The Rabbit Residence Rescue

So how do become your rabbits best friend?

In order to be a successful pet owner, whichever animal we take on, we have to obtain certain characteristics;

• we must have acceptance and respect for what the animal really is

• we must be patient and understanding of the animals basic needs and instincts

• We must take the time to research and learn about the animal in depth, as a wild animal in its natural environment, again its reasons behind behaviours, diet and relationship with others of its own species and other species.

• Understand how and why it’s become domesticated and kept as a pet.

• We must learn to talk its language, however silent and adept to it, not the other way round.

• We must learn about positive and reward training.

If we can do this we will develop a far deeper bond with our pet that will be immensely rewarding and satisfying for us. Our pets will benefit to, as they will be confident, relaxed and it will really help them live a long healthy life and help prevent stress-related illnesses.

All animals have natural instincts within them developed through evolution. Three basic areas we need to comprehend about our pet are;

1. Is it a prey animal or predator?

2. Do its wild relatives live alone or in groups (if in groups, what type of hierarchy)

3. Is it a "fight" or "flight" animal? Examples of flight animals are horses, rabbits, zebras and antelopes. These will run away if threatened by a predator.

Examples of fight animals are dogs, lions and other cats. These will attack anything that approaches them they feel is a threat. Sadly we do see exceptions where rabbits are so scared they will bite their owner to protect themselves, and dogs that have been so abused, they are depressed and timid.

Once we understand this about the animal, we will start to communicate with it, and in turn see positive responses and reactions (what we see as the pet being sweet and friendly). We will be interacting. They will be accepting us and understanding us as a friend, not outsider of its own species or a predator.

You will appreciate this if you have ever seen the films "The horse whisperer" or "Gorillas in the mist", both based on true life stories of humans living and talking to animals.

Learning to talk the animal's language for our selfish wants and needs and understanding why the animal is reacting to us, whether positive or negative is far more satisfying, than just having the animal and not knowing why it loves us or is scared of us. It is also a much kinder way than forcing the animal to respond from fear, where there is no true relationship between man and animal and only our dominant human has control once again, over a fearful trapped creature.

• Rabbits are herbivores (they don't eat animals or animal products).

• They need to graze for at least 8 hours a day, grass is their staple diet and grazing keeps their teeth healthy. Their digestive system means they need to graze; not eat a quick meal once a day. They only need a handful of commercial feed once a day.

• They are very low to the ground, and ground loving animals.

• They have very good hearing but poor sight. Their eyes are at the side of their head.

• Rabbits are prey. They are food to other animals including humans.

• All pet rabbits have the same needs for exercise and diet and basic instincts as their wild relatives. It doesn't matter what size or colour they are.

• Therefore they are always looking out for danger and are cautious animals.

• When you first approach them, they will run away as they can't take the risk of staying. Their survival instinct is to assume we are danger.

• If you are patient, stay still, don't react and let them come up to you, they will come back and investigate you. They may be cautious but they are very curious and inquisitive.

A rabbit’s genetics breed and breeding does have some influence over how placid they are with humans, but environmental factors have a part to play too:

• The accommodation they are born into and kept in.

• The relationship the mother rabbit has with the owner and how the mother acts e.g. nervous/ calm.

• How the owner behaves around the rabbits and how he handles them E.g. gentle, calm, aggressive, stressed.

With the correct interaction a rabbit can bond very closely to a human and the human will realize how intelligent a rabbit is, how much potential there is and how such a close relationship is really possible. As stated above the set-up and design of rabbit living quarters in regards to human presence also makes a huge difference.