Bunny Activities

Peek A Boo

Yes bunnies do play peek a boo, they love it and it usually makes them binky with delight. Or at least a half binky.

Signs your bunny might be trying to play peek a boo with you.

--your bunny is hiding behind something and keeps popping their head out, looks at you and then hides again.

--Your sitting on the floor and they are up on the furniture or something. They keep looking down at you, maybe even nudge/bif you with their nose and then retreating back further and doing the same thing again.

How to join in:

Slowly aproach your bunny. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have anywhere to hide, just place yourself as low as possible to the ground asking your bunny where you are. Then pop yourself up to their height or just above and say “peek a boo” or “here I am” . Usually they will respond by doing a similar action or doing a mini binky. Playing long enough usually ends with your bunny binking or giving you a lovely bunny kiss.

The other way is when you bunny is on something high up like the settee and you are on the floor. Lower your head close to the ground and again ask your bunny where you are. Then pop your head up to meet your bunnies eye level and say peek a boo and kiss them quickly on the nose. And duck down again. Please be careful, your bunny may put their head over the edge of the settee to see where you are. So make sure the coast is clear before bopping up again.

Playing Ball

Bunnies like to play with footballs, jingles balls, ping pong balls etc. They usually use their nose to bif them around, but occasionally (depending on the bunny) they may use their feet as well.

  Don’t forget that a bunny is ‘long sighted’. Which means that they can see things far away from them clearly, but anything close up is blurry and indistinctive.

  Let your bunny get to know what this toy is, leave the ball in front of them so they can sniff and investigate.

  When your bunny first starts to play, push the ball from where they are off into the distance, so it comes into focus for them. See if you get a response. And then try pushing the ball from you to them and see if they biff it back to you or off somewhere else.

  Don’t chuck the ball, so it bounces, this will freak your bunny out, unless they are very familiar in playing and understand there is no danger.

Throwing Things

Some bunnies aren’t really interested in the chewing aspect of toys, they would much prefer to pick something up and lob it. Rattles are usually good for this. When the bunny picks it up it makes a noise then they can lob it against their cage, in their food or water bowl, or at you, whatever they feel like. Also if they are having a “bunny paddy” they can get their frustrations out of their system by chucking the rattle around. Cardboard tubes are also very effective, these are usually picked up by the bunny, they hit it on something a couple of times then it is chucked off somewhere. Any noisy toy is great though, even if you have to make it yourself.

Chewing Things

Some bunnies can’t get enough of chewing things. And there are plenty of toys out there, which also helps your bunny grind down their teeth. Most are made from types of wood, please make sure that it says ‘non toxic’. Also that the toy is designed with bunnies in mind.

Yes I know bunnies in the wild chew on anything they want but you don’t have a wild bunny, yours is domesticated and doesn’t really know what is ok and what isn‘t. Don’t be scared if you buy a chew toy and your rabbit devourers the entire thing. This is ok, well unless it wasn’t made of edible things then that’s a trip to the vets. But you know what I mean. We had a plastic ring which had wooden carrots on it for our previous bunny Woozle. Within a week or so there was nothing but the plastic ring left.

Walkies

Putting your bunny on a lead and taking them for a walk is not uncommon. And we have personally found that most of our bunnies we have owned have liked to be able to go for walkies.

Some take to it straight away, others may take longer to ge used to wearing the harness.

With some it may help to just put the harness on and let your bunny go about their daily routine. It may help them get used to the feel.

When you do take your bunny for a walk they may look at you to say "why are you following me". Lol, but your'll just have to get used to that look. Make sure the route you take will be clear of dogs, children, bikes etc. If you cannot do that (like us) then just a walk round your garden is just as good. And a better idea for more nervous bunnies, or those not used to the outside very much.