Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Reading a rabbit's body language
• Part 2 of 3: Making your rabbit comfortable in your home
• Part 3 of 3: Connecting with your rabbit
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

A rabbit can be a cute, beloved pet, but because rabbits are prey animals in the wild, they can often be fearful and suspicious of humans By learning how to read your rabbit's body language and give it what it needs, you can teach your rabbit to trust you and strengthen the bond between humans and pets.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Reading a rabbit's body language

1. Listen to the sounds your rabbit makes. Rabbits have a surprisingly wide range of sounds, which helps them communicate everything from pleasure to loneliness to fear. Listen to the sounds your rabbit makes when you approach it and adjust your interactions to better meet its needs.
   • Chattering teeth, contrary to what you might assume, is a sign of comfort and satisfaction. A rabbit can chatter its teeth while you pet it, in the same way that a cat purrs. Other rabbits just make that noise when they feel safe and content in a cage or home setting. If your rabbit is chattering its teeth, it is a good sign that it likes and trusts you.
   • Sniffing can be seen as either a call for attention and affection, or an indication of dissatisfaction or distrust. In some rabbits, sniffing can also be a sign of a respiratory infection, especially if the rabbit has a discharge from its nose. If you think your rabbit is sniffing because of a respiratory infection, it is best to have a vet examine him to rule out any illness.
   • Whining or screaming is a typical sign of pain or fear. If your rabbit whines or screams when you pick it up, you may be handling it incorrectly, or you may not have gained its trust yet.
   • Teeth grinding is a sign of pain, illness or fear. If your rabbit is grinding his teeth, you may be holding him incorrectly in a way that causes discomfort, or he may be sick and need veterinary care. As a precaution, take your rabbit to the vet if it begins to grind its teeth.
   • Humming is a sign of dissatisfaction or fear. If your rabbit growls at you, it means it feels threatened and does not want to be picked up. It is better not to reach for your rabbit's food, toys, or toilet bowl if it has grunted at you with displeasure.
   • Yelling can be an indication of extreme pain or terror. If your rabbit starts screaming when you handle him, he may be hurt or he may think you are going to harm him. As a precaution, get your rabbit examined by a vet if it starts screaming.
2. Observe body language. Just as your rabbit's sounds can tell you a lot about his mood or feelings, so can your rabbit's posture and body language. Learning to tell the difference between a rabbit that feels alone and a rabbit that doesn't want to be picked up can help you build your relationship with your furry friend.
   • Look at your rabbit's ears. Rabbits have exceptional hearing, but they also use their ears to communicate body language signals. If your rabbit's ears are set back, flat against his body, it means he is off guard and feels safe. If they are pulled forward, it means he has heard or smelled something that may or may not be concerning. One ear forward and one ear back usually means that your rabbit has noticed something but has not yet determined whether that activity is alarming or not.
   • If your rabbit has its hind legs stretched out back, it indicates that it is relaxed and at ease. Stretching his back legs back means he can't jump up to run, indicating that your rabbit trusts you and feels safe in your home.
   • If your rabbit's body is tense, this is a sign that he is scared or anxious. Maybe something you did scared him, or maybe there is something around you that scares him.
3. Pay attention to how your rabbit behaves around you. In addition to sounds and body language, some rabbits will communicate their needs or dissatisfaction by responding to human touch.
   • Nudging someone with their nose is a rabbit's way of saying they want you to give them attention or pet them.
   • Licking someone is a sign of a lot of affection. Rabbits don't lick humans for salt; on the contrary, the behavior is purely communicative and an indication of enormous trust and appreciation.
   • Falling down in front of a person is a sign of a lot of confidence and satisfaction.
   • If your rabbit shows his inner eyelid (in the corner of his eye) while you pick him up, it means he is very anxious or scared. It's best not to pick up your rabbit if he responds to your touch that way - at least until you gain his trust a little more.

