Because they are rather gentle animals, rabbits and bunnies make wonderful pets. They are also very communicative and use body language to show their emotions and communicate their wants and needs.
Rabbits use movements of their ears, nose, body position, legs, line of sight, and hindquarters in their body language. Learning to properly recognize and interpret these signals is very important to rabbit owners, as it helps them identify a rabbit’s emotions and attend to its current needs.
Bunnies and rabbits use a wide variety of motions and positions that reflect their mood or needs which are often misunderstood by humans. Some simple tips can help rabbit owners correctly interpret and recognize these signs from their rabbits and provide more intentional and knowledgeable care to their pets in a wide variety of situations.
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Happy & Excited Behaviors
Binkying
Binkying is a large jump in the air accompanied by moving its head or hind side, showing that a rabbit is very happy or excited.
Butt Twitching
This shows a rabbit is happy. It often happens after they are given a treat.
Circling Your Feet
When a rabbit runs circles around your feet, it shows love and excitement. They may do this when you return home after a long absence or at a time of day they know they will likely receive a treat.
Offensive & Defensive Behaviors
Boxing
A boxing position is when a rabbit stands on its hind legs with its front paws out aggressively and its ears pointed up. It will likely shift its weight to its toes. This behavior means that it is angry. This often occurs when two rabbits are fighting, or when a rabbit faces a dog or cat it is not comfortable with. They are often afraid when they assume this position and are preparing to defend themselves against the assumed enemy or threat. The rabbit may also start growling.
Rabbits most often prefer to run from danger rather than fight it. There are, however, some exceptions. If this occurs when you enter your rabbit’s living space, for example, it is a sign that they do not want you to intrude and are protecting their territory.
Flattening Down
When a rabbit’s ears are held flat against its back, it is commonly a sign that the rabbit is scared. In the wild, rabbits are known to hold their ears flat in this manner to make themselves smaller and hide in vegetation from a potential predator. In this situation, the rabbit’s body will be completely tense with its paws poised to run away quickly should danger arise.
However, this should not be confused with the relaxed state of a bunny often initiated when being pet. When relaxed, their ears are often held in a similar position. The bunny seems so relaxed it can almost be described as melting into the floor. In this situation, the rabbit lies its ears down and flattens itself as a sign that they are completely comfortable and feel safe, not that they are afraid.
On Guard
If your rabbit has its ears pointed up, or leaned forward looking intently in one direction, the rabbit is likely to alert and senses potential danger nearby.
This may occur even when you have not heard or sensed anything yourself. Rabbits are extremely aware of their surroundings and will enter this state of alert when they detect a potential threat within the vicinity.
Relaxed & Content Behaviors
Natural and Confident Resting Position
A bunny’s natural resting position shows that it is relaxed, comfortable, and feeling confident in its present situation. When in this state, rabbits’ ears will be at a 45-degree angle, not completely flat on their backs, tilted forward, or straight up. If your bunny is feeling this way, its nose will also be twitching at a normal pace.
It will appear that the bunny is completely calm, and is a sign that they are adjusted to their current environment. They are not afraid of being attacked at this moment. This is a rabbit’s default and normal body position.
Flopping Down Dramatically
Flopping shows that a rabbit is extremely happy and content. This is when a rabbit throws itself onto its side, feeling safe and relaxed.
Sprawled Out
This occurs when a rabbit or bunny is lying on its side or belly, without being flopped over. Because this is a vulnerable position for a rabbit, they only do so when they feel completely safe and comfortable in their surroundings.
Anytime that your rabbit’s feet are not on the floor, it shows great trust in those around it. A rabbit’s best defense is to flee in the face of danger, and placing its feet in a less than ready position to run shows that it is not at all worried about danger in its current surroundings.
Another explanation for this position could be that your bunny is really hot. In this case, the rabbit will lower itself completely to increase its contact with the cold floor to decrease body heat.
Self-Grooming
Rabbits are very clean animals and spend a large amount of time grooming themselves. They will turn all the way around to clean their backside and rub their paws and ears against their face as well.
Sometimes, rabbits will move their paws quickly forward, making it seem like they are punching the air, before cleaning themselves. This is the rabbit’s way of cleaning its paws before rubbing them against its face and body.
Rabbits are less likely to groom themselves when others are present. This is most likely because their grooming routine is often rather extensive and they are not able to pay full attention to their surroundings when grooming. If a rabbit grooms itself in front of you, this is also a sign of trust and shows that they do not view you as a threat.
Negative or Discouraged Behaviors
Chewing On Things
For rabbits, chewing is a natural and necessary activity for their health. Their teeth are constantly growing, and they rely on chewing to help them keep their teeth in good shape. It is wise to give your rabbit chew toys and may save your furniture.
Throwing Items
Rabbits are able to throw anything they can pick up easily with their mouths. They often do this to playfully throw a toy, food, or water dish around. They are having fun and may run to the object’s new location and proceed to throw it again.
Throwing, however, can also show that a rabbit is frustrated or bored. It is most likely to have this meaning when a rabbit is kept in a living space that is too small.
Kicking Out With Hind Legs
The flicking up of the back legs when running away shows that a rabbit is not happy. It is most likely upset and wants to be left alone for a time. This commonly occurs when a rabbit is put down after being held for too long. Thumping hind legs can also be a sign that a rabbit is angry and wants you to keep your distance.
Curious & Exploring Behaviors
Periscoping
Periscoping is when a rabbit stands on its hind legs and looks alert. This happens when your rabbit is curious and moves higher up for a better vantage point to look at its surroundings.
This is also the rabbits’ position when they are begging for a treat. They will come up to you and lift up on their hid legs to gain both your attention and sympathy.
Rubbing Chin Against Surfaces
Rabbits have scent glands in their chins, and rubbing them against objects is a way of marking their territory from other animals. They will likely do this in a new location or on your shoes if you have the scent of another animal on you.
Cautious Exploring
Rabbits take caution when entering a new or unknown environment or situation. They will have their ears tilted forward, and lean their bodies forward as well, leaving their hind legs behind them in a fixed position. This allows them to quickly retreat if given reason to be afraid.
Shaking Head and Ears
There are several different reasons for which a rabbit shakes its ears. When the rabbit is running around and shakes its head and hears back and forth, this is most likely a sign that it is both happy and excited while exploring around.
If your rabbit shakes its ears when you go to pet it, however, this means that the rabbit does not want to be petted at the moment, and most likely wants some time alone.
The third reason a rabbit might shake its head and move its ears around is when they are itchy. If your rabbit shakes their ears several times and then scratches at them, this is most likely the case.
Sniffing Around
Sniffing shows that a rabbit is curious and wants to figure something out. They will often spend a long period of time sniffing a new or unfamiliar item when identifying it.
When moving their nose back and forth in this position, more smell receptors are able to make contact with the air and provide them with more information on the unknown object or item.
This helps them to identify an object that is within close vicinity, as they are far-sighted and unable to see things up close very clearly.
