There are lots of different ways in the rabbit language to show happiness. The signs of a happy rabbit include being relaxed or excited.
Chilled Out Rabbit
A relaxed and happy rabbit will use less tense body positions and ear positions than a rabbit that is scared or distressed. Rabbits only put themselves into positions that are slower to make a quick escape from when they are relaxed.
A rabbit that is sitting bolt upright, with its ears forwards, listening out for danger, is not relaxed. A less upright sitting position is more relaxed than this, and is usually the position that rabbits adopt when munching their way through a big pile of hay.
A rabbit relaxing further will lie down on its front, and settling down with its head upright but resting on its chest.
A very relaxed rabbit will lie on its side, usually with its legs stretched out and head resting on the floor. It is not easy for a rabbit to get into this position of lying on its side, so you may see your rabbit flinging itself onto its side. This looks scary the first time you see it, as if your rabbit is falling over, but it is just your rabbit getting into a relaxed position.
Excited and Happy Rabbit – Bunny Binky
Many rabbits shake their heads and make their ears wobble or flap when they are happy. Even more extreme than this is the “Binky”.
This is where your rabbit jumps off the ground, usually with some kind of twisting motion starting at the rabbit’s head and going through the whole body. Sometimes a happy rabbit will just be sitting still and launch into a binky because it feels happy, and other times a rabbit that is happy will run around the room jumping and twisting like mad.
This is very funny to watch, and often your rabbit will be happy for you to join in and play at running around with it. Be careful not to get too close or you might look scary to the rabbit or accidentally injure it. As long as you are careful, playing chase is many rabbits’ favourite game, and will involve lots of bunny binkies.
my bunny runs in circles around my dog and jumps over him. Does this mean hes happy?
Hi
Yes it sounds like your bunny is in a happy and playful mood and is enjoying playing games with your dog!
Richard
My bunny is now jumping at my dog. What does this mean?
This could be several different things.
It may be the rabbit trying to play games with the dog, as playful rabbits often jump when playing with each other. It could also be a sign of aggression, with the rabbit trying to be aggressive towards the dog. Aggression also often involves the ears of the rabbit being forward, and a generally more alert and aggressive posture. Happiness and playfulness would usually be shown by jumping, twisting and bouncing whilst running around.
Has the rabbit been introduced to the dog recently, or have thy spent a lot of time together? If they have only been introduced to each other recently, this may be part of them getting to know each other, in which case, be wary of aggressive behaviour from both the rabbit and the dog at first.
thank you
I bought a 12 week old rabbit three days ago. (I am doing a national diploma in animal manegement at college and one of the rabbits had babies so i gave one a home).
After i pet him for a while (firm strokes on the head are his favourite) he licks my hand.
I have been on a few websites and some say it is a sign of affection, whilst others say it is to get the salts from my skin.
Which is it?
Thank you
Hi Paige,
This is a sign of affection. Some rabbits like to lick when they are being stroked to return the affection and grooming that you are giving. One of my rabbits, Barney, often does this (more with his mum than with me!).
A few rabbits do also sometimes lick to get the salts from skin as well, but it is generally used by rabbits as an affectionate gesture.
Thank you so much
i’m so glad it’s affection!
He’s starting to come up to me voluntarily and nudges me, then licks me. I return the favour and stroke him for a while, then he licks me, then i stroke him. Carried on for quite a while earlier!
It is nice to know that he likes me
When a rabbit nudges (or nose bumps!) you, it is often a greeting, as well as the rabbit asking for some affection from you. The licking combined with this is definitely returning the affection.
I’m happy that you are getting on well with your bunny, as you get to know each other more, this bond between you will grow even stronger.
I havn’t even had him a week yet, I thought it would take a lot longer for him to show this amount of affection.
I’m so glad
Thank you so much for you’re information
Happy to help!
Richard
I have another question, sorry!
I know that the stomping or thumping of the feet isn’t a good thing. My rabbit stomps and then hops once or twice and does a “binky”. He’s done this a couple of times now.
What does this mean?
Ask as many questions as you like!!
Thumping usually means the rabbit is frightened or scared, but not always. Every rabbit is different, and some are a lot more communicative than others.
Barney, hardly ever thumps his foot, and when he does it is because of something that has scared him – a new noise outside for example. Jemima on the other hand thumps her foot a lot more, but for different reasons. She uses this to express annoyance and impatience. She often thumps her foot if I take too long putting her food bowl down when I’ve put the food in it!
