Showing posts with label rabbits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rabbits. Show all posts

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Real Energizer Bunny


so cute and funny had to share... reminds me I have a few videos of Roxanne doing binky's all over the house too ... House Bunnies are so funny to watch :)



Kirky xx





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Sunday, February 20, 2011

Rabbit Rescue vs Breeding 


/)_/)
( . .)
C(")(")


Once you own a house bunny you realise why bunnies shouldn't be kept in cages!

So sad that people don't give their buns much exercise and a chance to kick their legs up and run and binky about :) ... I wonder if people who keep their bunnies in cages all the time have even seen their bunnies  kick their legs and flick their ears up when you call their name and run to you, it's the cutest thing ever! I love that I have my bunny so comfortable with me now she jumps up on the lounge and comes and sits on my lap :)



The only cage Roxanne uses is actually used just as her litter tray & hay containment area :) or place to put her in when she needs to be secured for a short period of time (like mopping the floors lol ) or transported.. Made it easy to start off in cage for litter training when she was young and small. Her roaming area then expanded to the laundry and now she has the rest of the house when supervised :) She learnt to litter train in one day so never actually lived in it  lol.. it basically contains the mess which makes for easier cleaning :)




This photo makes me sad :( so cramped poor babies can't even move let alone binky



I will never go back to breeding again either - too competitive and nasty at shows, too many breeders breeding the same rabbits to what - make money ? There's no real money to be made, and often I see that they are not kept in the best and cleanest conditions.



I admit when I was breeding I kept my buns in very large breeding hutches made from massive wardrobes, giant in comparison to store bought cages and they were litter trained too. I was only a small breeder but I know it would be impossible to keep that many rabbits all free range 24/7, but they got exercise daily they had playpens to excercise in the shed and outside we had a big rabbit yard for free roam time during the day when mozzies weren't out to dig and kick and play.. but now I feel they need even more, and with myxomatosis at such a high risk, keeping them as house bunnies is a much better and safer option. 



Instead of owning many rabbits I am much happier with myself by helping promote rescue bunnies and teaching people how to care for them properly so they don't end up being abandoned and end up at shelters.



I really feel it's not the amount of bunnies you have that proves your love for rabbits , it's actually the amount love you have to give out that means the most.






play tunnel & chew basket - keeps me entertained so I don't ruin the furniture :)




Bunny Love : running to mum to give her bunny kisses or jumping up on the lounge to chill out with her :)




There's too many mini lop breeders and it's crazy! I am always hearing about fights and bitchiness, mostly through facebook of course. I remember when I used to visit breeders to buy my bunnies, it scared me off attending shows as I don't like to get caught up in bitch fights that's for sure.. This post is not having a stab at breeders or stereotyping breeders, or against anyone in particular but I hear about it going on between a fair few breeders and just makes me question the intentions of some breeders.



Have people forgotton about why they are breeding? Have they forgotton about loving and caring for their animals? Have they forgotton about teaching people how to look after them so they don't end up being given up or dumped in the wild and that they can be a 10 year commitment? Have they learnt about rabbit language and what their bunny is telling them?.. Maybe their buns are saying "Get me out of this stinking cramped cage, quit your bitching and start cuddling me ." :P



It suddenly seems like it's less about the little loveable creatures and more about competitiveness and nastiness , and I guess it would only be worse at cat and dog shows!  



Rabbits are amazing little creatures that can also be trained but need to have alot of time and patience for. If they aren't happy and given free time to run and play they are also less likely to bond with you and become cranky rabbits. Cranky rabbits that will stomp their feet cos they don't want to be in their cage, or lunge at you cos they haven't spent enough time with you to figure you out so they become scared of you. It's just like their owners haven't spent enough time with them to figure them out or they haven't been handled from a young age.. I've never ever heard Roxanne stomp once! :D




Mega Sized Rabbit Run = happy bunnies :)



I am actually going to look for a rescue rabbit to be friends with Roxanne, I spend 2 days at tafe now so I think she would like some extra company for those few hours during the day and bunnies like to live in groups, but not too many more than that :) two would be just fine.. I will probably be getting another female or a neutered male! Bonding will be easier if done while she is young and most rescue rabbits come desexed :)



Here are some ads and links for rabbit rescue groups (mostly australia) , please feel free to comment if you have more you would like to add to this list.



