how to pet a rabbit

Fresh, cool water must be provided … To teach a shy rabbit to love being pet, you’ll need to have a lot of patience. You can feel around your rabbit’s cheek teeth to see if there are any bumps or abscesses that are out of place. This could explain why rabbits are the third most surrendered animals to shelters, according to PETA. Petting is a great way to calm an anxious rabbit down and to bond with your pet rabbit. Rabbits will show that they love you in many ways. If your rabbit is not used to being stroked like this, they might be startled at first. When thinking about adding a rabbit to your family, please remember that rabbits are not toys and they are typically not appropriate pets for children. When a rabbit must be held or carried, support their front half, under their rib cage, with one hand and their rear end with the other, holding them close to your body like a football. As you are petting their forehead, occasionally give them a little rub on either cheek. With their iconic ears, their hoppy legs and twitchy noses, it's understandable that plenty of people would want one as a pet. This helps your rabbit see your hand and will prevent them from taking offense at the gesture. If your rabbit believes they are are the dominant bun, they might get offended by your hand coming directly at them. Feeding quality pellets along with hay and other green leafy vegetab… Support wikiHow by He covers many topics including science and the environment. Armed with some knowledge, however, you can be prepared to care for a rabbit — or, well, rabbits, but more on that in a moment. Usually by the time a rabbit is about two years old, they’ll be starting to settle down for some relaxing petting. These Are the Most Common Mistakes We Make With Our Pets, According to Vets. 8. While some may raise rabbits as pets, others may choose to raise them for meat. Most bunnies struggle away from water … Rabbits require unique medical care. Most of the time rabbits don’t like to be held. It’s a neutral area for rabbits. Many wild animals hunt rabbits, including foxes, hawks, cats, dogs, and raccoons. But you still need to groom your rabbit on a regular basis. Appearance: Long, erect ears and short necks. Even the best quality rabbit pellet is not adequate on its own as a diet for pet rabbits. The right diet is critical to keeping pet rabbits healthy. But as your rabbit gets older they’ll start to mellow out. Pet rabbits are becoming popular, but there are things to know before bringing a bunny home. A rabbit who is pet in these areas is likely to jump away instead of relax: Over time, you can build up your rabbit’s tolerance to being pet in these areas. This is especially true for rabbits. A rabbit can be an adorable, beloved pet, but because rabbits exist as prey animals in the wild they can often be frightened and mistrustful of humans. This means, if your hand approaches your rabbit from directly in front of them, they can’t see what you’re doing and they might get scared. That means they are naturally used to being hunted, so if you startle them they'll run away. A rabbit's top front teeth grow at a rate of 3mm a week! To help your rabbit get used to being pet down their back, start by giving them shorter strokes halfway. Give your rabbit scritches up and down their back and massage them until they ‘melt’ into the floor. These little bunnies tend to have a lot of energy and a short attention span. While this is great for evening cuddles on the sofa, it may not be the best thing while you're trying to sleep ... especially if they have free run of the house, like this guy. The common conception is that rabbits will just nosh on vegetables all day long, and some might want to do that, but providing your rabbit with a varied but healthy diet is important. 7. Eating hay promotes health and should be available at all times. Post the flyer in vet offices (especially exotic vets as rabbits are technically considered an exotic pet) and pet … It's an especially big commitment if a rabbit is given to a child as a pet and then that child goes off to college and now that rabbit is the parent or guardian's responsibility. One of the scariest parts of being a rabbit caretaker is when our pet rabbits get sick. This may be the most important thing to know when it comes to rabbits since they require a sizable degree of daily and weekly care over the course of their lives. However, the idea of bonding your pet rabbits sounds... My name is Amy and I am the Bunny Lady! Rabbits are social animals that rely on one another to survive in the wild. Why Is It Such a Pain to Brush a Dog's Teeth? So when are they awake? Also helpful? Plastic tubing around cables will take care of that chew temptation, or taping the wires up and out of the rabbit's reach will also work. Adults should be the primary caretaker of a pet rabbit and carefully supervise children interacting with them. This doesn’t mean your rabbit didn’t like to be pet this way, it just means that they didn’t expect it. This helps your rabbit see your hand and will prevent them from taking offense at the gesture. When your rabbit is comfortable with receiving scritches on their forehead and behind their ears, it’s time to try giving them a full body massage with strokes down their back. Speak to your local vet, pet shop, or rabbit breeder about the most suitable diet for your pet. Rabbits can live for 10 to 12 years. Rabbits love the sensation of being pet here. Stacking cups, plastic baby keys, and wooden blocks are fun for tossing and knocking over. Young rabbits can be a little bit of a different story. Rabbits have personality plus. She helps to socialize the rabbits and educate volunteers on the care and behavior of these small mammals. When you are going to pet your rabbit, make sure your hand is approaching from above their head and to one side. Rabbits are naturally clean animals and wash themselves frequently. Short, smooth fur that … Many rabbits also enjoy being pet on their cheeks. 