How to Pet Your Bunny!

What is the best way to pet your rabbit?

Rabbits are affectionate, delightful little pets. We love our bun bun Dasher so much. Everyday I smile to myself when I hear the pitter-patter of his little feet running down the hallways. And I laugh as he zips and hops around the room showing off his best Dash moves! When we first brought him home I didn’t know how affectionate he would be with us, but I was pleasantly surprised. Like all rabbits, if I approach him carefully and handle him in a way that he doesn’t feel threatened, I get the sweet rewards of little head nudges and kisses on my hand.

If you have a house rabbit it is important to understand how to pet your bun bun properly. Remember, rabbits are prey animals and they are used to being hunted. If you startle or scare them they will always run away. Here are a few tips for the best way to bond and pet your precious bun bun!

1. Let the rabbit see you before you approach:

As I said above, rabbits are prey animals and if you approach them from behind, they will run away. Rabbits have eyes on the sides of their faces; this way they can spot predators all around them.

When it comes to Dasher, he proves his name and dashes like crazy if I approach him from behind. This can get particularly frustrating when I’m trying to bring him inside from the porch when I need to leave and put him in his room. If I’m not careful and I come from behind we play a game of cat and mouse. I tend to feel like the old man gardener chasing Peter Rabbit out of the garden from Beatrix Potter’s classic tale Peter Rabbit.

2. Make soft noises when you enter their room or play area:

It is helpful to make little kissing sounds or even just talking softly helps. That lets your bunny know you are in the vicinity and you don’t want to scare or hurt it.

Dasher likes it when I sing him little songs that I’ve made up for him. This one is his favorite:

“Dash-a-Roo, Dash-a-Roo doobey doobey doobey do do; Oh I love you, doobey do doobey doobey do do”

3. Rabbits feel comfortable on the floor:

Bunnies are really not huge fans of heights or being held by a human while they are standing. My advice is to sit down or get on your knees so you are at ground level with your rabbit. This will help your bunny feel less threatened, and most likely bun bun will hop over to you, or at least let you approach it.

If my husband and I lay down on the ground Dasher will come up to us and give us kisses. He likes to kiss my hands and sometimes my nose! As for my husband, he’s bald and Dasher loves to kiss his bald head! It’s the cutest thing!

4. Show your rabbit your hand:

Similar to dogs or cats, rabbits like to sniff you and determine if you are someone they want to let near them. Put your hand slightly to the side of their face so your hand is in eyesight.

If you are lucky you may get a little kiss!!

5. Rabbits love to be pet on the head:

These adorable furballs looove to be stroked on the forehead, cheek, and around the shoulders. If you are doing a good job, they will lower their heads and close their eyes in total contentment.

Dasher loooves head rubs! Oh my goodness! When Dasher gets head rubs, he is in a state of complete and total bliss!!

It’s always important to remember that all bunnies have their own distinct personalities. And what one bun bun loves, another may hate. However, these are pretty standard tried and true tips for petting and approaching your little furballs.

I hope you enjoy getting to know your bun bun as much as we’ve enjoyed getting to know ours!