These are rescue groups in Australia :




link
search for bunnies & other pets needing homes all over Australia -
http://www.petrescue.com.au



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PORSCHE'S SMALL ANIMAL RESCUE : 

(Central Coast , NSW Australia )

http://www.porschesrescue.com/





Picture of Nimbus -Desexed and Vaccinated Picture of Ursula -Desexed and Vaccinated Picture of Ellie-May -Desexed and Vaccinated Picture of Humphrey -Vaccinated




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THE RABBIT RESCUE SANCTUARY

(Northern NSW, Australia)

http://rabbitrescuesanctuary.blogspot.com/



The Rabbit Sanctuary



Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Rabbit.Sanctuary



Some photos of bunnies needing homes :



 



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RABBIT RESCUE

(Perth, Australia)






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SA RABBIT RESCUE and ADOPTIONS

(Perth, Australia)





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BLACKTOWN CITY COUNCIL HOLDING FACILITY

(Blacktown, NSW,  Australia)

http://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/petsonline/



Some photos of bunnies needing homes:






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RSPCA AUSTRALIA - ADOPT A PET

(Blacktown, NSW,  Australia)

http://www.adoptapet.com.au/search/?t=Rabbit&newsearch=yes








Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RSPCAAustralia



There are so many bunnies needing homes on this site! :(











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Please feel free to contact me if you would like me to add your rabbit rescue group to this list :)



















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Monday, January 31, 2011


          

        










Help Save Rabbits This Chinese New Year





























INTERNATIONAL HOUSE RABBIT SOCIETY AND SINGAPORE HOUSE RABBIT SOCIETY URGE PEOPLE NOT TO BUY RABBITS FOR LUNAR YEAR OF THE RABBIT



RICHMOND, CA/SINGAPORE (January 27, 2011) - House Rabbit Society (HRS) and House Rabbit Society Singapore (HRSS) strongly urge people not to acquire live rabbits for the Year of the Rabbit unless they are willing to make a 10-year commitment to properly care for the animals. In the Chinese calendar, the Year of the Rabbit occurs every twelve years. Asian animal welfare groups like HRSS are warning of an inevitable outcome this year: abandoned and neglected bunnies.



In Asian countries, and in Asian-American communities in the United States, there is a growing demand for pet rabbits, who are thought to bring luck during the Year of the Rabbit. Once the year is over, the rabbits are often abandoned. HRSS reports that in the 1999 Year of the Rabbit, rabbits in Singapore were abandoned at that nation's shelters at twice the rate that they were in 1998.



Both HRS and HRSS point out that while rabbits are intelligent, curious, loving pets, they are not "lucky charms." In addition, they are not low maintenance pets. Margo DeMello, president of HRS, encourages rabbit lovers to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit by purchasing artwork and gifts adorned with rabbits. Items can even be purchased from rabbit rescue groups, which then benefit rabbits, such as the rabbit-themed angbao (red envelopes in which to give money) sold by HRSS. "Rabbits are not 'low maintenance' pets," says DeMello; they require at least the same amount of work as a cat or dog, and often more."



Mary Cotter, vice-president of HRS, says that many of the rabbits purchased for luck will never live to see their first birthday. Some will die from neglect, while others will be abandoned in local parks or left at animal shelters. "It is irresponsible for pet stores to push rabbits during the Year of the Rabbit" says Cotter. "Unless people are willing to take full responsibility for the possible 10-year lifespan of a live rabbit, they should not acquire live rabbits. They should decorate their homes with rabbit-themed items instead."



Children, especially, do not realize that rabbits are fragile, ground-loving creatures who will struggle when held and are easily hurt when dropped. Also, it is near impossible for a child to commit to a rabbit for 10 years. All too often, the child loses interest, and the rabbit ends up unwanted.



"Many pets in Singapore suffer unnecessarily because of ignorance on the part of their owners," commented HRSS President Jacelyn Heng. "During the Year of the Rabbit, many people buy rabbits for the wrong reason and do not fully understand the responsibilities of keeping an animal at home. The problem is particularly acute for rabbits because people wrongly assume that they are low-maintenance starter pets for children." Jacelyn added, "Many pet shops in Singapore are also not well informed about the care needed for a pet rabbit and often provide wrong or false information to unknowing first-time owners."