Part 2 of 3: Making your rabbit comfortable in your home

1. Create a comfortable place. Your rabbit may resist your touch because it doesn't feel safe in your home yet. You can help your rabbit adjust by creating a quiet, comfortable place for him where he will be safe from any other pets in the house. You can even put your rabbit's cage in a separate room that allows him to feel safe without crowds and disruption, although such a location will reduce your rabbit's interaction with humans and ultimately make it more difficult for him to stick with you. house.
   • Choose a place in your home where he interacts daily, and can observe the people in your household, but is aloof enough so that your rabbit doesn't feel anxious about the chaos of everyday life.
   • Make sure you keep the room your rabbit lives in at a comfortable temperature. Most rabbits need a stable temperature between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius. Anything higher or lower than that can prove fatal to your rabbit.
   • Keep your rabbit's cage out of direct sunlight. Providing enough shade will help regulate its ambient temperature and keep it from overheating.
2. Give your rabbit space to play. Exercise is an important part of a rabbit's life, and playtime is often the best exercise. If your rabbit's cage isn't big enough for him to jump and run around, build a small run (preferably indoors) for him to run in and play in.
   • Play areas must be rabbit safe. Remove any electrical cables and other household objects that you don't want your rabbit to chew on. If it is an outdoor area, make sure the fence is completely enclosed and your rabbit will not be able to jump out of the run.
   • Supervise your rabbit when it is outside its cage. Rabbits are curious animals and can easily get hurt or find their way to dangerous places.
3. Feed your rabbit a good diet. One of the best ways to make sure your rabbit likes you is to feed him what he needs the most.
   • Rabbits need a constant supply of grass hay, such as timothy grass (Phleum pratense) or bromine grass (Bromus), to ensure healthy bowel function.
   • Feed your rabbit a pellet of food with a minimum content of 15 to 19% protein and 18% fiber. Rabbits older than six months should be fed between 1/8 and 1/4 cup of pellet food per 2.5 pounds of body weight daily. (So, for example, a five-pound rabbit should be fed between a quarter and a half cup of food per day.)
   • Give your rabbit fresh leafy vegetables. Dark leaf lettuce, turnip green and carrot green are often appreciated by rabbits. Your rabbit should get at least two cups of leafy green per 3 pounds of body weight. (So, for example, a 6-pound rabbit should be fed a minimum of four cups of leafy greens a day.)
   • Make sure your rabbit always has access to fresh, clean drinking water, either from a drinking bottle or a sturdy container that is not easy to knock over.
4. Provide your rabbit with plenty of toys. Rabbits love to play. You can buy toys made especially for rabbits or make them at home.
   • Rabbits usually need toys that allow them to gnaw, dig / bury and hide. Empty cardboard boxes are great beginner toys, but you can be as creative as you like making or buying toys to enrich your bunny's playtime.

Part 3 of 3: Connecting with your rabbit

1. Be patient. Release your rabbit to run around and explore. You may find that your rabbit wants to hide somewhere dark at first, such as under a sofa, bed, or closet. But rabbits are curious little creatures. They won't be able to resist the temptation to emerge and explore their new home. Just give the rabbit some time.
   • When your rabbit feels brave enough to come out to look around, sit quietly (on the floor is best) and let your rabbit come over to you. Rabbits are super cute and fluffy and people tend to want to hold, cuddle and pet the rabbit. Remember that they are prey animals, for the first few days they will not know whether or not you are going to eat them! Dust makes your rabbit come to you first. If the rabbit is sniffing or pushing you with its nose, don't pull away. This is a good sign that your rabbit is starting to trust you.
2. Know how to hold your rabbit properly. It's an easy step to forget, but an important part of connecting with your rabbit involves learning how to hold it properly. Failure to hold it properly can make your rabbit uncomfortable and can lead to screaming and struggling to get free. This can be painful for both you and your rabbit, as any type of swipe can cause neck and spinal injuries in the rabbit.
   • Be careful but definitely. Don't squeeze the rabbit, but make sure to hold it tight enough so it won't fall or wrestle its way out of your hands. Use the minimum amount of restraint necessary to keep him safe in your arms.
   • Support the back and bottom. This is a critical part of holding a rabbit properly and should not be overlooked.
3. Let the rabbit come to you. If your rabbit is not yet comfortable being picked up by you, he certainly won't enjoy being handled and taken out of his cage. Instead of taking him out of his little home to spend time together, let him come to you. Leave his cage door open and wait until he feels like coming out and investigating.
4. Give you some alone time. This is especially important if you have recently adopted your rabbit, as he will need time to adjust and get used to the people and place that make up his home.
   • Retire to a quiet, closed room. It should be just you and your rabbit, with no other animals and nothing to distract your rabbit.
   • Offer treats to the rabbit. These can help disarm a fearful animal, and they are also good for your rabbit. Look for healthy treats, such as baby carrots, a thin slice of apple or banana, or a small spoonful of oatmeal. Let your rabbit eat some of the treat from the ground, then try to hand feed it.
   • Make this a daily exercise until your rabbit is comfortable in your presence. Repetition and routine are the keys to familiarity.
5. Don't rush the rabbit. If your rabbit is new to the household and is uncomfortable about being picked up or petted, don't force it. That will only traumatize him and can cause him to fear you in the future. In fact, some rabbits never get used to being handled because of their status in the wild as prey. If your rabbit won't let you touch him, there are other ways to get your nervous rabbit used to and calm down.
   • Use a calming voice to calm your rabbit. Talk to him often and let him get used to the sound of your voice. Let him get used to your voice. Rabbits are social creatures and they get bored when they spend all day in their cage. Sometimes just because you are talking to him, he will lie down and quietly grind his teeth out of satisfaction!
   • Never yell at your rabbit. They cannot be punished or trained like other pets. They will not understand why you are yelling and you will only scare your rabbit if you yell too loudly.
   • Offer your open hand to your rabbit to sniff. If he's not used to being with you, he may have to get used to how you look, smell, and sound before he's comfortable being picked up.
   • Never make unexpected movements with your rabbit. This can scare him and make him run back to his cage.
6. Try to mimic your rabbit. Some rabbit owners may not feel comfortable trying this at home, especially in front of other people.But some rabbit specialists recommend that pretending to wash your face and head the way your rabbit does can disarm a new, fearful rabbit. Seeing his human behaving the same way he does can help him feel comfortable in his new home.
7. Adjust to his schedule. Keep in mind that rabbits are especially active around sunset and sunrise every day, and spend much of the afternoon resting. If you want to initiate playtime or introductory time with your rabbit, do so at the time of day when he is most active and most likely to want to play.

