How to Get to Know Your New Rabbit: A Gentle Guide

Bringing home a new rabbit can be an exciting yet delicate time. It’s natural to find your new bunny a little elusive at first, but with patience, gentle care, and the right approach, you can create a solid bond that will enrich both your lives. This guide offers practical, step-by-step advice to help you get to know your new rabbit and build trust gradually.

1. Creating a Comfortable, Safe Environment for Your Rabbit

Before interacting too much, ensure your rabbit’s living space is clean, spacious, and secure. A comfortable environment helps reduce stress and encourages confidence. Rabbits appreciate cosy hiding spots such as tunnels or boxes where they can retreat and feel safe. Position the hutch or cage in a quiet area away from loud noises and sudden activity, allowing your rabbit to acclimate to its new home peacefully for the first 48 hours, only replenishing food and water during this time.

2. Encouraging Your Rabbit to Explore and Feel Secure

Set up the run and hutch together to create a familiar territory your rabbit respects. If your hutch has side openings and sits low to the ground, it’s easier for your rabbit to come out willingly without stress. Lifting the cage later with securely attached legs can keep it safe from predators once your rabbit feels confident. Offer appealing treats such as small pieces of apple or carrot to coax your rabbit out when you first bring them home. Allow them to come out voluntarily, reinforcing their sense of safety.

3. Building Trust Through Gentle Interaction and Treats

When your rabbit begins to explore, start spending quiet time nearby speaking softly in a calm, cheerful tone. Avoid sudden movements or loud noises that might startle your bunny. Gradually offer treats from your hand to create positive associations. If your rabbit approaches, praise and reward this bravery gently. Let your rabbit dictate the pace—if they back away, give them space and try again later.

4. Safe and Confident Handling of Your New Bunny

Rabbits generally dislike being picked up, but sometimes it’s necessary for grooming or health checks. Never pick up your rabbit by the ears, scruff, or legs, as this causes pain and injury. Instead, sit on the floor beside your rabbit. Place one hand firmly under their chest just behind the front legs and the other hand underneath their hindquarters to support their weight evenly. Hold your rabbit close to your chest, ensuring they feel secure and cannot kick out dangerously. If your rabbit resists, try holding them sideways across your chest, which helps prevent them from escaping and potentially falling.

5. Gentle Petting and Grooming: Understanding Bunny Preferences

While rabbits dislike being lifted, they value positive physical contact. Once your rabbit trusts you, petting and grooming become important ways to bond. Always stroke in the direction of your rabbit’s fur, focusing on the forehead, cheeks, back, and behind the ears. Avoid sensitive areas such as the tail, whiskers, chin, or back legs. Regular brushing is particularly important during moulting seasons to prevent the formation of hairballs in their digestive tract—an issue that rabbits cannot resolve by vomiting.

6. Recognising and Responding to Rabbit Behaviour

Building a relationship means learning to read your rabbit’s body language. Signs of comfort include relaxed ears, soft eyes, and gentle nose nudges. When happy, rabbits may perform “binkies” – joyful jumps or side-flops. If your bunny hides or runs away, respect their space and allow them to warm up at their own pace. Maintaining a consistent daily routine for feeding and gentle interaction fosters a trusting partnership.

7. Fascinating Facts to Know About Rabbits

• The largest rabbit in the world, named Darius, lives in the UK and weighs around 50lbs, measuring over 4 feet long!
• Wild rabbits can have up to eight litters annually, reflecting their high reproductive rate.
• Rabbits can race up to speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour when startled or running.
• A rabbit has 28 teeth that continuously grow throughout its life, so chewing is essential.
• The oldest recorded rabbit lived up to 16 years, though the average domestic rabbit lives between 5 to 8 years.
• Rabbits rank as the third most popular pet in the UK, demonstrating their enduring appeal.

By following these gentle steps and adopting a respectful, patient approach, your new rabbit will soon feel safe, loved, and ready to share a wonderful life with you.

For those seeking to rabbits for sale, remember to always choose from reputable breeders or adoption centres who prioritise the health and well-being of their animals.