For people willing to make a long term commitment to a pet rabbit, HRS and the HRSS recommend adopting a rabbit from local animal shelters or rabbit rescue groups instead of purchasing them, as there are simply too many rabbits desperately in need of a good home. For those who are unsure about the commitment that they are able to offer, toys or rabbit-themed gifts would do just as well for this Lunar New Year's celebrations. Let's make this Year of the Rabbit a truly enjoyable time for our rabbits.



For people willing to make the long-term commitment, here are a few points to consider before acquiring a rabbit:



  • Housing: Bunnies need a roomy indoor space to call their own. There should be room for a litterbox, toys, food and water bowls. Playpens or puppy exercise pens are a good alternative to the small cages sold in pet stores.

    • 

  • Playtime: Rabbits need plenty of exercise and should be allowed at least 30 hours out-of-cage running time in a rabbit-proofed area of the home per week.

    • 

  • Outdoors: Rabbits should never be left outdoors unsupervised. They can, literally, be frightened to death when approached by predators such as dogs, cats, raccoons and owls. They can also dig under fences to escape.

    • 

  • Litter Box: Rabbits, once spayed or neutered, will readily use litterboxes that are place in one corner of the rabbit's cage; the rabbit's running space should contain at least one additional box. Use dust-free litter--not the clumping kind, and no softwood shavings.

    • 

  • Diet: Bunnies need fresh water, unlimited fresh, grass hay, 1-2 cups of fresh vegetables, and a small serving (1/4 c per 5 lb. rabbit) of plain rabbit pellets each day.

    • 

  • Health: Like dogs and cats, rabbits should be spayed or neutered. The risk of uterine cancer in unspayed female rabbits is alarmingly high, and unneutered males are likely to spray.

    • 

  • Grooming: Rabbits shed their coat 3-4 times per year; use a flea comb and brush away excess fur.
    

    
A person who chooses a baby rabbit as a pet must:

    • 

  • Have lots of time, a household that can withstand some chewing, and a stable residence.

    • 

  • Expect an unneutered/unspayed baby may spray urine on the walls. Know that neutering/spaying (at four to six months) will greatly alleviate or stop the problem.

    • 

  • Expect accidents when baby forgets the location of the litterbox.

    • 

  • Allow the rabbit at least 30 hours a week of free time outside her cage.

    • 

  • Know the cute baby will soon be an adult rabbit and may have a different personality.
    

    
House Rabbit Society is an international, volunteer-based nonprofit organization with two primary goals: 1) to rescue abandoned rabbits and find permanent homes for them; 2) to educate the public and assist humane societies in teaching proper rabbit care. HRS has fosterers, educators, and chapters around the world, and a rabbit adoption and education center in Richmond, California.
    

    
The House Rabbit Society Singapore is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to rabbit welfare and awareness. The HRSS runs a fostering program to rescue and re-home abandoned rabbits and participates in numerous public events to educate the general public about rabbit care and behavior. 

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    Angpao are small envelopes or packets (traditionally red) that are used in Asian communities to give gifts of money.

    

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    RELATED BLOG POSTS:
    

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    LINKS

    


    


    


    

    

    

    

    

    

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    Wednesday, January 26, 2011
    

          
    
        

    

    





    
Rabbit Care Sheets

    

    

    

    

    


    


    

    Well here are the care sheets I've been promising to post . I put these together when I was breeding mini lops and mini cashmere lops as - Nibble Nursery :) 
    
I thought about uploading old website but felt that it was unecessary to purchase a new domain and hosting so I just uploaded the PDF files to Scribd.com instead .

