In general, male rabbits are touted as being easier pets for rabbit beginners. They will usually get into less trouble and show fewer aggressive tendencies than female rabbits. This is especially true of rabbits who have been neutered. This doesn't mean that having a male rabbit will be a walk in the park.
Males tend to be more easy going and relaxed while females are usually "the boss" of any household. In the wild, rabbits pair up into couples with the female digging their burrow and the male defending her and the burrow against intruders.
The easiest pairing is castrated male/spayed female. So, if you already have one rabbit, choose a companion of the opposite sex, and make sure they are both desexed (before any fighting occurs). Same-sex pairs can be tricky, but it is possible to keep two males or two females if they have grown up together.
While female – male bonding tends to be easier, you can certainly bond two females or two males together. Next, each rabbit will require its own space with their own personal things.
If you're watching a group of rabbits, you should be able to tell which is the dominant male – he's the one who is constantly patrolling his territory. You'll also notice that subordinates tend to move away when he approaches.
Reducing urine marking behaviours Males and female rabbits can spray urine on vertical surfaces to mark their territory. It is more commonly seen in males than females. The urine from a sexually mature male also has quite a strong odour.
The first thing you shouldn't do is hit them in any fashion. A rabbit will not construe any form of smack as a constructive comment on their behavior. Instead, they will become angry, affronted, and possibly even more aggressive.
Rabbits are very social creatures who are happier and healthier, and live longer, if they have a mate. In nature, the wild European rabbit (from which all of our domestic rabbits are descended) bonds for life.
Rabbits can develop abnormal behaviour and may suffer if you leave them on their own and with nothing to do for long periods, so you should keep your rabbit with at least one other friendly rabbit.
Barring the odd rogue rabbit that likes the lonely life, rabbits generally benefit from the company of other rabbits. They will often be far happier and content with a mate. Rabbits are not that unlike humans, they also get bored, even depressed, and when they do, they often act it out with destructive behaviour.
Other popular breeds for beginner pet rabbit owners are the Mini Lop, Mini Rex, Dutch and Polish. All four are small breeds that have reputations of being gentle. That being said, all types of domestic rabbits have the potential of being good pets.
The whole bonding process can take as little as one day or up to several months – it all depends on your rabbits. Usually, it's a few weeks before your bunnies will be living happily together but it is well worth the wait.
Rabbits just LOVE company!
Most owners house a pair of rabbits, but keeping three or four are also popular options. Be sure that you have enough space to comfortably house all your rabbits, or else you'll have to purchase multiple runs to create enough space.
Males produce more urine than females during the mating period.
As there are no effective treatments, vaccinations are essential. There are different vaccines you can get for your rabbits, including: Combined vaccines offer annual protection against both myxomatosis and R(V)HD. Rabbits can be vaccinated from five weeks old.
Many bunnies enjoy cuddles and affection
Bunnies are super-soft, and many will love cuddling with you as much as you love cuddling with them. Once a bunny is comfortable in their new home, they may claim you as their own by rubbing their chin on you to mark their territory.
Because rabbits are social animals, they will often get depressed if they are left alone for too long. A rabbit who is treated like a cage animal and left alone inside their enclosure day in and day out is very likely to become lonely and depressed. Instead, it's best to treat rabbits as companion animals.
Even if you have a pair of rabbits, 24 hours is the maximum time they should be alone. Like all pets, rabbits rely heavily on their owners. Domesticated rabbits lack the survival skills of wild rabbits. Your rabbit has basic needs surrounding food, exercise, and stimulation.
Yes. Your rabbit may sleep with you. But you have to make your room "bunny-proof" by making it safe for your rabbit. At night, your rabbit may hop in and out of your bed - but it is not allowed to go out of your room.
Rabbits enjoy being around people and can usually recognise their owners by sight and sound.
As your bunny gets older, they'll probably become less active and sleep more than usual. They may also become clingier and more affectionate. Unfortunately, ageing does bring its problems.
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).
Rabbit spritzer
You can use a plant spray/mist bottle to gently spray water on your rabbit's ears which can help them to cool down.