Playtime With Your Rescued Rabbit
Play
Bond with play time!
Take a few strips of old newspaper and lay them on the ground… many rabbits enjoy ripping these apart as it simulates digging in as they would in the wild and you can actually join in. If your rabbit stops to give you a lick on your hand that is an indicator of affection and bonding in playtime as rabbits do not lick their humans for salt.
Hiding the treat will give you quite a bit of joy. There are many products that are safe for your rabbit that you can hide a small treat in. I would recommend when you play this game to always use the same type of toy to hide the treat to strengthen their understanding that this is playtime in a game that you two play.
String a few treats along the ground for a fun little game of chase.
A few very lightweight small colorful containers scattered about the play area, one with a treat.
Certainly scattering a few toys about the center of the room and supervising your rabbit, rolling a ball about yourself gently towards the rabbit and enjoying these toys alongside your pet makes for a delightful shared time together.
A cut left over flap from a cardboard box is also more fun than you would imagine for a rabbit! These can be stored flat quite easily behind a couch and then brought out to be used as a little slide for short distances from say the couch to the floor.
If you appropriately sized cardboard boxes simply with cutouts to insert another box can make for a fantastic playhouse. When you are done with play you can simply pull the pieces apart and fold to store.
A rabbit tunnel might be fun as well. Save up the appropriate sized cardboard product cylinders making sure to remove any metal, plastic or labels, and see each together with digestible hemp string.
Tips
Rabbits enjoy games which require logic; for example figuring out how to open a toy to get a treat. Choose a toy that will allow you to help your rabbit retrieve this treat.
Remember to always stay on your rabbit’s level so they do not feel threatened. This can happen easily with a rabbit because they are in fact of course a prey animal and though of course I’m sure they certainly do love you as you love them there is a bit of instinct that may kick in.
Certainly never raise your voice at your rabbit . Rabbits are easily scared. Make sure that your movements are slow and gentle.
If anytime during your play You rabbit feels they were too aggressive with you (though rabbits do not often fight), they will make up by touching their head to you. If you pet your bunny back to indicate affection, instigate grooming, massage their ears, or return the head bump on their level, this is your way of saying the apology is accepted.
Why Rabbits Bite
If your rabbit does bite, never be cross or scold. Rabbits do NOT understand discipline. Simply gently move the bunny away from you. If this is an issue and respond the same way every time eventually they will understand it is an unwanted behavior.
When a bite occurs be mindful of the context: was there a tasty treat they go crazy for in the mix and they confused your treat from your hand? Could they of been feeling threatened by being placed on their back (rabbits hate this and will cause them to kick without thought as they feel exposed), were there hind legs not supported or were they being handled without a knowledgeable adult?
Rabbits do not bite to be spiteful but as a last resort to make known they are frightened by what is going on…and more care needs to be taken to think like a prey animal.
Attention
Make sure to pay attention of course to your rabbit and the clues to let you know when they want you to play and when they are done. Rabbits will approach you of course. They will leap into your space, or circle around you. This will tell you that they want your attention. Conversely, if you see that your rabbit is headed towards their habitat you know that they are finished and may want food, water etc.
If you would like to use play to teach an easy way to do this would be to incorporate stringing treats to the object for example you would like your rabbit to be accepting of. If you are trying to potty train your rabbit and yes rabbits are potty trainable and see that they have made a deposit simply pick up the little poopy and put it in the area you would like for them as a designated poop area. Immediately lead treats to this area so that over time they will make the connection that this is where poop goes and it’s a good thing. See our article on small animal litter box training. It ma be easier than you think.