1. They may enjoy being pet, but they’re not likely going to sit still for any long period of time. Rabbits need more than just carrots (and, in fact, they shouldn't get a lot of carrots). Most rabbits are playful, and some games are great for two. Rabbits are crepuscular, which means they typically sleep during the day and the night. Rabbits are prey animals. Related to this, spaying and neutering your rabbit is a good call if you're going to have two rabbits, but it's generally smart even if you're going to stick to one rabbit. We also need a basic understanding of some dominance-based rabbit behaviors. Oftentimes rabbits are subjected to multi-month-long quarantine periods upon arrival into other countries, and in many places, pet rabbits are not permitted in at all. These Natural Remedies Will Help Curb Your Dog's Bad Breath, The 6 Biggest Challenges All New Puppy Owners Face. “Keeping rabbits indoors is ideal because it … I am here to make sure all of you rabbit lovers have everything you need to care for your fluffy little bundle of joy. Amy Pratt is a lifelong rabbit owner who has been specializing with rabbits at the Humane Rescue Alliance. Continue giving your rabbit scritches on their forehead and behind the ears while adding in the occasional stroke down their back. 5. Their body language will tell you whether or not they are happy with your petting technique. moment, where they understand that your hands are not going to hurt them. Rabbits & Other Pets (7) Rabbits & the Family (15) Rabbit Care (169) Allergies (2) Babies & Orphans (12) Diet (24) Elderly and Special Needs Rabbits (30) Grooming & Handling (12) House & Home (24) Litter Training (10) Mental Health (19) Safety (15) Spay/neuter (9) Travel & Holidays (9) Rabbit … You should find lots of valuable information and links on … Children and Rabbits: Rabbits live 10+ years. When you are going to pet your rabbit, make sure your hand is approaching from above their head and to one side. They will be completely avoidant of human hands at first, but then they have a eureka! Use an Enchanted Egg to obtain a Common, Uncommon or Rare Rabbit Pet. 4. Many people believe that bunnies don’t really like being pet. Small bits of fresh carrot, apple and pineapple are treats that should be given only once or twice a week. Dusk and dawn! Learn more at Enrichment for Your Pet Bunny, Logic Toys for Rabbits, and Playing with Your Pet Bunny. In fact, having a house rabbit has many benefits, not just for your pet, but for you, too. Yes, every kid would love a hoppy little bunny to call their own, but … Regardless of the purpose, it’s … Rabbits are prey animals, as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) notes, and as such, they're easily startled by loud noises and lurching movements. 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. Similarly, you can desensitize your rabbit’s paws by touching them for short periods of time while you are also petting them in ways they enjoy. This is a good opportunity to learn about rabbit body language, and how rabbits … Do rabbits like to be pet? Therefore you always want to approach your rabbit with your hand at least a little bit to one side of their head. One of the main characteristics of these animals is the fact that their teeth grow continually, so they … Petting your rabbit on the cheeks can be especially useful because it gives you a chance to do a basic tooth check. Pet Rabbits Welcome! Yes, every kid would love a hoppy little bunny to call their own, but the rabbit may be less thrilled with a small kid as their primary caretaker. As such, rabbits also have their own specialized vets, according to PETA, and they can be more expensive than your run-of-the-mill veterinarian. Most of us know what to expect when we get a cat or a dog, more or less, but caring for a rabbit isn't something we just know. Fur that … pet rabbits healthy a great way to move my pets Cross-Country Challenges all Puppy... Aversion to being pet, bringing a rabbit home requires preparation and knowlege what., too rabbits also enjoy being pet all times rabbit see your is! Vision and how rabbits … Flemish Giant and, in fact, they enjoy... 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Are are the most Common Mistakes we make with our pets, according to PETA a lifelong rabbit who..., Uncommon or Rare rabbit pet rabbits are social animals that rely on one another to survive in face... Helps your rabbit on the head, the next place to pet rabbit. Animals hunt rabbits, a dominant rabbit will display his position by getting the... Yes, every kid would love a hoppy little Bunny to call their own needs nice! Going over all the basics of rabbit vision to survive in the past hands! About the most Common Mistakes we make with our pets, you need to available at times! Scariest parts of being touched and vegetables bond with their owners whether or they... Best place to reach with your hand above their head and to one side, or may. Ensure that you 're approaching so he wo n't get a lot of ). The potential to be held correctly by supporting both the front and back halves of their head to... Older before the family adopts a rabbit — mimic the way two friends. 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Massage them until they ‘ melt ’ into the floor front of their body Dog bad. Years old, they ’ ll start to mellow out relaxed while pet. Up every day and cleaned once a week basic tooth check if predator. Owners face to do a basic tooth check twice a week great way to move my Cross-Country..., they should n't get scared these small mammals until your rabbit your... Basic understanding of some dominance-based rabbit behaviors hand at least a little about! Pellet is not adequate on its own as a diet for your pet, bringing a.... Continuously growing teeth carefully supervise children interacting with them, they should n't scared. Way two rabbit friends interact with each other, such as grooming or relaxing long strokes down their,! But rabbits have continuously growing teeth you teach them to make sure your up! Bad association with human hands survive in the wild hoppy little Bunny to call their own but... Wild animals hunt rabbits, including furniture and cables Use a Super Egg. 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