Pet Rabbit Care & Training

Rabbits are just like any other pet. They like to be brushed and bathed, they need their nails trimmed, their ears cleaned and they can also get fleas. It is very important to know how to properly care for a pet rabbit and to use products specifically designed for rabbits to avoid injury or harm.

1) Brushing Your Rabbit

Rabbits loved to be brushed! You should try to brush your rabbit a minimum of 1-2 times a week. Just like a dog or a cat, rabbits shed their fur and it needs to be brushed out. As a rabbit cleans itself, it ingests the loose fur and unlike a cat, a rabbit cannot regurgitate the hair. Many people give their bunnies Petromalt or Laxatone, an ointment that is designed to help prevent hairballs. During shedding season, you can give the ointment once a day then once a week when your bunny is not shedding
First,be sure to have a rabbit brush. Then decide whether it will be easier to brush your rabbit in or out of his cage. If this is the first time you will be brushing your rabbit and your rabbit is not trained, I recomend starting with him in his cage. Slowly reach in and try brushing his back and sides. If your rabbit sits still and allows you to brush him,thats great! If your rabbbit is hopping around his cage and seems scared stop right away. Let your rabbit relax, wait until it is time to feed him and then slowly attempt to brush his back while he is eating. Most rabbits will allow you to do this. As he gets use to being brushed he will eventually allow you to do it anytime. If your rabbit is trained, it is much easier to sit him on your lap and brush him. Brush his back, tummy, tail and head and don't forget to give him his favorite treat when you're done!

2) Bathing Your Rabbit

Am I crazy?? Nope. You can give your rabbit a "bath" Just remember as I stated earlier, all these tasks are much easier if your rabbit is trained. I suggest cleaning your rabbit every 3-6 weeks using one of the two methods. The first way is to sit your rabbit on your lap and use cleaning wipes. This is a quick and easy way to clean your rabbit and you can do this whenever you think it is necessary. The second way is to sit your rabbit in a plastic basin, fill a bowl with warm water and rabbit shampoo and use a semi wet wash cloth to bathe him. This is a more thorough cleaning and your rabbit will be damp when you're done. Be sure to wrap him in a towel to dry him off when your done and don't forget his treat ! :)

Click Here for more great rabbit care info like teeth care, nail trimming,ear cleaning and flea care

Rabbits need plenty of excercise to stay healthy. You should allow them to hop around freely, out of their cage, for a minimum of 30 minmutes every day. Before your rabbit is trained I suggest having a small confined space to allow him to hop around. It was May when I got my first rabbit so I would take him out on the front porch and let him hop around. The kitchen is the best indoor area. Usually there is nothing down low ( like electrical cords) for them to get hurt with and you have an easy to clean floor when they go to the bathroom. Use a baby gate to block the doorway . An exercise pen is another excellent way to keep you rabbit safe indoors and out. Also, believe it or not, you can actually get a harness and a leash and "walk" your rabbit. You'd be the talk of the neighborhood!

When you beginning training your rabbit, only work on one task at a time. When your rabbit has learned the task you are teaching him, move on to another.

1) Litter Train Your Rabbit
This should be the first thing you teach your rabbit to do. It is a fairly easy task to do plus it will eliminate having to clean up after him while you are training him. You will need a litter panabout 4 inches high and either hay or nonclumping rabbit litter to put in the litter box. DO NOT use regular cat litter. The dust can cause respiratory problems for your rabbit. Place the litter box in the room where you have been letting him exercise. Remove some "rabbit pebbles" from the bottom of your rabbits cage and place them in the litter box. Put your rabbit in the litter box and use a command like "rabbits name, go pebbles" or "rabbits name, go potty ". Don't worry if your rabbit hops out of the box, let him hop around for 10 minutes then place him back in the box and repeat the command. When you see your rabbit go potty in the box, praise him by scratching his nose or stroking his head and say "good rabbits name" or good boy/girl". DO NOT give your rabbit a treat for going potty. Do this everyday for a week. By the end of the week your rabbit should hop in the pan and go potty whenever you have him out of his cage.

2) Train Your Rabbit to Beg/Sit Up
This trick is pretty easy because rabbits naturally sit up on their hind legs all the time. Start when your rabbit has all four feet on the floor.Put your hand above her head with the treat in your fingers.
Use a command like "rabbits name, sit up" or "rabbits name, beg" When your rabbit rises up on her hind legs to get the treat, give her the treat and some verbal praise. After she rises up consistently in response to your command, start eliminating the treats. One time give her a treat, next time don't. Eventually you will only have to say your rabbits name with the command and your rabbit will respond. Practice this task with your rabbit everyday. It should take 1-2 weeks for your rabbit to accomplish this task.

Learn how to teach your rabbit to come, go in their cage and much more!

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There are so many things to learn about rabbits. Here is what they are trying to say with some of the noises they make.

1) Growling

If your rabbit growls or grunts at you, she's not happy about something. Maybe she's angry that you're poking your hand into her cage, and she doesn't want you in her territory. Growling can be a sign of anger, fear, uncertainty and stress. The better you get to know your bunny, the
more you'll discover what her different growls mean.

2) Crying

Your bunny may cry. Sometimes a bunny will let out a little cry or whimper and thump their back feet. This is interpreted much as you would understand the same noise in puppies or people.

3) Licking

If your bunny licks your face or your hands, be happy. She's telling you "I love you!"

4) Screaming

You never want to hear your bunny scream. A bunny scream is usually shrill. It's a heart-breaking sound, and it generally signifies your bunny is either hurt or dying. You'll want to get her help immediately.

5) Flopping

Your bunny is on top of the world. She is so happy, she can think of no better way to show her happiness than flopping over, eyes closed, taking some time to relax.

6) Binkying

You've got one happy bunny on your hands. She's gyrating, dancing, hopping high in the air and shooting across the room at lightening speed. She's so happy she's a bunny and living with you.

7) Thumping

Your bunny will thump her back legs for a number of reasons including fear, anger and warning you to danger lurking.

8) The Bunny 500

It's 6 a.m., and the Bunny 500 has taken off again. Your bunny or bunnies are in their room, when all of a sudden, zoom! They race around the room over and over again at top bunny speed, until they're ready to just chill out, munch on some hay, chew the phone book or flop down for a much-needed nap.

9) Chinning

Your bunny is rubbing her chin all over the furniture, the book your reading and you. This is just her way of marking her territory. She's saying, "hey, this is mine."

Bugs, Thumper, Puddles, Midnight, Riley, Stormie, Pippin, Noel, Piper, Holbrook,
Willow, Cocoa, Maybelline, Oreo, Dezzi, Pepper, Cherub, Romeo, Hershey, Hayley,
Velvet, Tinkerbell, Juniper, Dutch, Tuxedo, Patches, Sadie, Tyler, Duchess,
Harvey, Pumpkin, Angel, Binky, Hopkins, Snowball, Peanut, Dakota, Dash, Hopper,
Nutmeg, Smokey, Chance, Satine, Shadow, Snuggles, Thumbelina, Flopsy,
Marshmallow, Gatsby, Jade, Frodo, Arial, Rex, Mittens, Zuzu, Halo, Onyx,
Sabrina, Belle, Noir, Bailey, Q-Tip, Nibbles, Daisy, Merry, Tricycle, Oscar,
Zoey, Pepper, Sundance, Hopson, Ripley, Trance, Sweetpea, Charmin, Noah,
Bunster, Silver, Bumper, and Rascal.

As you can see there are many things you have to know about rabbits. Whether you are an experienced rabbit owner or first timer my ebook will teach you eveything you need to know about rabbits.
Download your Rabbit Care & Training ebook today.