop away the instant you appear.

How To Bond With a Rabbit

If you're a pet parent to a bunny, chances are you want to connect with them. So, how to bond with a rabbit? When it comes to connecting with a new bunny, slow and steady wins the race. Remember, you are a strange giant compared to them! When you and your pet rabbit are still getting used to one another, it's a good idea to let them take the lead at the start.

"This might sound strange, but you want to avoid touching them or reaching out to them at first," Dr. Meijer clarifies. "Your hands reaching out to them will be seen as a threat at first. You want to spend time together in the same room, but don't approach them; just let them approach you and get to know you slowly. Also, don't worry if they might hide in the beginning as this is just their way of making sure they are in a safe environment, and usually this will improve once their confidence improves."

Eventually, if given enough time to observe you from a comfortable distance, your bunny will stop seeing you as a threat and may feel curious enough to approach you. Once this happens, you can start seeing if they're open to pets-and maybe even some treats! "Rabbits usually prefer to be touched on the back of their head and near their ears," Dr. Meijer recommends. "They also like a gentle rub near their nose. You want to avoid touching them on the sides or near their bum, as that is how a predator would grab them. Another lovely way to gain a rabbit's trust is to hand-feed them. Rabbits love to eat, and getting them to accept food from your hand is a really lovely way to bond with them."

Once your rabbit has reached the point where they'll enthusiastically accept pets and hand-fed snacks from you, you're probably in a good place to try picking them up. Still, be careful how you do so, especially early on because if you frighten them while they're still getting used to you, you could break your bond and end up at square one. "You want to avoid chasing them to pick them up," Dr. Meijer warns. "However, if you have to pick them up during this initial period of getting to know them, it will be easiest if your rabbit is in a location where they don't have as much space to hop away. You also want to pick them up quickly by scooping one hand under their butt and the other one under their chest."

In addition, Dr. Meijer strongly advises against approaching your rabbit from above or behind when they aren't expecting it. This should be avoided considering that most of a rabbit's natural predators swoop down at them from the skies or pounce from behind. Due to this, this approach can make them feel as if they're being attacked! Make sure that they can see you before you gently, carefully, pick them up. By doing do, you can earn a rabbit's trust and create a bond.

Helping Your Rabbit Adjust To Their New Home

Along with taking a gentle, patient approach to building a bond with a bunny, it helps if you've curated a safe, comfortable environment for them. Though any new environment will take some getting used to, optimizing it and providing your rabbit with all the necessary "creature comforts" can help speed up the process considerably.

"The most important thing is to make them feel safe," says Dr. Meijer. "You want to give your pet a place to retreat to that is covered and not too big for them, like a hide box that has two exits. You also want to provide them with plenty of time outside of their enclosure, while you are able to monitor them. This will allow your new pet to explore their new environment, and this will help them to start to feel at home as well. Placing some feeding stations around your home will encourage them to explore too."

If there are other pets or kids in your home, your rabbit may need a little extra time to get used to them. However, the principle is the same as with building your initial bond with them and you want to give them plenty of time and space to observe the other members of your household from a safe distance before officially introducing them. "In the beginning, it's best to keep them out of the reach of other pets (such as dogs or cats), but if they can see them without direct contact, it can help them get adjusted to them," says Dr. Meijer. "Also, if you have children in the home, you want to supervise them together with the new rabbit to avoid them chasing the rabbit or trying to pick them up."

How To Get Your Bunny To Like You

You've put in the groundwork, you've let your rabbit get comfortable with their new home, and now they approach you with friendly curiosity. The initial bond has been built; now it's time to strengthen it by demonstrating that you're not just a safe person, but also their friend! So, how do you get a bunny to like you? Learning how your pet rabbit likes to play is part of strengthening your friendship, but Dr. Meijer advises taking things a step further by incorporating fun, constructive training into their playtime.

"This is one of my favourite ways to grow a very strong bond between a rabbit and their owner!" Dr. Meijer affirms. "Rabbits are very smart and love to work together and earn treats, so you can get them to like you through training and teaching them things!"

Much like dogs (and some cats, if you're a particularly patient pet parent), rabbits can be taught to do lots of tricks, such as spinning, jumping, fetching, and running agility courses. They can even be litter-trained, which certainly helps make cleaning up after them easier-after all, bunnies poop quite a lot. For training how-tos, Dr. Meijer recommends the book High Five With Your Rabbit by Bernice Muntz, but adds that pet parents can also find tons of great rabbit training tutorials for free on YouTube.

"You can even train a rabbit with a clicker, like you would use for a dog," Dr. Meijer notes. "The best way to train a rabbit is to offer small treats within a few seconds after your rabbit shows the behavior that you want. Every rabbit will have their preference for tricks. Some will prefer to do a spin, while others might prefer a high five."

The key to effective training, as with any other pet, is consistency and positive reinforcement. Make your commands simple and easy to understand, and always reward them for good behavior-don't scold them if they mess up. Not only will you get the gratification of seeing your rabbit master lots of cool tricks, but your rabbit will enjoy learning them too-after all, they're getting plenty of praise and treats out of it. That all being said, Dr. Meijer still advises pet parents to be patient with their bunnies during training, especially if they still show some nervousness or reluctance.

"The most important thing to remember is to respect their boundaries," Dr. Meijer explains. "If they start to hide or hop away from you, then we need to give them their space and try again at a later time. It will take time to play and train with them, just like it does with a puppy or kitten, but once you have earned their trust, they are amazing pets with a bond that will last a lifetime!"

How to Befriend a Rabbit in the Wild

Unlike domesticated pets, wild rabbits are highly alert and easily startled, so earning their trust takes time and consistency. Therefore, befriending a rabbit in the wild requires patience, calm behavior and a strong understanding of its natural instincts. To get a rabbit to like you and earn its trust if its not your pet, it's important to never quickly approach them. Instead, our expert says you want to move slowly, avoid sudden gestures and let a rabbit approach you on its own terms.

If you have rabbits in your backyard for instance, sitting quietly at a distance and offering non-threatening body language can help reduce fear and build curiosity. Over time, using gentle, predictable movements and respecting a rabbit's space can encourage it to feel safe enough to stay nearby while you are there too.

Remember, trust with wild animals is never guaranteed, but with respect and patience, you can create calm, non-invasive interactions that allow a rabbit to feel more comfortable in your presence when you see one out and about in nature.

Source:

JustAnswer's veterinarian, Dr. Meijer

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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 3:10 AM.