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Rabbit behaviour, body language and relationships

Information on common rabbit behaviour, body language and noises, daily routine, companionship, hierarchy, personality, destructive behaviour, aggression, bonding and bereavement, handling, training and exercise.

This section contains information on rabbit behaviour, how they relate to each other and to us through their actions, body language and noises.  Here you can find out what your rabbit is saying to you and why, understand why companionship is so important to rabbits and learn what causes behavioural problems.atoz behaviour image

The key to a happy rabbit is companionship, lots of space to run around and a bolt hole to retreat to.  In this way, they are very close to their wild cousins still.

In the right environment, rabbits reveal their true nature - intelligent, affectionate and often cheeky!  Rabbits are wonderful companions and are increasingly being kept as free range, indoor pets (house rabbits).

Every rabbit is different and discovering your rabbit's own unique personality is one of the great joys of rabbit ownership.


  • Understanding the root causes of aggressive behaviour in rabbits and how to overcome behavioural problems...
  • How rabbits cope with the loss of a bonded partner and how to help them recover from it...
  • Understanding a rabbit's body language and common postures is helpful in building a relationship with your rabbit...
  • How rabbits relate to each other, their hierarchy and behaviour towards each other and common bonded rabbit behaviour...
  • Information on introducing two rabbits, the bonding process, which rabbit pairings are best...
  • Common or everyday behaviour displayed by rabbits including chinning, thumping, eating droppings, growling, nudging, flopping, binkying...
  • The importance of companionship for rabbit, the pros and cons of single versus bonded rabbits, finding a friend for your rabbit...
  • Destructive behaviour in rabbits is usually caused, or made worse, by boredom and lack of stimulation. It can be greatly reduced with boredom busters...
  • Regular exercise is very important for rabbits with a minimum of 4 hours free run a day recommended. You can encourage exercise and prevent boredom by playing games with your rabbit...
  • How to handle your rabbit, stroking, cuddling and picking up...
  • Hierarchy is very important to rabbits; in the wild it is necessary to keep the peace in a large warren and domestic rabbits are also hierarchical, amongst themselves and with us...
  • The different lifestages of a rabbit, how long they live, how age influences behaviour, and how to care for rabbits from youth to old age...
  • Rabbit personality is influenced by age, breed, gender, sex and living conditions. Discovering your rabbit's own unique personality is one of the great joys of rabbit ownership...
  • Understand what is going on in your rabbit's head and what emotions it may experience including jealousy, anger, fear, grief, love, irritability and insecurity...
  • Rabbits are crepuscular which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. To a certain extent, domestic rabbits follow this pattern too. This is a typical daily routine for a house rabbit...
  • How to train a rabbit with simple voice commands...
  • Rabbits noises including grunting, honking, growling, sighing, clucking, teeth purring, thumping, sneezing, squealing, screaming
    • Understanding the root causes of aggressive behaviour in rabbits and how to overcome behavioural problems...
    • How rabbits cope with the loss of a bonded partner and how to help them recover from it...
    • Understanding a rabbit's body language and common postures is helpful in building a relationship with your rabbit...
    • How rabbits relate to each other, their hierarchy and behaviour towards each other and common bonded rabbit behaviour...
    • Information on introducing two rabbits, the bonding process, which rabbit pairings are best...
    • Common or everyday behaviour displayed by rabbits including chinning, thumping, eating droppings, growling, nudging, flopping, binkying...
    • The importance of companionship for rabbit, the pros and cons of single versus bonded rabbits, finding a friend for your rabbit...
    • Destructive behaviour in rabbits is usually caused, or made worse, by boredom and lack of stimulation. It can be greatly reduced with boredom busters...
    • Regular exercise is very important for rabbits with a minimum of 4 hours free run a day recommended. You can encourage exercise and prevent boredom by playing games with your rabbit...
        • How to handle your rabbit, stroking, cuddling and picking up...
        • Hierarchy is very important to rabbits; in the wild it is necessary to keep the peace in a large warren and domestic rabbits are also hierarchical, amongst themselves and with us...
              • The different lifestages of a rabbit, how long they live, how age influences behaviour, and how to care for rabbits from youth to old age...
                    • Rabbit personality is influenced by age, breed, gender, sex and living conditions. Discovering your rabbit's own unique personality is one of the great joys of rabbit ownership...
                    • Understand what is going on in your rabbit's head and what emotions it may experience including jealousy, anger, fear, grief, love, irritability and insecurity...
                      • Rabbits are crepuscular which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. To a certain extent, domestic rabbits follow this pattern too. This is a typical daily routine for a house rabbit...
                          • Rabbits noises including grunting, honking, growling, sighing, clucking, teeth purring, thumping, sneezing, squealing, screaming

                                  A to Z

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                                    General rabbit information

                                    General information on rabbits; the key facts about rabbits, children and rabbits, history of rabbits, adoption, bereavement, holiday care, rehoming, allergies... - read more

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                                    Feeding rabbits

                                    Information on what is the correct rabbit diet, types of hay and commercial dry rabbit food, safe vegetables and fruit, poisonous plants, supplements and feeding problems. - read more

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                                    Housing, exercise and house rabbits

                                    Information on different types of cages, hutches and exercise runs for rabbits, house rabbit habitat, litter training and rabbit proofing, types of bedding and litter, moving rabbits between indoors/outdoors. - read more

                                  • image of Behaviour of rabbits

                                    Behaviour of rabbits

                                    Information on common rabbit behaviour, body language and noises, daily routine, companionship, hierarchy, personality, destructive behaviour, aggression, bonding and bereavement, handling, training and exercise. - read more

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                                    Rabbit breeds library

                                    Pet rabbit breed profiles including dutch, netherland dwarf, lop, dwarf lop, mini lop, lionhead. Information on size, lifespan, temperament, colours, care, suitability as childrens pet, house rabbit. - read more

                                  • image of Health, illnesses and diseases of rabbits

                                    Health, illnesses and diseases of rabbits

                                    General rabbit health information and overviews of rabbit diseases and illnesses, their symptoms, causes and treatments; healthchecks, nursing, diagnosing, rabbit vets, neutering/spaying, grooming and nail clipping. - read more

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