IMPORTANT QUESTION!!!

patches2593 · Oct 21, 2011

sometimes ill hav my bunny play with my dog who is just a tad bigger than him. he grunts when he plays with her, so is he mad? i dont know if hes having fun or hes mad cuz he'll still do his 'binkie' things which mean there happy. hell run by the dogs side and smell her. his ears stay normal too. is he mad?? :?

Nancy McClelland · Oct 21, 2011

Usually done by a bunny that's less than pleased or a sign of aggression. Peter used to do it when I cleaned his hutch and would even "box" with the vacuum cleaner. Lilli does it mostly when I open her hutch in the morning then comes over and nuzzles my hand after she's asserted herself.

golfdiva · Oct 22, 2011

Hershey will grunt and box with me when he is playing too. You must consider the context when trying to read a rabbit's body language. If he isn't acting scared (running away, thumping, hiding, etc.) and he's acting like he is playing (binking, returning to the dog, etc.) then he is probably grunting as part of his play.

OneTwoThree · Oct 22, 2011

Samson growls when she plays, and growls when she's mad. But when she's mad, she also charges and ears are back so it's easy to tell

I think some bunnies are just more chatty than others.

Acacia-Berry · Oct 22, 2011

As long as they're safe in play and your bunny doesn't seem afraid and acting in defense (hiding, cornering) then I would say it's okay.
Acacia has taken to grunting more now that my poor dog has passed. She isn't getting any more out time as a result (she has free roam when we're here).. If anything, she has to be IN her pen more so now for being bad and getting into things. :/

She's been taking to the garbage can very annoyingly bc she'll chew on anything she can get out of it.. Worse than a cat I tells ya! And she'll grunt as she binkies away bc I have to chase her.

Hope it helps. Whoever mentioned the context of the grunting was spot on.