Some rabbits thump their feet when they are excited, and it sounds like your rabbit may be doing this – it could all be part of being happy, excited and playful!
As long as the rabbit is not showing other signs of being scared or upset (tense position, running away, hiding, aggression) then this is probably just a slightly different way of expressing happiness.
Thank you so much for your help
Hello.
I’ve enjoyed reading about other rabbits and experiences. I have a 12 week old male rabbit called Woody.
How much food should he be eating? As soon as i give him some hay he eats it straight away and wants more. I know that hay should make up 80% of their diet but how much hay should i give him? Any help appreciated.
Also Woody keeps nibbling my trousers. What could his mean?
Thanks
Hi Amy
Woody should have access to as much alfafa hay and pellets as he wants, up to the age of about 7 months, when timothy hay, grass hay or oat hays can be gradually introduced, with a corresponding reduction in alfafa and pellets. He is growing and developing fast at this age, so should not become overweight even with unlimited access to alfafa and pellets. A very approximate way to tell if your rabbit is the correct weight is to stroke his back, pressing very gently. If you can just feel his spine, he is about right. If his spine is sticking out and easy to feel, he may be underweight. If you can not feel his spine at all, he may be overweight.
From 12 weeks, rabbits can also start to have some fresh vegetables in their diet. Start with small amounts of one vegetable, then add another type until you have a variety of a few different types of vegetables in his diet.
Woody nibbling your trousers is probably showing you affection, or asking for you to stroke him. Many rabbits gently nibble clothing as a sign of affection. To reduce nibbling and chewing in general, make sure that he has plenty of toys that he can chew on, then he should chew less on things that you don’t want him to!
Thank you.
You’re welcome, always happy to help!
Hi. I have a 4 month old female Netherland dwarf, I had her out in the house today and I lay on the ground near her. She came over and starting licking me then walked around me continuing to lick me, making these short buzzing noises. What does this mean? Then when I started stroking her she lay flat on the ground, ears pointing up and her tail to the side, with her bum slightly lifted in the air. Is this sexual? Thanks
Hi Aryan
Licking is a sign of affection from your bunny, and your description of her lying position sounds like she was probably relaxing and enjoying being stroked. Many rabbits lie down with their hindquarters slightly angled to one side, which makes the rabbit’s tail stick out a little to the side, and often with the feet sticking out to one side too. Because rabbits have quite big bums it often looks like their bum is sticking up when they are lying down and getting into a relaxed position.
As for the sound your rabbit was making, this could be one of several things. Male rabbits often make short grunting noises when they are feeling amorous, and this is sometimes accompanied by walking around the rabbit they are wanting to mate with (or human substitute), and sometimes nipping too. This is usually reduced by neutering, but is less common in female rabbits.
Rabbits can also make a gentle teeth grinding noise, often when they are being stroked, which indicates happiness.
Hope this helps, if this doesn’t seem to fit with what your rabbit is doing, please reply to this to describe some more.
Richard
Me again
Gizmo is doing fine, couldn’t be happier with him! There is one slight problem though. He has nipped about three times now and I really don’t know why. He did it once whilst we were “grooming each other”, another time when my hand was infront of him to stop him going where he wasn’t allowed, and the other time was when my nan was stroking him.
Apart from this he is as wonderful as ever
Any suggestions as to why he has suddenly started doing this?
He is now 4 months old if that has anything to do with it at all.
Thanks, Paige
Hi, glad to hear you two are happy!
I think you may have got it just right with your last sentence – Gizmo is probably starting to go through puberty now, and this can cause some changes in behaviour, including some aggressive behaviour. In this case, having him neutered will reduce this kind of behaviour.
Also, some rabbits can be scared by a hand approaching quickly in front of their face, as a rabbit’s short distance vision is not as good as long distance vision. A hand appearing quickly, very close in front of his face may be a bit scary if he doesn’t realise what it is! Bringing your hand gently from above and stroking backwards from the top of his head may help, although I think that having him neutered is the best option to reduce aggressive behaviour.
Some vets will consider neutering from around 4-5 months old, others will want to wait until he is six months old.
Richard
To the vets it is then!
