How to build a bond with your rabbit
This may be a totally biased opinion……
I believe that domestic rabbits are one of the easiest and best pets to own. They are wonderful to care for at all experience levels and with time and dedication can really create a lasting, loving bond with their handler.
Natural temperament
Rabbits are naturally very timid prey animals. They don’t overly show their emotion, they are sensitive to excitement and most importantly are very social animals. In the wild, large groups of rabbits all live together.
Naturally they want to well… breed like rabbits!
Being the responsible bunny owners that we are, we aren’t going to just let everyone go at it, we are cautious to keep them separated or get them fixed.
By keeping everyone separated, it’s likely that your bunny is alone. Make it a priority to step in and be the social connection for your rabbit.
First day : How to build a bond with your rabbit
Exciting! You have decided to pick up your first bunny.
Is there anything more wonderful than driving home with a new fluffy pet?You want to start out on the right foot right?
What should you do first?
LEAVE IT ALONE!
Remember when I mentioned earlier that rabbits are sensitive to excitement?
I was nicely saying that rabbits can very easily die from shock.
It’s the first instruction I give my new families before they drive away with one of my baby bunnies….
give the baby it’s space.
You aren’t going to do yourself or that baby bunny any favors by overwhelming it with hugs and cuddles.
Rabbits need a chance to get to know your smell, your voice, and your face.
Rabbits are natural prey animals and are very adapted to sniffing out danger. Usually they don’t feel comfortable right away with new people.
A best practice is get the rabbit in a small carrier , cover mostly with a towel or light blanket (dark is calming), keep the car quiet as possible, get the rabbit home and situated for the rest of the day in its hutch alone.
Housing
Your rabbit needs to connect with her new home just as much as with you.
Rabbits will establish where they sleep, where they will go potty, food, water, and toys. Your rabbits hutch will be their territory and a place for them to relax. It’s crucial to make sure that while the rabbit is calming down to not let other household animals have access to its general area.
Handling your baby bunny
It’s the next day, your bunny has had a chance to calm down from a big life change and you’re ready to give that bunny a snuggle….. trust me I don’t blame you.
Pro tip, wash your hands!
If you have dogs or cats in the house the smell of them on your hands will scare a rabbit that has yet to familiarize itself with your other furry family members.
Gently and calmly pick up your bunny making sure it feels secure and close to your chest. If you have children with you make sure to explain to them that it is a baby and they need to be gentle and quiet.
The first time I start bonding with a new baby rabbit, I usually just sit down and let the bunny sit on my chest snd calmly pet it. You’ll notice the rabbit start to relax and breathe slower, snd if she feels comfortable she will start to stretch out her front legs and start to explore. Try not to hold the rabbit for more than an hour the first day.
It’s important to remember, a lasting bond is built slowly.
Ways to interact with a rabbit
You’ve had your bunny for a little bit now and things are going well. There are so many fun ways to interact and build a bond with your bunny so let’s get right into it.
First of all rabbits love outdoor time. I’ve trained the majority of my rabbits to follow me around the yard and come when called. It’s completely adorable and a great way to have your rabbits safely out of its hutch for longer periods of time. Head over to my blog post and the bottom of this paragraph to get more details on how to train your rabbit.
Give your rabbits toys! Some rabbits are more playful than others but many love running through little tunnels, jumping, pushing little balls around and picking up stuff and throwing them. Be creative with things around the house, no need for anything fancy here.
Body conditioning is a great bonding exercise and something I practice with my own rabbits nearly every day. It’s the act of desensitizing your rabbit to having its paws, face, ears, etc touched, which keeps them calm and helps you in the time of trimming their nails. Read more about the daily health checklist for your rabbit here.
How to build a bond with your rabbit
A relationship with your rabbits is really what you make it to be. Too often I see rabbits living their entire life in a smelly two by two cage in someone’s bedroom, completely alone and depressed and it breaks my heart. With over 15 years experience with owning rabbits, I know what big personalities they pack and the opportunity it is to know how to build a bond with your rabbit. Spend time loving on your animals and they will love you back. It’s really as simple as that.
We are called to be good stewards of the land and animals. It’s our job to take responsibility over the life of an animal we choose to domesticate and house.
I’m so excited for you to consider bringing a pet rabbit into your life. Bonding with your rabbit is as easy as investing time in allowing your bunny to get to know you. My rabbits every morning, wake up and press themselves against their door waiting for me to open.
They just can’t wait to be held!
It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that I’m not just the one that feeds them but the one they are excited to see. I hope all the bunny bonding success for you!
