Your First House Rabbit: What to Expect
by Dana Krempels, Ph.D.
Before you start, you should treat you and your bunny to a copy of The
House Rabbit Handbook by Marinell Harriman. It is the most up-to-date
and accurate book on rabbit care available, and it is quite
inexpensive. It's available at most major bookstores, or they can
order it for you. No rabbit home should be without it.
Personality
Probably the single most frequent question we get about rabbits as
companions is, "Is a rabbit more like a cat or a dog?" The answer:
neither. Dogs and cats have been bred for centuries to not be afraid
of humans. Rabbits have been bred primarily for meat, fur and
physical characteristics. That means that when you adopt a bunny, you
adopt a lovely, domestic animal with the heart and spirit of a wild
animal. It is much more challenging to win the trust of this
sensitive, intelligent creature than it is to win the heart of a puppy
or kitten, who has been bred to trust you from birth.
And the myth that certain rabbit breeds make better pets is just that:
a myth. We have known aggressive lops (supposed to be gentle and
friendly), super-affectionate dwarfs (supposedly hyper and mean) and
every type of personality you can imagine in our hybrids. There are
as many rabbit personalities as there are rabbits!
If we had to compare a rabbit to any other animal, we might say they
have a temperament more like that of a parrot. Rabbits are highly
intelligent, social and affectionate. They can also be bratty,
willful, destructive and vengeful. They are very...rabbit. And it
takes a special type of person to be able to live happily with such a
complex, intelligent, demanding little soul!
One of the most common misconceptions people have about rabbits is
that they like to be held and cuddled. This is probably because they
look like plush toys. Unfortunately, many people buy rabbits without
realizing the true nature of rabbits, and that's one of the main
reason these lovely, intelligent creatures are "dumped" shortly after
they reach sexual maturity and begin to assert their strong
personalities.
Bunny Handling--and Not
Many people are disappointed to learn that their bunny does not like
to be held. But consider for a moment the natural history of the
rabbit. This is a ground-dwelling animal, and a prey item for many
predators. It is completely against the nature of the rabbit to be
held far above the ground where it cannot control its own motions and
activities. When you force her to be held against her will, you
reinforce her notion that you are a predator who is trying to restrain
her. Holding her while she struggles and kicks is not only dangerous
for the human (sharp claws!), but also for the rabbit. We wish we
didn't know how many young rabbits come into our vet's office with
broken legs, necks and spines because people (usually children)
insisted on carrying them around and handling them against
their will. If you love your bunny, you won't let this happen to
him/her.
Thinking Like a Rabbit
To understand rabbit behavior, begin to think more like a rabbit!
Here's a starter's guide...
Step 1. Buy a copy of The House Rabbit Handbook by Marinell Harriman.
It's the most accurate, up-to-date book about rabbit care on the
market.
Step 2. Remember that a rabbit, unlike a carnivorous, predatory dog
or cat, evolved as a prey species. Hence, most rabbits are naturally
shy. It is up to you, the flexible human, to compromise and alter
your behavior so that the bunny understands that you are a friend.
Once you have done this, you will have won the unending love and
loyalty of one of the most special creatures in creation.
Here's the best way to win your rabbit's trust.
Imagine what the world looks like to this bunny. She's surrounded
by a new environment, and there's a big, strange-smelling animal
that's always looming over her. She has no idea you're trying
to be friendly. Her "hard wiring" says: "AAAAAAAA!!! It's going to
EAT MEEEE!!!!" Imagine yourself in her bunny slippers: No one speaks
her language, she has been taken from her family and maybe the only
home she has ever known, and she has no idea whether you plan to love
her, cage her forever, or eat her! You must gradually and patiently
earn her trust. It can take an hour, a day or even weeks or months.
It depends on the personality of the individual rabbit, and on your
willingness to be patient and loving.
You and bunny should be together in a private, quiet room. No
other pets. No distractions.
Have a little treat, such as a carrot or piece of apple, banana or
a little pinch of oats in your hand.
Lie on your tummy on the floor and let the bunny out of her
hutch. (This should be at ground level, so that the bunny can come
out and go into the hutch as she pleases. Having to grab the bunny
every time you want her to come in or out can undo hours of patient
trust-building!)
Don't expect her to approach you right away. Remain quiet and
patient, even if it takes an hour or more. Rabbits are naturally
curious, and eventually, she will come over to sniff you.
Resist the temptation to reach out and pet the bunny. Instead,
let her sniff you, hop on you and just get to know your smell. This
will teach her that you are not a threat.
If the bunny finds the treat you have, hold it while she nibbles.
Resist the urge to pet, if she's shy!
Do this every day. Gradually, you can start to pet the bunny by
giving her a gentle "scritch" on the forehead (bunnies love this!).
Never force anything, and never chase the bunny. This, too, will only
undo all the patient sitting you have done to gain her trust.
Once the bunny learns that you are a friend, she will bond very
strongly to you. It's important to have him neutered/ her spayed once
s/he reaches sexual maturity, because otherwise s/he'll want to make
love to everything. (See our other handouts for more information!)
Rabbits and Children
In most cases, children and rabbits are not ideal companions. A
rabbits delicate skeleton and prey-species nature predisposes him/her
to be fearful of the attentions of most active, happy children,
however well-meaning. It takes a very special, mature child, who is
willing to follow all the above steps, to make a good companion for a
rabbit.
Some people are disappointed that the rabbit is "not turning out to be
the sort of pet we wanted for our kids." Rather than being
disappointed that the rabbit is not what you expected (most rabbits
never learn to like to be held and handled extensively), take this
opportunity to teach children respect for a new kind of animal. If
they really want something to carry around, they need a stuffed
toy--not a live rabbit.
And of course, an adult should always be the primary caretaker of the
rabbit. Young children don't have the sense of responsiblity
necessary to properly care for a rabbit, and the parents should be
ready to take over the duties of the teenager who goes off to college,
leaving Fluffy in their care.
She is a Sentient Being, not a Toy
Now look at your rabbit with new eyes. She is not a toy; she is a
highly intelligent, potentially loving, loyal creature who can become
a member of the family if you allow her to be what she is--a rabbit!
If you can do that, you are in for the most delightful companionship
of a lifetime!
Join the Family of the Rabbit!
copyright 1998 - Dana Krempels
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Florida vet near you who is familiar with rabbit medicine and the special
needs of rabbits!
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companion rabbit, join our free ListServe,
ETHERBUN
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