The definitive guide to communicate with your bunnyh3>
It is a big mistake to think of rabbits or other animals as without any language
or culture, just because we have never taken the time to learn it. Domesticated
animals have lost any culture they may have had in the wild. They have instincts
and whatever learning that can be passed down in the short time they spend with
their mothers. Rabbits are clever about manipulating humans although they are
stubborn about learning what we want them to. The webhippie rabbits have trained
our scientists for ten years to understand their bunny body language. Here is
what they learned. (Assorted feedbacA>)
BEHAVIOR: Rubbing chin on things, such as houseplants,
priceless armoirs, Italian leather shoes. A great misconception: It does NOT mean
“marking territory”—it’s a rabbit custom, like saying grace
in front of a meal. WHAT IT MEANS: “One day I
will eat you.” WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Give your bunny
more sticks and branches, keep your stuff off the floor, and kiss the antiques
goodbye.
BEHAVIOR: Lying with one ear raised. WHAT IT MEANS: Someone may be opening the refrigerator.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Give your fresh dandelion greens.
BEHAVIOR: Neck stretched out. Eyes widened. Ears way
back. Somehow the effect is of a much younger, thinner animal. This behavior usually
given when you have put on your shoes and are on the way out of the house. WHAT
IT MEANS: I am starving and alone. I am your helpless baby bunny.
Feed me. Don’t leave me alone. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
Take off your coat and stay home.VARIATION: Rabbit sitting
on your shoes as you are trying to lace them.
BEHAVIOR: Bunny lying completely stretched out. Ears
back flat against body. Eyes partly closed. WHAT IT MEANS:
Supreme happiness. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Leave your bunny
alone but prepare snacks for when he wakes.
BEHAVIOR: Upright. Half raised on back legs, ready
for flight and stomping. Eyes wild and open. Thumping. WHAT IT MEANS: Danger. Get underground. The phone is ringing.
Stomping also means sexual excitement, happiness, or furniture has been moved.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Run over to the bunny before the landlord hears
the banging, and pet your bunny until he calms down.
BEHAVIOR: Male: Hopping around you in circles with
tail up. VARIATIONS: Hopping in or out of your legs,
possibly carrying a checkbook cover, stick or some other item, biting your feet,
trying to get you to hop over him. Spraying. WHAT IT MEANS: Courting behavior: Those are big sexy feet
you have. I will have sex with them. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
Quickly sit down on your feet.
BEHAVIOR: Ears tilted forward. Eyes widened. Neck stretched
out. Low crouch, legs back in the last time zone. WHAT IT MEANS: Caution. Curiosity mixed with fear. Exploring
a new area, a strange animal. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
Bunnies need to investigate the world. Just make sure they are safe and there
are no dogs around.
BEHAVIOR: Female: Ripping her own fur out from all over
her body, and collecting it in her mouth. Later burying it in your bedsheets when
you are not looking. Running around the house with small stuffed animals or socks
in her mouth. WHAT IT MEANS: This is where I am having my babies. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
Move out of your bed and sleep on the floor where you will be available
for latenight petting.
BEHAVIOR: Incessantly jumping on your head and digging
in your hair while you are trying to sleep, no matter how many times you throw
him off the bed. WHAT IT MEANS: He is afraid there
is something wrong with you and is trying to wake you up. Or he may suspect you
have some chocolate hidden under your head. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Stop trying to sleep, get up and play
with your rabbit. CONSIDERATIONS: Are you sleeping
at the wrong time? Are you sleeping with someone else? Your rabbit may just be
trying to protect you. Or, he may just want to play with you and your friend.
BEHAVIOR: Balanced on hind legs, little front feet
in the air. WHAT IT MEANS: Classic begging pose. Also
means “let’s see if I can grab that food out of your hand.”
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Lower your hand so that he has a fighting chance.
BEHAVIOR: Excessive licking that goes on forever. WHAT
IT MEANS: You are petting or scratching his back and thereby activating
his licking instinct. OR, you have recently stopped petting him.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Resume petting his head just the way he likes it.
