How do I play with my bunny?

[jennybel]

I've had my bunny Napoleon since this past summer and we've bonded to the point where he does get excited when he sees me and seems happy when I am around. The thing is, when I am with him, I really have no idea how to actually play with him. His excitement at seeing me seems mostly to be generated by his expectation that I am going to feed him. He has plenty of toys, but I've not really been able to find one thing that he consistently likes. If I myself pick up a toy and try to engage him with it, he seems disinterested. So mostly, our interaction is just me sitting with him and just watching him hop around the room and petting him. I've never owned a rabbit before, only dogs and cats, so playing with them comes naturally. Playing with a rabbit is kind of a foreign concept for me! I want so badly for Napoleon to bond with me over something other than food and I also hate thinking he is bored. I just really am not sure how to encourage play. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

My bunny took a long time to play with me too. How old is your bunny? For now I would lay on the floor when you are with Napoleon, so you are at his eye level. I bring a book when I spend time with Harvey. This way he can explore you to his hearts content. As for toys, have you tried cloth? The first toy Harvey played with was an old pair of Yoga pants. I would slightly move one of the legs so it was sort of like a snake. It's weird, but Harvey would stalk it. Then when he least expected it I'd move the pants fast at him, like a " Got-cha!" And he'd jump and run away. Then come back for more. Later he would binky when we played the game. I always removed the pants when game time was over. Later I would hold the waist open so he could go inside. Once inside I let go so the pants closed behind him. So he would have to use his nose to hold the cloth up enough to navigate down one of the legs. He'd make it out and race around the room then come back for another go. Sadly he got too big to fit in the pants anymore, but it was a good first toy. Also I used to have a rabbit who liked playing tag. I would chase her into a corner then run and she'd chase me. Be sensitive to your rabbits feelings though. Be aware if he is scared or wants a break from playtime.
Right now I use towels to play with Harvey. I hold them like a matador and he charges them. No kidding. Then I drop them on top of him as he charges by. Then he tries to get out or sometimes bunny flops under there for cuddles and a nap. It's funny when he grinds his teeth under there.

 

[sibelabmom]

What does it mean to binky? I've been seeing this term since I joined, and have no idea what it means!

 

[JBun]

Rabbits aren't like dogs or cats, in that they will actively engage with you in play too much. Their play mostly consists of exhibiting natural rabbit behaviors, such as fun things to chew on, somewhere to dig and tunneling, running around and practicing predator escape moves. Some rabbits may roll around a ball or toss a toy. Some will play a bit of a follow me or hide and seek game. Some like to dig in a digging box. Some like to rearrange blankets or towels. All rabbits are different and they don't all like the same thing, so the key is to find the types of activities that your rabbit enjoys by experimenting and trying different things. Most of my rabbits don't touch their toys but to move them out of the way. I only have one rabbit that even like to toss her toys around occasionally, and she does that on her own.

Generally speaking though, rabbits are pretty independent in their play and don't really require us to interact with them too much. They'll zip around doing their bunny 500's and binky's, they'll dig, chew, explore, and it's all done on their own. Even when they have a bunny friend they will often be doing their own separate thing. Mostly they go about their business, do what they want, then when they are tired they come to us for snuggles and head rubs or treats.

Sibelabmom, a binky is when a rabbit does a jump and they will kind of twist their body and do a little head shake while in mid air. Sometimes this is while they are zipping around full tilt, and sometimes it will just be a bit of a pop and head shake while they are standing in place. You'll know it when you see it. It's a sign of a happy bun

 

[StormyB]

Benny plays fetch. I roll a plastic ball to him, he picks it up and throws it back in my lap.

With Honey, I shake a towel at her and she attacks it. This I discovered by accident. She's very cage protective, so I have to cover her head to be able to safely reach in without getting bitten and I found she likes attacking the towels.

Thumper just likes to snuggle. He does like burrowing and covering himself up with his blankie, though.

 

[RabbitsMaster]

Sit down and put treats over you and get your bunnies to find them by starting by them ( they will start to recognize the game (

 

[flemishwhite]

My bunny took a long time to play with me too.

Never could get my Bunny to play with me. She loved to run around the house and jump on and off the furniture. When I decided to join in, me running after her just frightened her.

We now have two baby Flemish rabbits. 6 pounds at 3 months of age. Thankfully, they like to mostly sleep and when they are not sleeping they are eating.......but then there's the exciting time when they are not sleeping or eating..they become very animated...running around the house chasing each other, playing tag, binkies, acrobatics as they jump on and off furniture, table tops, etc. People who don't live with rabbits don't know what they are missing!

 

[flemishwhite]

What does it mean to binky? I've been seeing this term since I joined, and have no idea what it means!

This happens in my house with my previous and present rabbits. When happy thay run at a medium hopping speed and will jump up and shake their head flopping their ears. They will sometimes hop several steps on their hind feet, with their front feet always in the air, and shake their head flopping their ears

I think it's basically related to a mating thing. Rabbits, in the wild, are basically very territorial I've read. They will attack a rabbit that invades their territory. But this territorial instinct is at war with their intense instinct to breed. In the wild, rabbits need to have a litter every month to survive predators. Binky behavior is the way that rabbits in the wild tell other rabbits that they are friendly and they are agreeable meeting and to mating.

For a house rabbit, binky behavior means you've got a happy rabbit.

 

[MikeScone]

The only time Natasha "plays" with me is if I bounce a Slinky near her. She runs over, grabs the Slinky and pulls it across the room. Then she lets it go and watches it bounce back. When she's tired of playing she runs off with the Slinky and wraps it around a chair so I have to go untangle it while she hops off.

Natasha will sit in my lap while I feed her cilantro, one stalk at a time, if that counts as playing - it's interactive, anyway.