Behavior

Understanding bunny behaviors is important to maintaining a happy, healthy rabbit. Every bunny is different, with personalities ranging from very shy to the most outgoing.

Getting to know your rabbit

Rabbits are intelligent and social animals, and every rabbit personality is different. Getting to know your rabbit and learning about how they communicate can help you navigate behavior challenges (why does my rabbit always bite my toes?) and provide the best types of enrichment to prevent boredom or depression.

Learning about rabbit behavior, and what is normal for your rabbit, is also important for their physical health. Sudden changes in behavior can be indicators of illness and signal that it’s time for a trip to the vet.

Shyness

Rabbits are prey animals and are often cautious of new people and new situations. Even though they look snuggly, most rabbits do not like to be held and prefer to keep all their feet on the ground. Building trust with shy rabbits takes time and patience (and a few treats doesn’t hurt either).

Ways to build trust with shy rabbits:

  • Sit quietly and let them approach you. Rabbits are inherently nosy and they will eventually come see what you are doing. This is a great time to catch up on that book series you’ve been wanting to read.

  • Let them see and sniff you without trying to touch them. Over time they will learn that you are not scary. Add in a little treat bribe.

  • Repeat. Over time your rabbit will learn that they are safe in their new environment, and safe with you. Give gentle pets as you make progress.

  • Set up their enclosure so they can get in and out on their own without needing to be picked up. Remember it’s easier to build trust with all four feet on the floor. Additional tip: Rabbits learn very fast what the sound of the pellet container or treat bag sounds like - giving pellets at bedtime is a great way to get them in after playtime.

More about working with shy rabbits:

How to Befriend a Shy Bunny from The Bunny Lady

Shy Rabbits by Dana Krempels

Aggression

People usually think of rabbits as docile and sweet, but they can become upset and angry just like other animals (and humans). Aggression usually begins with subtle body language, but can build into more obvious (and angry) behaviors if the rabbit isn’t getting their point across. Imagine trying to talk to your friend, but they aren’t paying attention, so you start talking louder and louder until they look up. Learning to understand the cues from your rabbit, and finding the cause of aggressive behaviors, is the key to establishing trust and turning the behavior around.

Basics for working through aggressive behaviors:

  • Rule out pain. If your rabbit is suddenly displaying different behaviors, including aggression, a trip to the vet to rule out a medical problem is a good idea.

  • Spay and neuter. Rabbits can be perceived as aggressive when in reality they think your ankles are the most beautiful in the world.

  • Remember aggression is communication - what are they trying to say? It’s up to us to figure it out.

  • Always us positive reinforcement. Never punish a rabbit. Look for the behavior you want and reward it.

Cage aggression

Rabbits can be protective of their space and hands reaching in can be scary. Letting your rabbit come in and out on their own helps them feel more secure. It also helps to do cleaning and change litter boxes during playtime so they don’t feel cornered in their safe space.

Food aggression

Rabbits can become food insecure, especially if they have been stray or neglected in the past. Feeding on a regular schedule helps them to know when food is coming. Using a treat ball or a forage mat can help redirect behavior. Wearing an oven mitt or heavy garden gloves can protect hands from nips.

Territory aggression

Rabbits may claim spaces in your home as their own, or may exhibit aggressive behaviors during playtime. Wearing protective clothing can help you feel secure while you work through the behavior. Always respond with gentle talk and positive reinforcement. If they are nipping for attention, remember don’t reward the behavior - give pets when they are calm.

More tips for working with aggression:

Aggressive Rabbits
How to Handle Aggression Issues in Rabbits

Digging and chewing

Digging and chewing are natural rabbit behaviors. A rabbit’s teeth never stop growing, so chewing is important for keeping their teeth healthy (though for many rabbits chewing is also a fun thing to do). High quality grass hay is one of the best things to chew since it provides fiber they need and wears their teeth. Providing lots of safe chewing options, like toys, willow tents, apple branches, or hay cubes is great for enrichment and will also help to keep them from chewing your stuff. Learn more about safe chewing options on our Enrichment page.

Digging is also lots of fun for many rabbits. Burrowing is another natural behavior. Ask anyone who has lived with a rabbit and they can tell you that digging and remodeling cardboard boxes is a favorite activity (bunstruction, anyone?). A dig box filled with Kraft paper or newspaper can provide hours of entertainment. For discouraging digging in corners, on carpets, or other problem areas, large ceramic tiles from the hardware store are a great option.

More about digging and chewing:

Why Does My Rabbit Chew On Everything? by Paige Parsons

How to Deal with Bunnies that Chew and Dig at Ohio House Rabbit Rescue

Why Does Your Rabbit Dig That? at The Bunny Lady

How to Deal with Rabbit Chewing & Digging by Abi Cushman

Happiness

Rabbits use body language to show when they are happy, just as they do when they are uncomfortable or angry. Behaviors like zooming, purring, and flopping are all signs that your rabbit feels safe and content.

Zoomies - when your bunny runs around the room at high speed, also known as the “Bunny 500” - often include other happy behaviors, like binkies (twisting leaps and jumps).

Tooth purring is a subtle sign of bunny happiness. Rabbits can click their teeth together softly, which sounds a bit like a cat purring. Be aware that loud tooth grinding is a sign of pain or discomfort - if loud grinding is accompanied by hunching or loss of appetite we recommend a trip to the vet.

Relaxing body positions are when your bunny is laying down, either with their legs tucked under their body or with their back legs stuck out behind them (often called a “sploot”).

A sign of extreme relaxation is flopping, when your bunny flops over on their side with their feet stuck out. This can be scary the first time you see it (or the hundredth time) and no judgement if you sneak over to make sure they are breathing. Flopping is a sign that rabbits feel relaxed and safe.

Learn more

Download a behavior guide from the RSPCA.

Download our handling guide and learn how to properly pick up your rabbit.