    

    you can view all my documents on Scribd at :
    
http://www.scribd.com/beach_bunny
    

    


    

    CARE SHEETS
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YOUR NEW BUNNY

    
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    HEALTH

    

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GROOMING
    Nibble Nursery - Rabbit Care - Grooming 
      Nibble Nursery - Rabbit Care - Your New Bunny 
      
     t> 

    

    

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Plea for myxomatosis vaccine for rabbits

    

    

    

    

    

    Mitcham pet rabbits die from myxomatosis, plea for vaccine
    Article Shared : Whitehorse Leader

    

    IT was a Christmas surprise that 10-year-old Freya McAuliffe did not have on her wish list.
    The Mitcham girl was left heartbroken on the most festive day of the year after waking to find her pet rabbit Bubbles writhing in pain.
    The bunny had contracted myxomatosis and died a few hours later.
    The highly contagious disease then spread to the family’s other rabbit Millie, who was also put down on New Year’s Eve.
    Myxomatosis causes lumps and puffiness around the head of rabbits, leading to possible blindness and death within 48 hours.
    It is spread by bites from fleas or mosquitoes that have fed on an infected rabbit.
    An available vaccine is illegal in Australia for fear it could be transmitted through the wild rabbit population.
    Freya is starting a petition asking federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig to allow the vaccine.
    “I was thinking about all the other pet owners that have had this happen to them,” she said.
    “Dogs can be vaccinated for all the diseases they have so why can’t you get it for rabbits?”
    Freya’s mother, Janine, said she knew many other families left shattered by the disease.
    “It’s becoming such an epidemic at the moment,” she said.
    “We feel it’s unfair when we are responsible pet owners.
    “If there was a virus that was spread to dogs and cats and they went through excruciating pain and you had to put them down there would be an outcry.”
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RELATED BLOG POST:
    
One Million Bunnies to Myxo Minister
    

    
To send a letter to the Parliament House to join the campaign -    Print off this letter -http://www.radicalrabbit.org/myxo_letter.htmlrg/myxo_letter.html
    
 read more
    

    
ALSO: 
    
Sign Online Petition -
    
Save our pet bunnies from myxo petition 
    

    
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    Monday, January 24, 2011
    

          
    
        

    

    





    
Year of the Rabbit: Deadly start for impulse pet buys

    

    

    

    

    

    

    Buying animals on impulse is usually a bad idea for starters because people don't fully understand about caring for the rabbit and what is involved. Pet rabbits are then often given up because they are not what they expected and have special needs.. I really like to push information on correct rabbit care to everyone and tell you to do your research before purchasing a rabbit..  Unwanted rabbits must never be dumped or released into the wild ( or Universities ) for that matter ! 
    Taobao.com is one site where online vendors sell bunnies online and has sold 89 rabbits in the past week at 30 yuan (US$4.5) each. But according to customer comments, many pets died in transit or shortly after arrival. :( Many of the vendors will not give a refund unless the dead animal is returned which is also illegal to send dead animals in the mail... read more  I tried to translate the website and do a search for live pets but I think they have possibly been banned since releasing of these news articles. :)
    
