7 Tips for Petting Rabbits Without Scaring Them Away

Most rabbits like being pet. The problem is that they are also naturally timid creatures (usually), and many rabbits get nervous around human hands if they haven’t been socialized around people. Once your rabbit understands that you are safe and they are in for a happy and comfortable experience, they will start to really enjoy coming up to you for a good massage. 

Use these tips to pet your rabbit without scaring them away. Your rabbit will not learn to enjoy petting overnight. It will take some time before your rabbit starts to really trust you. But if you stay consistent and respect your rabbit’s boundaries, the two of you will be best friends soon.

1. Let your rabbit come to you first

Instead of going right up to your rabbit and petting them, let your rabbit make the first move. Your rabbit must perceive you as non-threatening, and one way to establish this trust is to wait for your rabbit to approach you so that they know they have a choice in the matter.

Even when your rabbit approaches, resist the temptation to reach out to your rabbit right away. Give them some time to sniff and explore around you. As your rabbit gets more comfortable, slowly move your hand toward them and give them a few head scritches. If they get startled and run away, calmly stay where you are and wait for your rabbit to approach you again.

This process can take a while before your rabbit really starts to trust you, but it will help you form a stronger bond. Over time, your rabbit will learn that you are a friend, and with patience, they will start seeking your attention for companionship and affection

2. Pet your rabbit while giving them a treat

One thing you can try is giving your rabbit a treat and simultaneously petting them. Start by touching your rabbit on the forehead while offering a treat. They might flinch away initially, but they’ll return for the treat. Continue this process, giving one gentle pat on the forehead with each treat, until they no longer shy away from your hand. (make sure to cut the treats into small pieces so you’re not overfeeding sugary foods)

Eventually you can give longer scritches on their forehead and behind the ears. As your rabbit gets more comfortable, you can experiment with other places they like being pet, like strokes down their back and cheek scritches.

3. Make sure your rabbit can see your hand

When you go to pet your rabbit, make sure your hand is coming from above and slightly to the side of their head. This allows your rabbit to see your hand and prevents them from being offended by the gesture.

First, let’s talk about rabbit vision. Rabbits have an almost 360º field of view, but they have a blind spot right in front of their nose. This means that if your hand approaches your rabbit directly from the front, they can’t see what you’re doing and might get scared. That’s why it’s best to always approach your rabbit with your hand slightly to one side of their head.

Additionally, you should pet your rabbit with your hand above their head. In rabbit groups, a dominant rabbit asserts its position by getting in the face of other rabbits. If your rabbit thinks they are the dominant one, they might take offense if your hand comes directly at them. To avoid aggression, approach your rabbit with your hand above their head too.

4. Look for signs your rabbit enjoys the petting

If you want to make sure you’re petting your rabbit correctly, the best indicator is your rabbit’s body language. They will let you know whether they’re happy with your petting technique.

What signs should you look for?

• Teeth grinding: Also known as rabbit purring, this occurs when rabbits gently grind their teeth together, creating a soft vibration. You might hear a faint sound,or you might see their whiskers moving and feel a vibration when you pet their head.
• Melting into the floor: A very relaxed and happy rabbit will shift their position to appear as though they are melting or flattening into the floor. They’ll stretch out comfortably and rest their chin flat on the ground.
• When your rabbit asks for more petting: You can test if your rabbit wants more petting by stopping and placing your hand near their nose on either side of their head. If your rabbit softly nudges your hand or sits there expectantly, it’s a sign they’re enjoying the petting and want more.

5. The best places to pet your rabbit

The safest place to pet your rabbit is on their forehead. Rabbits love the sensation of being petted here, and it’s also the easiest spot to reach when your hand comes from above their head. You can give them gentle scritches with your fingers or small strokes on their forehead.

If your rabbit is comfortable with head pets, the next area to try is behind their ears. Give them a gentle massage behind their neck in this area since this is often a sweet spot for rabbits. 

Should you avoid touching your rabbit’s ears? Contrary to popular belief, most rabbits don’t have very sensitive ears. While they might not necessarily enjoy an ear massage, they generally don’t mind when their ears are touched either. It’s a neutral area for rabbits.

Other places many rabbits like to be pet include strokes down their back and sides and scritches on their cheeks. Not all rabbits like being pet in these spots, so experiment with your rabbit to see what they prefer. If they snap or run away when you try petting in these ways, then it might be best to stick to the forehead and behind the ears for the time being.

6. Pause to make sure your rabbit still wants to be pet

When I work with rabbits who I’m not too familiar with, I always make a point to pause petting them occasionally to make sure they are still enjoying the experience. Some rabbits enjoy being pet for a very long time, while others prefer shorter sessions.

After a few minutes, pause the petting and put your hand down near your rabbit’s head and wait. If your rabbit wants your to keep petting them they will usually put their head down next to your hand or nudge your hand with their nose. If they just stay still for a while in expectation, that is also a sign your rabbit wants you to continue petting.

If your rabbit has had enough, they’ll get up and go away. This reinforces the idea that your rabbit will always have a choice in the interactions. They more they trust you to respect their boundaries, the more likely they will be to come back for more at another time.

7. Where NOT to pet your rabbit

Most rabbits will be very happy to be pet for long periods of time, but there are areas that they prefer not to be touched. A rabbit who is pet in these areas is likely to hop away instead of relaxing like they’re enjoying a nice massage:

• Butt: A rabbit’s bottom, right around their tail, tends to be a sensitive spot. Unless your rabbit trusts you very much, they will typically hate when you touch their butt.
• Belly and chest: A rabbit will guard their underside very closely. They may snap at you, run away, or change to a position where their belly and chest are pushed against the floor so that you can’t get to them.
• Chin: Unlike cats and dogs, rabbits tend to shy away from any hand trying to touch their chin. I’ve only met one rabbit (out of hundreds) who was okay with chin scritches, so I recommend avoiding this area.
• Feet: Rabbits like having control of their feet at all times so they can run away when necessary. They will quickly run away if you try to touch their paws, especially their hind legs.