BEHAVIOR: Eating your clothes. WHAT IT MEANS: Could be trying to get your attention. OR,
something may be blocking her path and she intends to eat her way through it.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Pet, feed, or move object.
BEHAVIOR: Throwing things around. Excessively loud
eating. WHAT IT MEANS: Feed me. Or, I am angry, feed
me. Or, wake up and feed me.
fontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontp>
BEHAVIOR: Biting things (like wires) that she knows are
off limits. Or Crazed biting. WHAT IT MEANS: She
is angry. Rabbits have a real temper. Probably comes from being the world’s
dinner. Rabbits do not like being overpowered. You must be more gentle.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Hold some paper or wood in front of her mouth
that she can rip it to pieces. Try a loud sniff—rabbits sniff when they
are angry, show her you are angry.
BEHAVIOR: Crazed biting of remote control. Repeatedly
knocking over your beer. WHAT IT MEANS: She needs that all important rubber, plastic, hops foodgroup.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Do everything in your power to remove plastic,
rubber, tape and such from his mouth. Switch to Stout—they give it to racehorses
and rabbits are just like horses.
BEHAVIOR: Sleeping in different locations. WHAT
IT MEANS: Our Webhippie scientists are mystified by the system
which dictates where rabbit sleep at different times of the day. FUN
EXPERIMENT: Don’t set your alarm clock at all. Bunny knows
when you are supposed to get up and will wake you, unless you gave him vasoline
on his paw the night before. (Try Petromalt instead.)
BEHAVIOR: Biting and growling. WHAT IT MEANS: You are trying to clean the rabbit’s
area. Rabbits hate having anything changed or furniture moved. This includes
your clipping of toenails, brushing, medicating, and suspicious touching. Or,
you may be trying to put the rabbit into a cage. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Wear gloves and get another scientist
to help you. OR wrap bunny up like a burrito in a towel while you work on a
limb. Rabbits don’t belong in cages.
BEHAVIOR NEEDING FURTHER RESEARCH: Smiling.
HOW CAN YOU TELL?: Our scientists do not know. But you CAN
i>tell, a rabbit smile is unmistakable. It’s in the eyes.
Grinding teeth. USUALLY SAID TO MEAN: Like cats’ purring. WHAT IT MAY MEAN:
Because it usually occurs when petting, it may just be a function of pulling
the ears back. Or it may be a verbal language cue. Remember: a rabbit’s
hearing and vision are not the same as ours. Their hearing is probably on a
slightly higher pitch. If you speak in a low range, your rabbit may not even
hear you. Vision is focused on movement. Move slowly and approach from the side
if you don't want to alarm your bunny.
BEHAVIOR: Jumping up in the air and kicking one’s
heels. WHAT IT MEANS: Happy to see you. Female: I’m
ready to have sex now. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Be very glad you have such a happy bunny. Treat yourself to some chocolate
ice cream.
fontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontp>
Rabbits like to play with: hanging strings, hanging curtains,
piles of biodegradeable string, stacks of boxes to climb, open boxes, stuffed
animals, things that make a lot of noise if thrown around, and females may like
to tunnel in and out of sweaters and bedsheetsfontP>
Ok, so rabbit lovers are just as obsessed as cat owners. But
rabbits are nicer—they don’t kill other animals for the fun of it.
Rabbits are more or less vegetarians and the perfect pet for other vegetarians.
