The first and most important rule of handling your rabbit correctly is to never pick him/her up by the ears, the scruff, legs or tail. It is painful and can cause serious damage.
Rabbit tails don't get harmed all that often, since they are often held close to their bodies, but the tails are still a delicate part of the rabbit's body. So if the tail is harmed, there can be some lasting damage. A rabbit's tail has a bone and nerves, and it can be really painful for a rabbit to lose their tail.
Help them feel secure by holding all four feet against your body. Never pick rabbits up by their ears - this would be extremely stressful and is highly likely to injure them.
Due to the fear and stress rabbits feel when placed on their back, things like general interactions, routine health checking and grooming should all be carried out without putting them in this position.
A rabbit tail actually is a part of its spine. It is bone coated in muscle, then covered in skin and fur. They have complete control over it, the way we have control over our fingers.
They also love getting a good back scratch around the shoulders. That said, they tend not to like being touched on the ears, neck, feet, stomach or tail. Usually, my bunnies are most receptive to petting when they're relaxing after a meal.
Grunting: Grunting noises are angry reactions towards another rabbit or a person and should be heeded as a warning to back off; otherwise the rabbit might escalate by scratching or biting. Rabbits grunt when they feel threatened or territorial. Thumping: Thumping is an attention getting behavior.
The best places to pet a rabbit are their forehead and behind their ears. The cheeks and strokes down their backs are also good spots. But rabbits dislike being pet on their bottom, feet, chin, and underside.
Rabbits have been designed to be easily frightened and broken; never physically discipline your rabbit. You and/or your rabbit could end up seriously hurt and your rabbit will end up terrified of you rather than your loving companion. Rabbits do not typically bite for the fun of it.
Rabbits love being stroked on their foreheads and backs. Always stroke in the direction of the hair, never against the hair (unless you are checking for skin problems). Most also like being stroked behind the ears.
Rabbits don't like to be petted the same way that cats and dogs do. They hate when you touch their chin and can get offended if your hand approaches them directly in front of their nose (they have a blind spot). Always pet your rabbit with your hand coming from above their head.
A rabbit will only scream if they are scared, stressed, or frightened. Hopefully, you never hear a rabbit scream, it is eerily chilling. Some other sounds of anger, pain, or fear include: Growling: Rabbits certainly can growl and it often precedes a lunge and possibly a bite.
The nose, face, cheeks, and ears seem like safe areas to try. Under the chin might or might not be a problem area, depending on the rabbit. The back is likely safe. The belly, feet, and rear end seem like no-go areas.
Don't turn the rabbit completely upside down. Instead keep their head up while you cradle the rabbit against your body. Keep a grip on the rabbit's front half while holding them up against your body or laying them against your other arm.
Trimming or cutting your rabbit's whiskers will not cause your pet any pain. However, it isn't recommended that you don't cut your rabbit's whiskers if: You're simply cutting the whiskers because you're trimming the fur on your bunny's face.
Do not hit or push your rabbit. Rabbits do not understand physical correction, and they are fragile creatures, you could seriously hurt your bunny if you hit or push him.
Always be consistent when disciplining rabbits and don't expect too much from them. Here are two humane things to try if your rabbit is being a bit ornery: Shout “no” or clap your hands. Thump your foot, like a rabbit, to convey your displeasure.
Rabbits enjoy being around people and can usually recognise their owners by sight and sound.
Rabbits are social and intelligent creatures. They'll know that you love them; you just have to learn how to say “I love you!” in a way they'll understand. You can show your rabbit you love them by giving them gifts such as toys and yummy treats.
Whether you allow your rabbit to sleep with you or not is a matter of preference. Observe where your rabbit feels most comfortable, and go with it. If you want to train it to sleep with you, then you can do it slowly while making your rabbit's safety your utmost priority.
It is common for rabbits to be offended and hold grudges against people. The most common sign that a rabbit is upset is when they give you the cold shoulder, ignoring you and refusing to take any treats. Rabbits holding a grudge will also flick their feet and people and urinate in places they normally wouldn't.
Pulling at their fur and over-grooming - or not grooming at all. A change in feeding or toilet habits. Drinking a lot more. Repeated circling or pacing up and down.