Yes, bunnies can trust you, but it's earned, not automatic, as they are prey animals; you build trust by being patient, letting them approach you, understanding their body language (like soft teeth purring or flopping over as signs of relaxation), and avoiding scary actions like sudden movements or picking them up until they feel safe.
Pet rabbits can form a close, affectionate bond with their humans, much like dogs or cats can. When you treat your pet rabbit not just as a pet but as a companion, they will respond in turn. It's a relationship built on mutual trust and affection, growing stronger as you spend time together.
Be Patient, don't rush. It can take a few months for a rabbit to adjust to a new home and new people. Speak softly.
The 3-3-3 rule for rabbits (and other pets) is a guideline for adjusting to a new home: 3 Days for the rabbit to feel overwhelmed and hide, 3 Weeks to start settling in and showing personality, and 3 Months to feel truly at home and build a strong bond. It helps adopters manage expectations, understand that fear and skittishness are normal, and encourages patience as the bunny decompresses in its new environment, emphasizing providing a safe space and routine.
Rabbits aren't “starter pets”—they're high-maintenance, long-term commitments. While healthy adult rabbits will typically use a litterbox to do their business, they do a lot of business—and you will have to keep their box clean by changing it at least every other day.
Their back legs are stretched out behind the body and their front paws are pointing forward. A happy rabbit jumps into the air with all four paws off the ground and twists in mid-air before landing. This is called 'binkying' and is a sign that the rabbit is happy or excited.
If they are sitting upright and their front paws are 'boxing' at you, they are likely very unhappy. Vocalising. Rabbits don't tend to make much noise and when they do it's a sign they're feeling very threatened. You may hear them grunting or growling and in extreme cases, they can scream.
Older Rabbit Behaviour
If your bunny lives indoors with you, you may also notice them becoming clingier and more affectionate. The downside of ageing brings its problems too. Your bunny will still want to use their litter tray, but they can sometimes find getting in and out of them a bit tricky.
Rabbits grunting usually means they're angry and possibly feel threatened. Sometimes, the grunting is followed by a nip or bite. Some rabbits do not like it when you rearrange their cages as you clean. So they might grunt, charge, or even nip you when you try.
Work with the rabbits daily for at least 15 minutes. The more often you work with them, the quicker the process will progress (usually). If the rabbits have a bad experience, or if one of the rabbits is elderly or has health considerations, you may need to take it slower, or take some time off.
When rabbits are cradled so they're almost flat on their backs, it could inadvertently induce a trance-like state. 🐰This is also known as “TRANCING” or TONIC IMMOBILITY. While initially it might seem peaceful, as if the bunny is relaxed and enjoying the position, trancing is actually a stressful experience for them.
Rabbits are naturally social animals and companionship is important to them. In the wild, rabbits live in family groups which can reach up to 30 in one warren! Mammal Society. If they are kept alone, they may begin to show some abnormal behaviour, especially if left without company for long periods of time.
The 3-3-3 rule for rabbits (and other pets) is a guideline for adjusting to a new home: 3 Days for the rabbit to feel overwhelmed and hide, 3 Weeks to start settling in and showing personality, and 3 Months to feel truly at home and build a strong bond. It helps adopters manage expectations, understand that fear and skittishness are normal, and encourages patience as the bunny decompresses in its new environment, emphasizing providing a safe space and routine.
Here's how you can tell that your rabbit likes you:
In answer to the question what animal eats rabbits, the most common that springs to mind is the fox. But there are numerous others including pet dogs and cats, birds of prey, stoats, weasels, ferrets, badgers and snakes.
A rabbit running in circles around a person's feet is showing affection. They will usually show this behavior when greeting a person entering the room, when they expect a treat, or when they are feeling playful. Overall, it's a positive behavior that you want to see.
You can apologize by feeding him a treat, or giving a couple of pets on the head. You can also repeat this act to your rabbit if it does something to offend you. It will most likely come by to apologize, either with a few kisses or quick bumps.
After potentially stressful experiences like vet visits, grooming sessions, or encountering unfamiliar situations, your rabbit might engage in zoomies to help process and release those feelings. This stress-relief behavior helps them return to their baseline emotional state more quickly.
Typical things that can make your rabbit stressed include: novelty (for example the first trip in a car or being handled by a stranger) fear-inducing stimuli (for example sudden noises) social stress (for example too many individuals in a small space, loss of a companion, living alone)
Working out if your rabbit could be lonely