Help them feel secure by holding all four feet against your body. Never pick rabbits up by their ears - this would be extremely stressful and is highly likely to injure them.
Rabbits generally have a few sensitive spots where they dislike being touched - their dewlap (under the chin), whiskers and feet. Some rabbits are also extremely sensitive about their ears or tail.
Rabbits should never be picked up by their ears or by the scruff of their neck. Some people might also hold their rabbits on their back in a “hypnotised” or “tranced” state, where they go really still.
Rabbits have very sensitive ears and can hear sounds that are too faint for humans to hear. This makes them particularly vulnerable to loud noises, which can cause permanent damage to their hearing. For this reason, it is important to keep noise levels down when around rabbits.
Scare them away. Lights, shiny aluminum pie tins, and motion scare devices can be enough to ward off rabbits, at least for a time. Dogs and cats running free in the yard are a great deterrent, too.
As a prey animal, rabbits are highly responsive to noise. If you find that your rabbit isn't responding to loud or unusual noises, this could be an indication that they may be deaf or losing their hearing.
If your rabbit nips or bites you (sometimes rabbits nip when they want something or want your attention - it's not always aggressive): give a high-pitched squeal as soon as she nips or bites you. This will let her know that she hurt you and she should not nip or bite you.
Use Vocal Discipline
If your rabbit bites you, a shrill squeal can be an effective deterrent, and clapping your hands or shouting are also good ways to get a bunny to stop the activity it is engaging in.
Chinning
This is your rabbit's way of saying, “Dibs!” Rabbits have a gland under the chin that leaves a scent on whatever the rabbit rubs his chin against. You won't be able to smell this marking behavior; other rabbits can detect the scent but not people.
Rabbits typically run away from people because they are afraid or angry. The rabbit has learned from past experiences that humans will chase them, pick them up, or trap them into a small cage. Naturally, their instincts will see people as dangerous predators that need to be avoided.
Try to refrain from holding them every single time you interact with them. If you are trying to gain the trust of a shy rabbit, you will want to completely stop picking them up until your rabbit is very comfortable around you. Otherwise keep the cuddles to a minimum so that your rabbit doesn't become afraid of you.
They are very social. Rabbits enjoy being around people and can usually recognise their owners by sight and sound.
They also love getting a good back scratch around the shoulders. That said, they tend not to like being touched on the ears, neck, feet, stomach or tail.
In general, rabbits do not like to be picked up. The act of bending over them and grabbing them by their ribs to pick them up is very similar to being picked up by a hawk – scary!! The best way to interact with your rabbit is on the floor.
When a rabbit nibbles or bites you softly it is often accompanied with licking, which is a sign of love. He is trying to groom you and is simulating the grooming process (however, you have no fur to build up knots in so it results in just a little nibble of the skin).
Tense body, upright tail, laid back ears / Lunging: Lunging or a tense body with laid back ears and upright tail is an angry or territorial behavior. The rabbit is telling you it doesn't like what you are doing and is prepared to fight.
Nudging, head butting or rubbing against you is rabbit body language for loving attention. 'Give them a stroke or cuddle, or what you know they enjoy', says Rosie. 'Rubbing their faces against you is a way of sharing their scent profile, and showing that you really are friends.
Why does my rabbit put her head down when I pet her? When your rabbit lays their head down flat on the ground, they are enjoying being pet and are laying still so that you continue. They might even close their eyes or nudge your hand if you stop petting them.