House rabbits use litter boxes just like cats, don't attract insects, and are
extremely loving. Rabbits have gotten a bad rep—they're not sex-obsessed—they
are love-obsessed. We at Webhippie find its like having a small horse following
you around the headquartersfontP>
Do you have curious bunny behavior to
add to this? Or questions? Sign our Guestbook,
or email more urgent questions to bunnies@webhippie.coA>
View feedbacA> from other rabbit scientists
Valuable rabbit linkA> and other nonsense
All text and graphics copyright ?1995-2001 by Webhippie. All
rights reservedfontI>
It is a big mistake to think of rabbits or other animals as without any language
or culture, just because we have never taken the time to learn it. Domesticated
animals have lost any culture they may have had in the wild. They have instincts
and whatever learning that can be passed down in the short time they spend with
their mothers. Rabbits are clever about manipulating humans although they are
stubborn about learning what we want them to. The webhippie rabbits have trained
our scientists for ten years to understand their bunny body language. Here is
what they learned. (Assorted feedbacA>)
BEHAVIOR: Rubbing chin on things, such as houseplants,
priceless armoirs, Italian leather shoes. A great misconception: It does NOT mean
“marking territory”—it’s a rabbit custom, like saying grace
in front of a meal. WHAT IT MEANS: “One day I
will eat you.” WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Give your bunny
more sticks and branches, keep your stuff off the floor, and kiss the antiques
goodbye.
BEHAVIOR: Lying with one ear raised. WHAT IT MEANS: Someone may be opening the refrigerator.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Give your fresh dandelion greens.
BEHAVIOR: Neck stretched out. Eyes widened. Ears way
back. Somehow the effect is of a much younger, thinner animal. This behavior usually
given when you have put on your shoes and are on the way out of the house. WHAT
IT MEANS: I am starving and alone. I am your helpless baby bunny.
Feed me. Don’t leave me alone. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
Take off your coat and stay home.VARIATION: Rabbit sitting
on your shoes as you are trying to lace them.
BEHAVIOR: Bunny lying completely stretched out. Ears
back flat against body. Eyes partly closed. WHAT IT MEANS:
Supreme happiness. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Leave your bunny
alone but prepare snacks for when he wakes.
BEHAVIOR: Upright. Half raised on back legs, ready
for flight and stomping. Eyes wild and open. Thumping. WHAT IT MEANS: Danger. Get underground. The phone is ringing.
Stomping also means sexual excitement, happiness, or furniture has been moved.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Run over to the bunny before the landlord hears
the banging, and pet your bunny until he calms down.
BEHAVIOR: Male: Hopping around you in circles with
tail up. VARIATIONS: Hopping in or out of your legs,
possibly carrying a checkbook cover, stick or some other item, biting your feet,
trying to get you to hop over him. Spraying. WHAT IT MEANS: Courting behavior: Those are big sexy feet
you have. I will have sex with them. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
Quickly sit down on your feet.
BEHAVIOR: Ears tilted forward. Eyes widened. Neck stretched
out. Low crouch, legs back in the last time zone. WHAT IT MEANS: Caution. Curiosity mixed with fear. Exploring
a new area, a strange animal. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
Bunnies need to investigate the world. Just make sure they are safe and there
are no dogs around.
BEHAVIOR: Female: Ripping her own fur out from all over
her body, and collecting it in her mouth. Later burying it in your bedsheets when
you are not looking. Running around the house with small stuffed animals or socks
in her mouth. WHAT IT MEANS: This is where I am having my babies. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
Move out of your bed and sleep on the floor where you will be available
for latenight petting.
BEHAVIOR: Incessantly jumping on your head and digging
in your hair while you are trying to sleep, no matter how many times you throw
him off the bed. WHAT IT MEANS: He is afraid there
is something wrong with you and is trying to wake you up. Or he may suspect you
have some chocolate hidden under your head. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Stop trying to sleep, get up and play
with your rabbit. CONSIDERATIONS: Are you sleeping
at the wrong time? Are you sleeping with someone else? Your rabbit may just be
trying to protect you. Or, he may just want to play with you and your friend.
BEHAVIOR: Balanced on hind legs, little front feet
in the air. WHAT IT MEANS: Classic begging pose. Also
means “let’s see if I can grab that food out of your hand.”
