Socialising and Training your Rabbit

How to handle me

Once they are tamed, rabbits enjoy human company, but prefer to sit beside you rather than being picked up. They love being rubbed or scratched gently on the nose, muzzle and ears. To pick your rabbit up, place one hand under his chest and forelegs and the other hand under his bottom and gently scoop him up, holding him firmly, but gently, close to your body. Never grab at their rear ends or pick them up by their ears.

Do I like company?

Rabbits are social animals and do enjoy company, however it is essential to neuter them if you want to keep two rabbits of different sexes together without breeding. Neutering will also reduce the aggression between two rabbits of the same sex.

Rabbits can get on well with your cat and dog if introduced slowly but always supervise them together. If you keep one rabbit on its own it will need much more of your time. We don’t recommend that rabbits are housed with guinea pigs.

Rabbits are clean animals and will wash themselves like cats. However rabbits love a daily grooming session and, for the long haired varieties, such as Angoras, frequent grooming is essential to prevent hairballs and to keep the coat shiny and clean.

Can I be litter trained?

Rabbits are creatures of habit and will quickly adapt to a litter tray, their territorial nature means they mark in the same places. Neutered rabbits will respond better to litter training so consider having your rabbit neutered before bringing them indoors. You should be choosy about what type of to use, rabbits love to nibble everything and therefore can sometimes become ill from toxic litters. A non- toxic, dust free, absorbent and non clumping litter is the ideal choice, protecting their tummies, their eyes and their skin which can all become irritated by the wrong litter. If in doubt hay or straw on top of wood shavings should do the trick.