Do pet rabbits play? If that’s the case, how? Do they play video games? Do rabbits want toys? How will you assist your rabbit have extra enjoyable?
Rabbits don’t play like different pets, however that doesn’t imply they don’t like to play and have enjoyable. Not solely is it totally pleasant for them, however play and enrichment are an enormous a part of giving your pet rabbit his greatest life.
At present, we’ll go over why playtime is so necessary in your rabbit and how one can play with him to encourage a contented life in your bunny. Let’s hop in, we could?
Why You Have to Play With Your Rabbit
First issues first. Playtime is essential for every day enrichment. It ought to be one thing your rabbit can look ahead to all day, particularly if he lives in an enclosure full-time. However that’s positively not the one necessary cause for taking part in along with your pet rabbit.
Helps Forge a Robust Bond
Spending time along with your rabbit is crucial to sustaining a very good bond and is important to their total psychological well being. Rabbits are socially dependent, which means they depend upon social bonds with different rabbits and their human companions. That’s why I like to recommend having two rabbits fairly than only one.
Spending an hour or so enjoying along with your pet rabbit might help you type a stronger bond with him, giving him higher social stimulation and shopping for your self a lifelong furry good friend.
Prevents Melancholy and Relieves Stress
Another excuse to play along with your pet rabbit can also be associated to his psychological well being. Once more, social bonds are an enormous issue. The bonds that include enjoying assist rabbits, significantly single rabbits, keep away from despair. However play itself is an effective way to maintain your rabbit mentally and emotionally effectively. Plus, it’s additionally an excellent stress reliever.
Encourages Extra Train
Enjoying along with your rabbit is extra than simply for psychological well being. It additionally retains your rabbit bodily wholesome. Play supplies additional time for train, serving to to maintain your rabbit’s weight down whereas sustaining bone and joint capabilities.
How Do Rabbits Play?
Merely hopping round and exploring might be enjoyable for rabbits, however that’s not all that rabbits love to do for enjoyable. Rabbits love chasing one another round, enjoying tag, and even fetch. My rabbit Chile enjoys enjoying tag with my cat George. However, his favorite factor to do is take items of paper and run away. (I name that reverse fetch).
How A lot Ought to You Play With Your Pet Rabbit?
Attempt to play along with your pet rabbit for an hour every day. Once more, this can be a fraction of the day, nevertheless it means the world in your rabbit’s common well being.
The best way to Play With Your Pet Rabbit
Playtime for rabbits doesn’t imply simply getting out of the cage to hop round for some time.
Free-roam rabbits want playtime, too. Play time ought to problem a rabbit’s thoughts whereas giving him one thing enjoyable to do.
Video games
Rabbits like to play video games that get them in contact with their mischievous and explorative facet. Listed here are a few of my favorite video games to play with my rabbit, Chile.
- Tag: Once more, enjoying tag is great for rabbits. It’s the identical as enjoying with one other human (on a a lot gentler degree). Nonetheless, you should let your rabbit make the primary transfer. When your rabbit “boops” you and turns to run, slowly comply with him. Learn your rabbit’s physique language to ensure he’s enjoying and never operating away in worry.
- Tug Of Warfare: Rabbits love tugging and chewing on issues, so Tug of Warfare is an effective way to convey out these tendencies to stop your sneakers and furnishings legs from being chewed to bits. And, not like canines, enjoying gained’t create unnecessarily aggressive behaviour. Once more, it’s on a a lot gentler scale. Actually, you wouldn’t be doing a lot tugging, however gently holding a rope or different toss toy for just a few seconds.
- Reverse Fetch: Like I discussed earlier than, a number of rabbits like to play reverse fetch, which is principally them simply stealing one thing from you and operating away. This can convey out your rabbit’s mischievous facet, which is extraordinarily entertaining.
- Scavenger Hunt: Scavenger hunts are “self-play”, nevertheless it’s nonetheless simply as enjoyable in your rabbits! Conceal some treats across the room and watch your rabbit discover to seek out them. That is the proper option to train your rabbits smelling and foraging talents.
Toys
- Toss/Chew Toys: Toss toys, like these Woven Balls, are nice for rabbits for just a few causes. You’ll be able to simply toss them in your rabbit to play with. It helps them launch their chewing habits (conserving their tooth in good condition), and you’ll play a number of video games with them, like Tug Of Warfare or Reverse Fetch.
- Puzzle Toys: Rabbits LOVE puzzles. So it’s all the time enjoyable once they can use their problem-solving and scenting talents. My rabbit’s favorite is that this Flip Board that dispenses treats.
- Tunnels: Being pure tunnelers, getting your rabbit a tunnel to play (or conceal) in is a no brainer. It’s not only for play, both. This will likely additionally turn out to be a “secure house” in your rabbit, particularly if he’s free-roam.
Suggestions for Enjoying With Your Rabbit
Not like canines or cats, you possibly can’t simply soar into enjoying along with your pet rabbit. It’s all the time good to begin with a very good bond by providing treats and grooming your rabbit. And, in the intervening time, self-play and having one other rabbit are essential. When your rabbit’s comfy sufficient with you, use a few of these ideas to assist.
Provide Treats & Wholesome Snacks
Nothing will get a rabbit’s consideration greater than meals. So, in the event you need assistance getting your rabbit to play alongside, supply some treats. Or, even higher, wholesome snacks like fruits and veggies to lure him in.
Learn Your Rabbit’s Physique Language
Understanding your rabbit’s physique language is a large asset. This helps you determine when it’s a very good time to play (or not) and gauge how your rabbit’s feeling. As an example, as I discussed, when enjoying tag or different video games like that, you want to have the ability to inform whether or not your rabbit is operating away playfully or out of worry. This might help you tone down your strategy in the event you’re approaching too robust.
Play on the Floor
It’s greatest to play along with your rabbit whereas sitting or mendacity on the ground, particularly in case your rabbit doesn’t absolutely belief you but. Getting on his degree will assist your rabbit to really feel extra comfy enjoying with you. In any other case, he’ll probably be scared, and also you’ll must spend extra time bonding to achieve his belief.
Know When Prime Playtime Is
Rabbits are crepuscular, which means they’re most energetic at daybreak and nightfall. Nonetheless, some pet rabbits have totally different “prime instances” for taking part in. Be aware of when your rabbit is most energetic, and attempt to align with that.
Conclusion
Pet rabbits LOVE to play, whether or not with you, or one other bunny. Once you learn to play along with your rabbit, you’ll uncover how mischievous (and downright entertaining) they are often! Plus, you’ll have a stronger bond along with your pet rabbit, which has limitless advantages.