Tips

• Don't force your rabbit to play with you. That will only cause more withdrawal. Sit on the floor and let the rabbit come to you.
• As your rabbit approaches or lies down next to you, slowly reach out and gently stroke your rabbit's head. If he / she doesn't pull away, keep stroking his / her head and the back of the ears. If your rabbit moves to get up, take your hand away. Respect your rabbit and don't force it to sit and be cuddled. It will be more difficult to make contact with a rabbit that is afraid of you.
• It's also important to remember that when a rabbit first comes home with you, don't show it to everyone you know right away. The amount of unfamiliar faces can be very stressful for him.
• To build confidence with your rabbit, find his favorite snack such as carrots, celery, apples, or even bananas. Line up the snack and try to make it follow it.
• Make sure your rabbit is eating timothy hay, not alfalfa hay. Rabbits need timothy hay when they are over six months old.
• Always feed him his favorite treats, and if your rabbit is still young, try training him to drink from a bottle.
• Make sure your rabbit has a shelter.
• Another great way to connect with your rabbit is to hand feed it treats. This builds confidence in your rabbit and he will begin to recognize you as the fun person who gives him treats, and not as the big scary person who can eat him!
• For first-time rabbit carers, you may want to start with one rabbit instead of two or more because you don't want the rabbit to bond with the other - you want him to bond with you.
• Give your rabbit time to adjust to his / her new environment. Most rabbits feel fine at home within a day or two, but some may take longer, especially those who have been mishandled or not properly socialized.
• Give your rabbit time to get used to its environment. Otherwise he will get stressed!
• Allow your rabbit to adjust its own space. They like to move containers, toys and blankets to where they feel comfortable.
• Don't get a second rabbit because you want him to bond with you. Rabbits are extremely social and need a friend, preferably a second rabbit as they understand each other best.

Warnings

• Make sure your rabbit cannot chew on electrical wires. Gnawing electrical wires can lead to electrocution and death.
• Do not lift your rabbit if it does not like to be lifted; some prefer to be petted.
• Never punish your rabbit for doing anything wrong. He will not learn from it.
• Rabbits can bite hard if they want to. If your rabbit is growling with its ears tucked back, stand back and let the rabbit settle down.
• Don't take a hamster bottle for their water. Use a stone cat / dog bowl. They need more than one drop at a time.
• Don't just hold him by his scruff. Make sure to support his legs.

Necessities

• A big cage
• Toys
• An upright water bottle
• Fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Pellets
• Timothy hay
• A salt block
• A brush
• Newsprint or sawdust