Bunny Games! How To Have Fun With Your Rabbit

Part of the challenge of rabbit ownership is learning to interact in fun ways with your bunny. Many complain that their rabbits do little but sit around and chew hay, or perhaps run away when they are approached. Both these activities can quickly become tiresome after a few minutes of observation, and once owners realize that their bunny isn't going to do much more than eat and look at them, many rabbits are left to sit in their hutches or cages until they eventually die years later. This tragic problem is compounded by the fact that many rabbits are not huge fans of being handled, and may nip when irritated or frightened

Playing with your bunny is an essential part of ownership. Through play you can bond with your rabbit, make it become accustomed to being handled, and you will both enjoy your relationship much more. Here are a few games you can try out with your rabbit.

Find the food game. Hide some of your rabbits favorite treats about your person. Let the bunny have some idea that there is food to be had, and let bunny find it. This can be a good way to build trust between you and your rabbit, and is a great way to start with timid or handling shy rabbits.

Obstacle/Jump Game. Make up some rabbit sized obstacles, and use the rabbits favorite treat to lure it over jumps, through tunnels, and around objects.

Hide and Seek. This old children's game can be easily tailored to playing with rabbits, but will require you to get down to their level. Once on the floor, hide behind something, whether it be a couch or a bed, or chair. Peek out a little and let your bunny see you doing it, then hide again. Chances are that the bunny will hop over to investigate what strange thing you are doing. You can run away, or jump out a little at the bunny (not in a loud, threatening, screaming fashion, more like a playful hop), depending on what the bunny does, it might be your turn to run away and hide again or maybe you can seek your bunny.

Teaching tricks. Though this isn't technically a game, you can spend some time teaching your rabbit tricks. Most rabbits learn to recognize their name, and to come to it if they associate it with positive things. You can also try teaching your rabbit to beg by holding the food above its head and making it stand for it. Variations such as getting the rabbit to spin to get the food are also possible.

Work with your bunny's own temperament and natural inclinations. Some rabbits are naturally more sociable, others are more retiring. Some rabbits will take to the games listed above like the proverbial duck to water, and others may just look at you as if you're insane. Spending time with your bunny is the important thing however, you will probably find that the more time you spend with them, the more games naturally evolve.