As you have probably noticed by now, your pet rabbit certainly enjoys the times that she gets to play, and especially to play with you and your family members. Bunnies are very social and love to interact and explore. In addition to providing healthy toys for your pet to play with when they are inside their home, it is very healthy to provide supervised outdoor playtime. PetHelpful.com offers some great advice on rabbits toys and outdoor play: "Benefits of Supervised Outdoor Playtime Rabbits love to chew and dig, it is part of their rabbitish nature and not something that can be trained away indoors. Having a time to chew and dig outdoors will help an indoor rabbit to be more calm and peaceful. Some tips for outdoor enrichment for rabbits:
Read the entire article at How to Entertain and Play with a Pet Rabbit Free Shipping on Rabbit Food & Supplies at BuyRabbitHutch.com bit.ly/BuyRabbitHutch
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Welcome to the wonderful world of having a pet rabbit! Pet bunnies make great and loving pets, but it is important to help train them like you would other pets, so they know what is acceptable behavior inside your home. When it comes to chewing and digging, both of which are natural bunny behaviors, it is important that they are trained for two main reasons. The first one is danger. If a pet rabbit chewed on an electrical cord, the result could be very bad. The second reason is damage. Naturally, you do not want your pet rabbit to damage carpeting, furniture, or anything else in your home! The House Rabbit Society offers the following: "During the training time, do nothing but concentrate on the rabbit. Open the door to her home and let her (or them) come out when she chooses. You may offer toys or treats from your hand, but don’t interfere with her if she wants to explore. And watch her carefully throughout the time she is out of her cage. If the rabbit starts to chew on something you don’t want chewed, immediately offer him as many other things that are okay to chew on as you can. Block whatever he was chewing on so it ceases to be a temptation (block it well, so you aren’t simply challenging the rabbit to break through). If possible, provide something with a similar (or better) taste and texture to what is being chewed. For example, a piece of untreated, unfinished baseboard (screwed into something so it doesn’t move) instead of the real baseboard; or a piece of scrap carpet instead of the real carpet (as long as the rabbit isn’t ingesting the pieces he pulls out); or a piece of apple branch instead of chair legs. The same thing applies to digging. If the rabbit loves to dig in the carpet, build a small “corner” or “tunnel” with carpeting on the bottom (frequently replaced) and give this to him to distract him. Or make a digging box by blocking the end-opening of a covered litter box and cutting a hole in the side. The rabbit will go in, turn so her body runs the length of the box (providing she is large enough that her body doesn’t fit cross- wise). The digging material will be flung against the sealed end of the litter box and remain contained. Use something totally dust-free and safe in the digging box (see the litter faq). Rabbits, being the incredibly intelligent little creatures that they are, quickly learn." Read the entire article here: Training Maybe the first question to answer is - what is a Rabbitat? A Rabbitat is a sort of "Rabbit Playground", sufficiant to provide for the basic outdoor instincts of a pet rabbit, but in a structured and safe manner. Your Rabitat should provide your bunny with safe outdoor space to dig, chew, tunnel, expolore and graze, to name a few activities. The concept remains that a pet rabbit should still live indoors, but allowing her to have some outdoor playtime in your Rabbitat will give her a chance to live like a - rabbit! PetFinder offers the following on building a Rabbitat" "There’s no such thing as a blueprint for the perfect rabbitat, but there are a few features for the do-it-yourselfer to consider. Dirt – Domestic rabbits are descended from European rabbits, who live in groups in warrens, an underground network of interconnecting burrows and tunnels that they dig in the earth. Diggable dirt or ordinary garden soil should be high on the list of things you provide for your house rabbits’ happiness. Fresh-cut greens – Greens should not be a major component of your rabbit’s diet, but access to a variety of fresh foliage has both dietary and emotional benefits for rabbits. The objective here is to offer cut greens and flowers in a natural upright manner so that rabbits can stand up and stretch to reach the succulent leaves on the tops of the branches. Security – Your rabbitat must confine your rabbits while also providing shelter from the weather and protection from predators and the unwelcome attention of other animals and possibly unkind children. As prey animals, rabbits instinctively avoid open spaces where they feel unprotected, so locate your rabbitat in a shady corner of your yard, out of view of busy streets, neighbors’ dogs and overhanging tree branches where cats or birds of prey may hover. Even if secure inside an enclosure, a rabbit can die of fright if a predator is able to menace her at close range." Read the entire article: Designing a Rabbit Playground Free Shipping on Rabbit Food & Supplies at BuyRabbitHutch.com Welcome to the wonderful world of having a pet rabbit! Pet bunnies make great and loving pets, but it is important to help train them like you would other pets, so they know what is acceptable behavior inside your home. When it comes to chewing and digging, both of which are natural bunny behaviors, it is important that they are trained for two main reasons. The first one is danger. If a pet rabbit chewed on an electrical cord, the result could be very bad. The second reason is damage. Naturally, you do not want your pet rabbit to damage carpeting, furniture, or anything else in your home! The House Rabbit Society offers the following: "During the training time, do nothing but concentrate on the rabbit. Open the door to her home and let her (or them) come out when she chooses. You may offer toys or treats from your hand, but don’t interfere with her if she wants to explore. And watch her carefully throughout the time she is out of her cage. If the rabbit starts to chew on something you don’t want chewed, immediately offer him as many other things that are okay to chew on as you can. Block whatever he was chewing on so it ceases to be a temptation (block it well, so you aren’t simply challenging the rabbit to break through). If possible, provide something with a similar (or better) taste and texture to what is being chewed. For example, a piece of untreated, unfinished baseboard (screwed into something so it doesn’t move) instead of the real baseboard; or a piece of scrap carpet instead of the real carpet (as long as the rabbit isn’t ingesting the pieces he pulls out); or a piece of apple branch instead of chair legs. The same thing applies to digging. If the rabbit loves to dig in the carpet, build a small “corner” or “tunnel” with carpeting on the bottom (frequently replaced) and give this to him to distract him. Or make a digging box by blocking the end-opening of a covered litter box and cutting a hole in the side. The rabbit will go in, turn so her body runs the length of the box (providing she is large enough that her body doesn’t fit cross- wise). The digging material will be flung against the sealed end of the litter box and remain contained. Use something totally dust-free and safe in the digging box (see the litter faq). Rabbits, being the incredibly intelligent little creatures that they are, quickly learn." Read the entire article here: Training Free Shipping on Rabbit Food & Supplies at BuyRabbitHutch.com In addition to providing the right amount of room for a happy bunny, your rabbit hutch or rabbit home has several other main points to consider:
Rabbit safe toys are available, and if you don't have easy access, some toys that are safe for babies might be ok to use too. Use good common sense here! Although some rabbit breeds may not be as interested in digging as others, many rabbits do like to dig. In nature, Rabbit Mom's give birth to their young in burrowed holes for security from predators. These burrows are then used as rabbit dens.
Because rabbits have strong front paws, they like to dig burrows or holes primarily as a safe place to sleep. People like to rest in a quiet place away from noise or distraction, and bunnies are no different. They also use these safe spots as a place to retreat from perceived danger. Again in nature, rabbits tend to keep close to their burrow, finding food and other needs close to home. Bunnies will often build their burrows in a larger community, or cluster. These clusters are known as a "warren". The male rabbits must protect the members of the warren. For your pet rabbit at home, providing a cardboard box or safe container, with soil, sand or bedding material in it can provide some fun and safe "digging time" for your bunny, allowing her to satisfy her natural urge to dig! |
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