I think sending bunnies in the post is a hideous thing to do! Rabbits can die so easily from heat stroke and I'm wondering what water and food they are getting during transport, and with poor ventilation and going to the bathroom in the box would most likely cause suffocation. It is actually illegal to post live animals this way and the boxes are supposably labelled as Fragile - Glass.  Some deliveries take 5 days which is terrible as rabbits need to eat constantly. Correct feeding and diet is so important for them. I feel sick when I think about the poor buns being mailed that way. Rabbits also get easily stressed and can die easily from shock, so death is highly likely from transporting rabbits this way :(
     Buying a rabbit online before seeing the bunny is not always a smart idea as you don't get to see what it's health or temperament is really like. It is recommended that rabbits are purchased from a trusted breeder. Bunnies that have not been handled from a young age can often have temperament issues and more likely to be scared of being picked up and handled, which can result in an unfriendly bunny.
    Buying Roxanne was definately not an impulse buy for me as I had planned to get her over a year ago was just waiting for the right bunny to be bred .  It just happened that I got her just before Year of the Rabbit is to begin, which is a co-incidence! :) .. (incase you were wondering).. 
    READ ARTICLE -
    Article Shared : CNN
    Dead rabbits are showing up in Chinese mailboxes as pets ordered for the Year of the Rabbit aren’t surviving the shipping process, the Shanghai Daily reports.
    The Year of the Rabbit commences on February 3 under the Chinese lunar calendar and bunnies are in demand to celebrate it. One online search showed more than 600 vendors selling rabbits at prices from 15 to 2,000 yuan ($2.25 to $300), Shanghai Daily reported.
    But, the paper said, the rabbits can spend five days in shipment and many have suffocated or frozen to death in the small boxes in which they are sent.
    At least one vendor had stopped shipments because of the deaths, the paper reported.
    People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued a statement from its Shanghai office on Friday urging people not to bring a rabbit into their home for the Chinese New Year.
    "Rabbits aren't just cute and fluffy - they're high-maintenance animals who require significant resources, equipment, attention and veterinary care," PETA’s Maggie Chen said in a statement.
    "Rabbits are complex animals, and potential caretakers - who often purchase the animals on a whim - rarely understand the specific needs of their new companions," the statement said. “Once the novelty has worn off, many bunnies are neglected, dumped at animal shelters, or simply turned loose in the wild.”
    That’s the problem an ocean away from China at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.
    The school is saying unwanted pet rabbits dumped on its campus after February 28 will be killed, according to a report in the Victoria Times Colonist.
    The university has been trying to rid its campus of the creatures for two years because of damage to landscaping and playing fields, according to the Times Colonist report. More than 800 have been trapped and moved to sanctuaries, it said.
    But people are still seeing the campus as a place to dump their pets so the university is adopting the get-tough policy.
    “While UVic is willing to dedicate some resources to rabbit removal, it is unrealistic for the university to divert funding to this task in perpetuity,” facilities management director Tom Smith told the paper.
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    UVic wants to get rid of all rabbits at its campus
    

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    Related Blog Post: 2011: Year of The Rabbit 
    

    

    

    

    

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    Sunday, January 23, 2011
    

          
    
        

    

    





    
Understanding Bunny Language

    

    

    

    

    

    Understanding Your Bunny
    
Articles Shared From 3 Bunnies Rabbit Rescue.

    

    
This article contains a good list of common rabbit behaviours and advice on not punishing your bunny , so I must share. I have added a few pics to help illustrate :) 
    
Watching Roxanne run around the apartments doing flips and kicks (known as a binky) is so darn cute and hilarious to watch.. and I know it means she is a happy girl :)
    

    I will be posting my own care sheets from when I was breeding rabbits this week, so stay tuned.
    

      Binky = Happy Bunny :)
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    Communicating With Your Bunny

    


    

    Here is a listing of some of the most common rabbit behaviors that you can interpret:

    

    • Growling or snorting
      • 
 
      This means "leave me alone"; it can also be accompanied by lunging or scratching to fend off potential attacks, so you should heed the warning. You may also discover that you just have a very vocal chatterbox, and you'll find out soon enough. Some bunnies are fairly vocal with grunts, snorts, whuffles, coos, and many other sounds that you might not expect, since other rabbits never make a sound. The vocal rabbits are usually just criticizing everything you do.
    • Low squealing
      • 

      Most rabbits use this when they want to be put down and allowed to run free. It is also used for criticizing humans in general, such as how they are petting or approaching.
    • Loud squealing/screaming
      • 

      This is an indication that the rabbit is either in extreme pain or great danger. If not in great danger, this means you need to get your bunny to the vet - it may be dying. (It is theorized that one of the reasons a dying rabbit may scream is simply to draw predators to finish the job and stop any suffering; it is not necessarily an indication that its death comes at great suffering).
    • Cooing (The "happy noise")
      • 

      This is a sign that the rabbit is very happy, but is hard to describe - it sounds a little like cooing or soft grunting, but without aggression. You can hear an example of a happy noise made by a bunny named Simon here. (Click on the image of musical notes) (NOTE: this recording is now included in a natural museum in England) (NOTE: if you play this sound and your bunnies hear it, they may go nuts with glee)
    • Tooth gnashing/purring
      • 

      Rabbits purr by grinding their teeth softly (usually a series of soft rubbing sounds that are fairly subtle).
    • Grinding Teeth
      • 

      When a rabbit grinds its teeth in a crunching fashion, this is an indication that it is in pain, and you should take your rabbit to the vet immediately for treatment.
    • Nosebonks
      • 

      This is a greeting, show of approval, or request for attention
    • Slow blinks
      • 