Thanks for your advice
Paige
hi richard,
i have a male plush lop named charlie, he has been easily toilet trained so he is allowed to run around the house freely, he often does the “binky” and he loves hoping over our dogs and annoying them or terrirising the cats!! but one thing he does do that puzzles me is he “digs” at me. he will often jump up on my lap if im on the couch or if im sitting on the floor he will find me and use his front feet to scratch at me. often its accompanied by a lick or a small nip not a bite just a nip…. what does it mean? lol and how can i discourage it? i have been saying no and placing him gently on the floor…
Hi Jay
This behaviour sounds like mildly aggressive or dominant behaviour. Charlie is trying to tell you something, probably that he wants to take over the place you are sitting, or that you are in his way. Firmly, but gently, putting him back on the floor, and saying no in a firm voice is the best way to deal with this (as you are already doing). If it happens again after doing this, take him back to his cage, or confine him to a smaller area for a short period of time before allowing him out again. This will assert that you are the “top rabbit”, and he can share with you but not dominate with you.
If Charlie has not been neutered, having this done may also help to reduce dominant or aggressive behaviour.
Richard
Hi Richard!
Just wanted to say how helpful ive found your website! its brillient!
Ive never had a rabbit before, and just before xmas a friend of mine decided
to buy me one as a gift (bit of a silly idea since i had no idea what to do with it! even tho i love him dearly!) Anyway I think my rabbit ‘Moe’ is a dutch cross, and hes male i think hes around 3 months old (my friend didnt get much infomation about him when she got him) He’s a house rabbit and has access to downstairs most of the time, He seems pretty happy as he binkys constantly and flops alot!
Im just a little worried as im pregnant and due any day, i was wondering if this would affect the Moe? i know its a silly question! Like tonight was a bit random as i was packing my hospital bag and he comes up to see what im doing then goes to my legs and starts to scratch at my pjs bottoms and nips at them, he doesnt actually scratch me or bite when i go down to his level and offer him a stroke, so either he hates my pjs or is it because im in his space?
Ive had to put him back in his cage as hes starting to get in the way and trying to eat baby clothes! (i really hate putting him in his cage but not sure what else to do!)
If you can give me some advice i would be really greatful!
Hi Kaz
). Eating baby clothes may be related to this if he feels like you are making changes to “his” territory, but it is more likely just because they are there and they are something to chew. Give him something else to chew (you can get cheap rabbit toys made of wood to chew from pet shops), and try to keep the baby clothes out of his way.
It sounds like Moe is a really happy bunny!
Rabbits, like most pets, pick up on your emotions or actions. They can be affected by changes that are going on, but as long as he still gets the level of attention he is used to, it shouldn’t be a problem.
At 3 months old, Moe is going through puberty. This can affect rabbits just as much as people – he will be affected by changes in hormones that can affect his behaviour, including increased aggressive, dominant or territorial behaviour. Scratching and nipping at you is probably a form of dominant behaviour (unless you really have PJs that offend him?!
The best thing that you can do to reduce aggressive and dominant behaviour is have him neutered. Within a few weeks of the operation you will probably see his behaviour start to change as his hormones balance out. He is probably still a little bit too young to have this done, between 4-6 months old is usually the youngest that a vet will operate. Until then, firmly saying no and moving him away from you when he nips or scratches at you will show him that you are not happy with that behaviour, and will assert your dominance. If he does it again, tell him no again and put him back in his cage for a short time. Do this every time he shows any kind of dominant behaviour and it should keep it under control until you can have him neutered.
Hope this helps, and good luck with your pregnancy – you will be busy with a baby person and a baby rabbit to look after!!
Richard
PS – Just a note to anyone who is thinking of buying a rabbit as a gift. Pets need a lot of time and commitment, so don’t get one for someone else as a gift unless you know that they want one!!
Hey again!
Many thanks for your advice, I shall deffently consider getting him netured as soon as hes old enough! (tho i do feel a bit mean about it!)
Ive already invested in willow sticks, which he seems to love, and i bought a spray that’s ment to stop him from chewing on wires and whatnot so im hoping that may help!
Thanks again!
You’re welcome, neutering is the best thing to reduce any aggressive or dominant type behaviour, and also removes the risk of cancer of the reproductive organs.
I have just brought another rabbit they are in seperate cages however the one i already had is really thumping its as if he knows the other rabbots there will he settle down
Hi Terri
Rabbits can be upset by changes. If the two rabbits are close to each other, they will be aware of each other. The rabbit that is thumping is probably just reacting to something being different, and possibly to the other rabbit. Spend time with him and reassure him and he will settle down.
Richard