A content rabbit will let its ears rest along the back of its neck. This helps you pass a hand over its ears without fuss. Rabbits enjoy a variety of petting spots — and hate others. As mentioned, there are benefits to working with your rabbit on some of these areas.
However, not all carry a benefit. A rabbit will likely shy away from chin scratches. Rabbits also do not like their butts or tails touched. Under the chest and belly are not blind spots, but they are jealously defended from any touch. It may nip, bite, kick, or otherwise warn you away from touching it here. Lucky as rabbit feet are, your bunny may hate being pet there.
Nonetheless, rabbits do need regular nail trimming. This prevents ingrown nails and overgrown nails, which cause painful foot issues. It also minimizes the risk of the bunny scratching you or any other individual. After all, cats love being scratched under the chin and dogs love belly rubs.
Tame as they are, both of these animals are actually predators. They have very different responses and personalities compared to rabbits. In Practice notes that treating a rabbit as you would a cat or dog is a mistake that can lead to welfare issues.
Petting a rabbit means always remembering that it is a prey animal. No matter how closely bonded you are, take the following steps. Even if the rabbit approaches you for pets, make sure it can see your hand before making contact. A rabbit has two blind spots, directly behind its head and before its nose. Most will indicate when the petting should stop. This usually entails the bunny trying to get out of your lap, arms, or reach. If your bunny tries to leave the petting session and you hold it close, this can result in aggression.
Likewise, it may want many smaller petting sessions. Refusing it later can leave the bunny feeling unappreciated. Avoid picking up the rabbit, petting session or no, as this is not well-received by most rabbits.
Being held simulates being restrained by a predator. It can trigger a fight-or-flight response. If you are holding the rabbit, it may jump from your grip and hurt itself quite badly. Every rabbit will have its own favorite spot for petting. As you massage the rabbit, these spots will reveal themselves. Petting your rabbit is an important bonding experience between rabbit and owner.
Just be sure your rabbit can end the session when it pleases. By providing that control, it will feel safe to come over to request more attention. Rabbits make wonderful pets in the right situations. Here are some great reasons bunnies are beneficial:. If you live in an apartment building or have nearby neighbors, animal sounds can be a big concern. Generally, though, rabbits make little to no noise. These animals can be charming, affectionate and very interactive.
When choosing a bunny as a pet, spend some time getting to know him before you decide to take him home to be sure his personality fits yours.
Just like more traditional pets, some bunnies are rambunctious and playful, while others may be more shy and reserved. They recognize them by voice and sight and will even come on command. Bunnies may even follow their owners from room to room and jump up on their laps when called. Long strokes, circular strokes, quick or slow? Is your rabbit more a fan of one finger, two finger, or whole-hand petting?
What could stress your rabbit? Bunnies differ, but things to avoid include too much pressure, pulling the tail, or petting fur from back to front. Skip to content. Observe your rabbits for cues about which areas of the body are OK to pet and which are no-nos. Rabbit Rules For Petting Rabbits are individuals, each with their own preferences. Approach slowly before petting and ask if your rabbit wants to be petted.
If your rabbit moves away or otherwise indicates that petting is not wanted at this time, honor those wishes.
Without human interaction, rabbits can get bored, even to the point of becoming lonely and depressed. While toys can alleviate some of their boredom, they still need human attention and interaction.
Many rabbits also enjoy having another rabbit as a friend. Some people wonder if rabbits are more like cats or dogs. Yours might use a litterbox like a cat and get excited to see you like a dog, but really, rabbits are not quite like either of these animals.
Do they "make good pets"? They make wonderful, intelligent companions for wonderful, intelligent people! Each rabbit has a different personality just like each person does. A new rabbit owner should be willing to learn a new language when she brings home a rabbit as a companion.
0コメント