      This is how a rabbit smiles
    • Binkies (mid-air flips)
      • 

      Also called a "happy dance", rabbits do this to express sheer joy. Sometimes a binky takes the form of a bunny jumping up, kicking out it's legs, and spinning around. Sometimes it's a simple hop upwards. Sometimes it's a full-body wiggle with the upper paws off the ground (almost like a dog shaking off water). Maybe all you'll see is a subtle butt-wiggle. Whatever form it takes, there's no mistaking that it is the act of a happy bunny. 
    • Flops onto its side
      • 

      This is a sign of pure contentment and happiness with his surroundings, and is quite an amusing and endearing sight. Usually a flop is followed by a nap, unless the humans find it so irresistible that they must then pet the bunny, preventing the nap.
    • Chinning
      • 

      Both male and female rabbits will mark their territory this way, and there are scent glands under the chin for scent-marking in this manner. This can also mean "I will eat you later".
    • Thumping
      • 

      This is how rabbits communicate danger to other rabbits, and also annoyance with their humans. Please understand that one of the things the bunny may be annoyed at is the lack of attention from humans - thumping is often a cry for attention from bunnies that don't see their humans that much. Thumping is done by raising a hind foot and slamming it down on the ground or floor.
    • Licking
      • 

      Rabbits lick their humans as a show of affection, in much the same way a dog does. Sometimes this licking is accompanied by gentle biting (chewing, actually) which is a form of social grooming - this should not be confused with aggressive biting!! (Note: not all rabbits lick - if your rabbit doesn't lick you, it doesn't mean he doesn't like you, just that he's not a licker).
    • Circling
      • 

      Circling is a form of courting behavior, but it also means your rabbit wants a treat or some attention, or simply that he's excited because he knows a treat is coming.
    • Racing around
      • 

      Your bunny is enjoying his freedom and letting off steam.
    • Boxing
      • 

      Your bunny is annoyed with you and you should leave him alone. This is the quintessential "rabbit punch" - a one=two swipe at you, or perhaps both paws at the same time.
    • Lunging
      • 

      Some bunnies will lunge at you, particularly if they are in their cages. This kind of behavior is also known as "cage protectiveness" and usually develops when a bunny has been abused and spent most of his life in a cage, so because it's the only thing he considers his own property, he will defend it and may also try to tell you that he doesn't want to have contact with you (probably due to prior abuse that has instilled fear in him). If you want to try to get the bunny past these fears is to simply hang out very close by (such as lay on the floor right next to the bunny's cage, speak gently to him, and in general be a part of his surroundings without being either a threat or an intruder. After a while he should get more comfortable with you and become more friendly AND take more advantage of his freedom to wander around when given exercise time.
    • Nipping
      • 

      Bunnies bite for numerous reasons, and it doesn't necessarily indicate aggression. Some bunnies will bite to say "you're in my way", or to say "stop what you're doing". They may even try to use their teeth to push your hand out of the way (another way of them telling you to leave them alone). There is a wide range of behaviors that can all fit the category of nipping - anything from gently touching their teeth on your hand (most likely if you're petting them) to an all-out bite that goes through the skin and digs deep into the muscle tissue - if you get that kind of bite, you clearly have a bunny that is either extremely afraid or in extreme pain.
    • Periscoping (standing up on hind legs)
      • 

      Rabbits stand up like this to get a better view of things (such as, what is on a coffee table, because there might be treats up there). The will also do this to beg for treats.
    • Bouncing
      • 

      Besides doing this as part of playtime, if you're lucky enough to have free range rabbits that can get on your bed, you may find this behavior at 4:30 AM - we've found that this invariably means there's no more food and you need to get up and feed them. Other meanings of such behavior are meant to get your attention - perhaps your bunnies want attention, or they're just mischievous. They may even be inviting you to a game of "hide and seek" - if so, you've already lost.
      Periscope - Hmmm what's that up there?
    -------------------------
    Your rabbit is talking to you, and wondering why you don't understand!
    Written By  David L. Fisher

    


    

    Rabbits are very gentle creatures unless pushed past their breaking point. They are also very delicate animals, both physically and emotionally, so if you have a bunny, you need to try to understand what he/she is trying to tell you - they do communicate, it just has a lot of subtlety.

