Rabbit Behaviour & Bonding

Question 1

Oryctolagus Cuniculus common name

Answer 1

European Rabbit

Question 2

Lifespan of the european rabbit in wild

Answer 2

9 years

Question 3

Gestation period of the european rabbit

Answer 3

28-35 days

Question 4

How should rabbits arrive at the vet?

Answer 4

should arrive to appointment in a comfortable, familiar carrier with hay, toys, blankets, etc.

Question 5

How can we minimize stress for the rabbit in the waiting room?

Answer 5

let owner or bunny wait in a room - away from all other animal smells and noises

Question 6

T or F: Staff working closely with rabbits shoudn’t change clothes

Answer 6

false

Question 7

How do we get the rabbit out of the carrier?

Answer 7

-provide a no slip surface, open carrier and allow rabbit to leave carrier on own
or
-if possible, perform work on rabbit in carrier if you can take it apart

Question 8

T or F: Towels aren’t essential for rabbit handling and retsraint

Answer 8

false

Question 9

A thumping/stomping bunny is what?

Answer 9

mad, irritated or annoyed

Question 10

T or F: Bunnies stomp/thump in the wild to warn others of danger

Answer 10

true

Question 11

Why does a bunny flop over on its side?

Answer 11

this often means they’re tired/tuckered out and are content/relaxed

Question 12

What is circling in bunnies?

Answer 12

a rabbit’s way of saying ‘pay attention to me’ and displaying love for owner

Question 13

What was circling originally?

Answer 13

it was originally courtship behaviour

Question 14

The Bunny 500

Answer 14

a bunnies way of expressing pure joy and excitement - they love expressing their joy by going fast!

Question 15

When is the bunny 500 seen?

Answer 15

seen during play and binkies (jumping/twisting in air)

Question 16

Binkying

Answer 16

binkying means a happy bunny! a bunnies equivalent of a person jumping in the air and clicking their heels

Question 17

Grunting/Growling/Charging

Answer 17

means a bunny is feeling angry/threatened/territorial - a warning for unwanted interactions and are usually followed with biting

Question 18

Nudge/Nose Bonking

Answer 18

a bunnie’s way of exploring/investigating their surroundings
or
can also be used as a way to get attention

Question 19

Licking

Answer 19

a bunny grooms others when safe and comfrtable - sign of a content bunny who loves you

Question 20

Chinning

Answer 20

a bunnies way of claiming territory - scent glands under chin spread rabbit’s scent

Question 21

What is a digging?

Answer 21

an instinctual behaviour from digging complex burrows in the wild

Question 22

What’s one of the reasons some bunnies may dig?

Answer 22

some bunnies dig at hands or feet to ask for attention

Question 23

Spraying/marking

Answer 23

a bunnie’s way of marking terrirtory - same thing we see in cats

Question 24

T or F: Female bunnies can’t spray/mark

Answer 24

false

Question 25

Nose Wiggling

Answer 25

done subconsciously - helps a rabbit's sense of smell and body temperature regulation

Question 26

T or F: Nose wiggling speed can tell us a lot about a bunnie's stimulation

Answer 26

true

Question 27

What does fast nose wiggling indicate?

Answer 27

curiousity, excitement, anxiety or overstimulation

Question 28

What does slow nose wiggling indicate?

Answer 28

relaxed, tired or calm

Question 29

What does no nose wiggling indicate?

Answer 29

sleeping, very relaxed, shock or confusion

Question 30

T or F: Digging cannot be a behavioural issue

Answer 30

false

Question 31

Nipping/Biting

Answer 31

bunnie's clear way of communicating to leave them alone - usually accompanied by charging/grunting

Question 32

Harmless Nipping

Answer 32

can be followed by nudging/nose bonking to explore surroundings

Question 33

Kicking

Answer 33

a bunnie's scared getaway attempt while being held

Question 34

An unspayed doe is at higher risk of what?

Answer 34

pseudopregnancy

Question 35

T or F: A doe with a pseudopregnancy does not go through the motions of pregnancy

Answer 35

false

Question 36

Motions of pseudopregnancy

Answer 36

duration - 3 weeks Nesting behaviours hormones can result in mammary developpment

Question 37

What does it mean when a rabbit is screaming?

Answer 37

this means the rabbit is in serious discomfort/pain

Question 38

Happy Honking/Oinking

Answer 38

a bunnie's way of expressing pleasure/happiness

Question 39

Whistling/Sneezing

Answer 39

this usually correlates with respiratory issues despite being a healthy expression

Question 40

T or F: Whistling/sneezing is not seen in brachyvephalic breeds

Answer 40

false - more seen in brachycephalic breeds

Question 41

Teeth Grinding/Chattering

Answer 41

if louder than positive alternative, this can mean bunny is in pain/discomfort

Question 42

Tooth Clicking/Rabbit Purring

Answer 42

quieter than the negative alternative, this indicates the rabbit is happy and content

Question 43

T or F: Rabbit body language is similar to what we see in cats

Answer 43

true

Question 44

T or F: Ears do not play a big role in rabbit body language

Answer 44

false

Question 45

Alert/Curious ears

Answer 45

ears are straight up, pointed forward - ears can shift if a sound from another direction is heard

Question 46

How does an alert/curious rabbit approach?

Answer 46

slowly and with ears slanted foward - back legs are stretched and ready

Question 47

Periscoping

Answer 47

when a rabbit is on its hind leg surveying for danger

Question 48

Relaxed/Sleepy body language

Answer 48

wide apart and pointing in no specific direction - ears together along back is seen when loafing/sleeping

Question 49

T or F: Default relaxed ear positions are the same with all breeds

Answer 49

false

Question 50

Nervous/Aggressive body language

Answer 50

ears back at a rigid 45 degree angle indicates anger tail is up rabbit stands tall

Question 51

Submissiveness/Fearful body language

Answer 51

ears flat against back and seperated rabbit flattens itself

Question 52

Lop Ears Relaxation

Answer 52

resting gently/comfortably on sides

Question 53

Curious/Cautious Lop Ears

Answer 53

ears are swinging forward

Question 54

Aggressive/Fearful Lop Ears

Answer 54

ears are facing backwards

Question 55

Curious Lop Ears

Answer 55

ears are rotated/tilted

Question 56

Alert/Excited Lop Ears

Answer 56

airplane ears

Question 57

T or F: Rabbits of any gender cannot be bonded together

Answer 57

false

Question 58

What is essential for the bonding process?

Answer 58

spay/neuter and recovery

Question 59

What is said to be the easiest pair to bond?

Answer 59

a spayed doe being brought into the space of a neutered buck

Question 60

What is the most difficult pair to bond?

Answer 60

two doe rabbits

Question 61

T or F: During bonding rabbits don't need to establish dominance

Answer 61

false

Question 62

Most common method of bonding

Answer 62

24/7 bonding or marathon bonding

Question 63

What is marathon/24/7 bonding?

Answer 63

rabbits are kept together slowly increasing space - requires constant supervision

Question 64

What is the "dating" method?

Answer 64

allow your rabbit to meet/interact with others - essentionally choosing its pair