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Lower your hand so that he has a fighting chance. BEHAVIOR: Excessive licking that goes on forever. WHAT
IT MEANS: You are petting or scratching his back and thereby activating
his licking instinct. OR, you have recently stopped petting him.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Resume petting his head just the way he likes it. BEHAVIOR: Biting things (like wires) that she knows are
off limits. Or Crazed biting. WHAT IT MEANS: She
is angry. Rabbits have a real temper. Probably comes from being the world’s
dinner. Rabbits do not like being overpowered. You must be more gentle.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Hold some paper or wood in front of her mouth
that she can rip it to pieces. Try a loud sniff—rabbits sniff when they
are angry, show her you are angry. Rabbits like to play with: hanging strings, hanging curtains,
piles of biodegradeable string, stacks of boxes to climb, open boxes, stuffed
animals, things that make a lot of noise if thrown around, and females may like
to tunnel in and out of sweaters and bedsheetsfontP>
Ok, so rabbit lovers are just as obsessed as cat owners. But
rabbits are nicer—they don’t kill other animals for the fun of it.
Rabbits are more or less vegetarians and the perfect pet for other vegetarians.
House rabbits use litter boxes just like cats, don't attract insects, and are
extremely loving. Rabbits have gotten a bad rep—they're not sex-obsessed—they
are love-obsessed. We at Webhippie find its like having a small horse following
you around the headquartersfontP>
BEHAVIOR: Eating your clothes. WHAT IT MEANS: Could be trying to get your attention. OR,
something may be blocking her path and she intends to eat her way through it.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Pet, feed, or move object.
BEHAVIOR: Throwing things around. Excessively loud
eating. WHAT IT MEANS: Feed me. Or, I am angry, feed
me. Or, wake up and feed me.
fontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontp>
BEHAVIOR: Crazed biting of remote control. Repeatedly
knocking over your beer. WHAT IT MEANS: She needs that all important rubber, plastic, hops foodgroup.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Do everything in your power to remove plastic,
rubber, tape and such from his mouth. Switch to Stout—they give it to racehorses
and rabbits are just like horses.
BEHAVIOR: Sleeping in different locations. WHAT
IT MEANS: Our Webhippie scientists are mystified by the system
which dictates where rabbit sleep at different times of the day. FUN
EXPERIMENT: Don’t set your alarm clock at all. Bunny knows
when you are supposed to get up and will wake you, unless you gave him vasoline
on his paw the night before. (Try Petromalt instead.)
BEHAVIOR: Biting and growling. WHAT IT MEANS: You are trying to clean the rabbit’s
area. Rabbits hate having anything changed or furniture moved. This includes
your clipping of toenails, brushing, medicating, and suspicious touching. Or,
you may be trying to put the rabbit into a cage. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Wear gloves and get another scientist
to help you. OR wrap bunny up like a burrito in a towel while you work on a
limb. Rabbits don’t belong in cages.
BEHAVIOR NEEDING FURTHER RESEARCH: Smiling.
HOW CAN YOU TELL?: Our scientists do not know. But you CAN
i>tell, a rabbit smile is unmistakable. It’s in the eyes.
Grinding teeth. USUALLY SAID TO MEAN: Like cats’ purring. WHAT IT MAY MEAN:
Because it usually occurs when petting, it may just be a function of pulling
the ears back. Or it may be a verbal language cue. Remember: a rabbit’s
hearing and vision are not the same as ours. Their hearing is probably on a
slightly higher pitch. If you speak in a low range, your rabbit may not even
hear you. Vision is focused on movement. Move slowly and approach from the side
if you don't want to alarm your bunny.
BEHAVIOR: Jumping up in the air and kicking one’s
heels. WHAT IT MEANS: Happy to see you. Female: I’m
ready to have sex now. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: Be very glad you have such a happy bunny. Treat yourself to some chocolate
ice cream.
fontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontfontp>
Do you have curious bunny behavior to
add to this? Or questions? Sign our Guestbook,
or email more urgent questions to bunnies@webhippie.coA>
View feedbacA> from other rabbit scientists
Valuable rabbit linkA> and other nonsense
All text and graphics copyright ?1995-2001 by Webhippie. All
rights reservedfontI>