    

    Rabbits are prey animals, so they are quiet. They are not silent, however, and if you listen carefully, you may hear vocalizations - this is your rabbit talking to you, and thinking that you understand. (Editor's note: your humble webmaster took years to figure out that his alpha female was criticizing the way she was being touched during petting sessions, and he finally figured it out and got it right, and now the alpha female has become quite the chatterbox about every topic under the sun).
    They do a lot of communicating with each other without making sounds that will attract predators. This includes body language, thumping, slow blinking of the eyes, and physical contact. Communicating with your rabbit is very different from communicating with a dog or cat (which are both predators). If you are new to bunnies, please read this page.
    Note: Although it is common for a bunny to be quiet in general, some bunnies (especially those comfortable around humans) are quite vocal - using grunts and snorts and huffs and whuffles (and all the other words for their utterances), some bunnies can be chatterboxes. If you have a chatterbox, try to clear your mind and understand what they're saying - you're bunny is talking to you, so it's only polite to listen). The quiet ones also talk to you, but listening to them is an art unto itself.
    Rabbits are very social animals, and will appreciate living with other rabbits, as long as the other rabbits are not threats. Many rabbits do quite well with mates (male-female bonds are usually the easiest to achieve, but they should obviously be spayed/neutered first!), and will have much happier and more fulfilling lives. Every once in a while, a rabbit will express an interest in being an only rabbit (where their humans can give all of their attention to them) so usually, "bunny dating" is a good idea to see if two rabbits will get along. Please see the bonding page for information on successfully finding your bunny a friend.
    Your relationship with your rabbit is based on trust. If you break that trust by mistreating the rabbit or failing to provide regular positive feedback, it will set your relationship back almost to the beginning. Once you have gained the trust of your rabbit you will really see what a wonderful animal it truly is.
    Rabbits are often misunderstood by owners who know little about rabbit care, and invariably the rabbit ends up on the losing end of the deal. Many rabbits that wind up in shelters or set loose are simply misunderstood by their owners.Spraying is one unfortunate example of this. Sometimes people don't understand their rabbit's behavior and surrender it to a shelter because they don't know enough about their rabbit. Please take the time to understand a rabbit's unique behavior and you will see why it is the 3rd most popular pet in the U.S.
    Other behaviors that are often misinterpreted by the uninitiated are nipping/light biting and boxing/clawing. Rabbits will often use their teeth to gently bite as a way of sending a message or of getting a grip on another rabbit as a show of dominance. Often these bites don't hurt that much but they can take you by surprise and it does take some getting used to. Sometimes rabbits will also give "hickeys" as a show of affection. Rabbits will also box (lunging with claws swinging) as a way to defend themselves if they are frightened. This should not be confused as aggressive behavior - in this case the rabbit is trying to push you away. Even after you are well-bonded with your rabbit, you may find it boxing as a way of showing frustration (such as if you are slow in getting a treat).
    A note on destructive or messy behavior:
    I shouldn't need to point this out, but rabbits do share something in common with dogs and cats - they're animals, and they behave like animals. They make messes, they chew things up, and can generally bring about a lot of damage if they are very bored, lack the proper distractions, or feel neglected. Dogs chew up people's shoes and and pee on the carpet, and they still enjoy their same status in the pack. Cats sharpen their claws on the furniture and leave little squishy presents sometimes, and they keep their status in the family. Rabbits chew on wires (because they think they're chewing vines) and the next thing you know, the poor things are living the rest of their lives caged, perhaps even banished to outdoor hutches where they may or may not be completely forgotten about. When we used to keep track of all of the times rabbits made it into the news, besides outright cruelty, we read mostly horror stories about neglect. Understand your bunny, give him the playtime and toys and attention to keep him occupied, and you will enjoy a wonder relationship with your rabbit.

    

    

    A note on punishment and animals: 

    

    You can't punish animals - it simply won't work. They don't understand it - they don't link their behavior with the punishment. If you try to punish an animal, all that happens is you make the animal unhappy, and it may link its unhappiness to you, which is totally counterproductive. Punishment will also break the trust you've worked to develop. You should completely abandon the idea of punishing your pet unless your goal is an unhappy bunny that doesn't trust you. For the same reasons, you shouldn't yell at him. He's a bunny, not a human, and he won't create the cause/effect connection - he lives much more "in the moment", and all he'll understand is that suddenly you're not being nice to him.

