Taming a rabbit is not that easy. Have you purchased a rabbit but have no experience with these animals yet? Then you soon notice that a rabbit behaves very differently than a cat or dog. Often the animal appears fearful, timid and aloof. The rabbit may even bite you when you want to pet it. Before you panic or think you have a naughty rabbit, this behavior is completely normal. A rabbit just needs time and trust. Do not forget that in nature these animals are prey for other animals. This is still ingrained in their character in house rabbits. But if you take a smart approach and let the animal get used to its new owner and environment, you will have a close bond with your new pet in no time!
- How to tame your rabbit?
- Leave the rabbit alone
- Gaining confidence
- Let your rabbit out of the cage
- To pet
- Pick up a rabbit
- Taming your rabbit after surgery
How to tame your rabbit?
Knowing how to best tame a rabbit is important, especially if your new pet has just moved in with you. It is precisely then that it is crucial to gain confidence. If you get it wrong, you may only make this process more difficult. How does a rabbit behave in unfamiliar territory?
Character
A rabbit is a prey animal in nature. They do not hunt like a predator themselves, but are hunted. This gives them a very different character than a cat or dog. A rabbit is usually timid and keeps its distance from strangers. So don’t expect your new pet to walk up to you right away or just let it pet itself!
Exceptions
There are always exceptions, of course. Some rabbits are naturally tame or less fearful than their peers. They come to you on the first day or let themselves be stroked without any problems.
Not a wild rabbit
Taming a rabbit is only possible with pets. Never try to catch a wild rabbit. The chance that this will succeed is small. Moreover, you will never be able to tame a wild rabbit. It is therefore best to leave wild animals in nature. Do you come across a nest of young rabbits during a walk in a forest or field? Then leave this untouched. The animals are not left helpless and the mother will come back with food.
Leave the rabbit alone
The first step is simple. Just leave the rabbit alone for the first few days. As much as you would like to immediately take that new, adorable pet on your lap and cuddle it, don’t. Rabbits are very insecure animals by nature. They must be able to get used to their environment slowly. So resist the urge to pick up and grab the animal right away. For the first few days, leave your animal in the cage, from where it can observe and get to know its surroundings in peace.
Gaining confidence
Because a rabbit often has a scared character, it is very important to gain confidence. There are several tricks here. in front of. You can approach the rabbit mainly on your stomach for the first few days. When you are standing upright you are much taller and so you look like a threatening giant to your rabbit. By lying on your stomach next to the cage now and then for the first few days and talking softly to your rabbit, the animal also gets to know your voice. Your rabbit will soon learn that you are not a threat. Also put something in the cage from time to time, such as a small piece of carrot. In this way your rabbit learns that you don’t want to harm him, but he also associates your arrival with something positive: I might get a treat!
Let your rabbit out of the cage
A rabbit is of course not made to be in a cage all day long. Being able to move freely and walk around in an enclosed outdoor run or living room for at least a few hours a day is therefore a must for the health of your animal. Open the hutch or cage so your rabbit can come out on its own when it is ready.
Despite their timid nature, most rabbits are also very curious at the same time. There is a good chance that after a few days of getting used to it, your rabbit will soon use the open cage to leave the familiar place and explore the area.
It is important not to intervene yet. Do not constantly go to the rabbit yourself. Wait for the animal to come to you of its own accord. Let your rabbit sniff around quietly. Do not make short, abrupt movements. It is allowed to give something tasty now and then.
To pet
If your rabbit seems used to you after a few days, you can take it a step further. Especially when the rabbit is already sniffing at your fingers or dares to eat from your hand, you can try to stroke or touch it gently. Make slow movements. If your rabbit is startled or recoils, discontinue your attempt and try again the next day.
After a while, your rabbit will be able to touch and pet itself without any problem. It has learned not to fear you. Most rabbits especially like it when you pet them on the head. You will notice that they often even push their head and nose a bit higher, as if to say: “More!”
Pick up a rabbit
Only when all previous steps were successful, and preferably after a few weeks, you can try to pick up your rabbit. Most rabbits don’t like this. It reminds them of how a predator seizes them in nature. Therefore, they have a deep natural dislike and fear of being lifted off the ground. So take enough time before trying this and let the rabbit come to you first.
Correct way
Always take a rabbit with one hand under the buttocks and the other under the chest. Your rabbit will then rest on your forearm, which is a pleasant position for your animal.
Never at the scruff!
You sometimes see people lift a rabbit by the scruff of the neck. You should never do this! A rabbit can suffer injuries from this.
Taming your rabbit after surgery
Also know that taming a rabbit will not always work if your animal has not been operated on. Castration or sterilization is an absolute must for rabbits. Female rabbits have up to an eighty percent risk of uterine cancer before the fifth year of life. In males, failure to operate leads to aggressive hormonal behavior. Just think of spraying urine, circling around the feet, climbing your legs and even biting. Therefore each rabbit should be neutered or spayed as soon as it is old enough, even if it is living alone or when two males or two females are living together.