    

    There are two things you should be doing to try to accomplish your goals of discouraging bad behavior - one is positive reinforcement when you get the behavior you want. The other is, if you catch your bunny IN THE ACT of doing something you don't want him doing, then you can interrupt the behavioral pattern - clap your hands, make a thump sound on the floor with your hand or foot, say "no, (bunny's name), no" (but DO NOT YELL at him). The idea is to distract him for long enough that he forgets what he was up to and finds something else to do. If necessary, gently shoo him away from whatever he's doing, but don't use force or anger. It takes time, but eventually he'll learn that certain behaviors get rewarded and others get interrupted, and hopefully he'll seek the rewards and not the distractions and interference. You have to be gentle about this, or you'll damage the bond you've built with him.
    Punishing animals just won't work, and anyone who tells you otherwise is giving you very bad advice. I can't stress this enough. I also think it's doubly important when dealing with prey animals to NOT exploit fear as a method of training, or you'll wind up with a very stressed-out pet.
    One thing to keep in mind: rabbits will always do rabbity things.
    Licking is a sign of affection :)
    ----------------------
    Interesting Facts
    Here are some other interesting things about rabbits that you should know:
    • Rabbits will always do rabbitty things
      • 

    • Rabbits have a sense of humor
      • 

    • Rabbits smile
      • 

    • Rabbits understand death and will mourn the loss of a mate
      • 

    • Rabbits are easily litterbox trained
      • 

    • Rabbits groom themselves more than cats and are fastidiously clean (unless having health problems for which you should seek veterinary help immediately)
      • 

    • Rabbits are mischievous, and many like to tip things over, like drinks - this is fun to them, so place your drinks accordingly
      • 

    • Always try to have a sense of humor about the troubles your rabbit causes you - they're rather bright creatures and you are probably being given a bigger message
      • 

    • Fear can cause a rabbit to have a heart attack
      • 

    • Rabbits live in complex social groups with their own hierarchies and bond groupings
      • 

    • Rabbits need toys and playtime distractions to keep their minds busy
      • 

    • Rabbits can be taught an unlimited vocabulary of words (not really voice commands) *we have personally seen rabbits who knew the names of all of their foods and could express preference*
      • 

    • Rabbits enjoy playing with other rabbits, other pets, and humans
      • 

    • Rabbits share a lot of nonverbal communication with other rabbits and other pets
      • 

    • Punishment doesn't work with animals
      • 

    • When hormones have subsided (after spay/neuter), mounting behavior is an expression of dominance
      • 

    • When a rabbit kicks up its legs while running, or hops up and kicks out and perhaps lands in a different direction, it is called a "binky" and is a sign of pure joy
      • 

    • When a rabbit flicks its feet at you when running away from you, it is a sign of rejection (he is trying to kick dirt up at you) because you have annoyed him somehow.
      • 

    • When a rabbit flops onto its side, it is a sign of contentment and happiness, and is usually the precursor to a nap (unless you decide that it's so cute that you have to pet your bunny)
      • 

    • Nosebonks are a sign of approval and a greeting, and sometimes a request for attention
      • 

    • Rabbits nip and bite in many different ways, usually not to hurt but to communicate - you must learn to interpret what your rabbit is telling you - it could be anything from "I love you" to "you're hurting me" to "you're in my way"
      • 

    • A rabbit that sits right against you while grooming himself is showing you approval and trust; he is vulnerable yet drawing security from the contact with you - make no sudden movements and this will enhance your rabbit's trust and desire to have contact with you
      • 

    • Rabbits lick as a show of affection
      • 

    • Circling behavior (ie, running circles around your feet) is a bid for attention and is also courting behavior
      • 

    • A rabbit sitting hunched over and not moving is in distress and should be see by a vet immediately.
      • 

      ----------------------  
    Flop = I'm pretty chilled and happy hanging here. I might have a snooze :)
    

    

    

    

    

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