Rabbit toys??

Question

I have a dwarf rabbit, and I've tried everything to get hime to play, but all he likes to do is chew everything. I would like to bond with him so he can get to trust me as a friend and playmate, but he doesn't seem to want to play. Any ideas? (I also want him to excersise as he is getting sort of fat).

Answer 1

Good question!! I am a Veterinarian Technician and am owned by my Mini Lop, Samantha. I hope to help!

Playtime is very important for them both mentally and physically - they need to stretch their muscles and move in ways instinct tells them to, and they need to express their feelings and share with others (human or rabbit or other pets). They love to play games and to play with toys. This is something people who keep rabbits outdoors simply do not know, and is one of many reasons rabbits should be kept indoors with the rest of the family.


Rabbits need toys and playtime distractions to keep their minds busy. They enjoy playing with other rabbits, humans, and other pets (but under supervision!)!! Rabbits respond to an invitation to play - you just have to learn how to invite a rabbit to play a game, and how your rabbit invites you (perhaps nipping your ankle and running away, or taking something of yours and hiding it, or playing hide and seek, etc).

Rotating your rabbit's toys helps keep interest in them (when your rabbit gets bored with a toy, swap it with another one and put it aside to offer as a "new" toy later on.

For toys to be safe for your bunny, they must be untreated (ie, not painted or otherwise finished, no colored inks except soy-based, etc) and you must also watch to see which ones they play with and which ones they chew - you don't want them swallowing plastics.

Some things rabbits may find amusing to play with: (make sure these are all untreated)

Cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet paper (also try stuffing some hay in the tubes)

Old telephone books to shred

Cardboard tube used for post foundations to run through and hide in

Cardboard hidey-boxes (cut entrances in two locations in a box large enough for the bunny to fit inside of)

Ball with a bell inside

An apple twig

Small pieces of untreated wood to chew on

Willow baskets to shred

Stainless steel measuring cups to throw around

Stainless steel spoons to throw around

Tin cans (no sharp edges)

Oatmeal containers

Hand towels, bath towels - to bunch up and spread out and generally arrange

Golf balls

Small cardboard boxes to chew and toss around

Apple branches

Paper bags (especially stuff with fresh hay and tied off with twine)

Parrot toys

Dried out pine cones

Downey balls (clean, of course)

News paper (no color)

Baby rattles to toss around

Wooden blocks to toss around

Metal bowls to toss around

Key-ring with keys to toss around

Lids from jars to toss around

A metal or plastic slinky

Baby rattles to rattle

Obviously, me being a Vet Tech I am very picky and very careful when it comes to toys for my lop!!! Hope this helps!!

Answer 2

I don't recommend listening to Kara. The treats will make your rabbit fat. And rationing it's rabbit pellets in addition will make it lose muscle and possibly since the pellets are reduced and the veggies are increased it could also cause diahrrea.

The timothy hay is a good idea. Don't feed veggies, fruits or vegetables. These are high in carbohydrates, starches, and sugar, making them high in energy. Rabbits don't process that well and it can make them fat and can give them diahrrea, partly due to not getting enough fiber. Giving them timothy hay helps give them fiber and therefore also helps stop diahrrea.

Rabbits aren't like humans. They don't get fat really by how much they eat. Once they are full, they quit eating. They get more by WHAT they eat. Giving your rabbit treats all the time would be like eating junk food and food that is high in grease all the time for us.

Don't judge your rabbit as being fat by how much it weighs. A rabbit can be perfectly healthy and weigh a lot. For instance a body builder can weigh a lot, but he weighs a lot because he is mainly muscle. You can tell if a rabbit is fat by grabbing their hide around the side or back of their neck. The more loose hide you can grab, the fatter your rabbit is. The reason why this is so, is because most of the fat a rabbit acquires accumulates just below the hide. That fat below the hide makes the hide loose, especially around the neck or shoulder region.

If you ration the rabbit pellets, what you are doing is decreasing their weight by decreasing their muscle and that is not good. That would be like the body builder not getting enough to eat. Yeah, he loses weight, but he loses muscle, not fat.

As far as toys, rabbits love to chew. Their teeth grow 1/2" per month. That's why they love to chew so much because they have to keep their teeth worn down. Little wood pieces will work like cut up plaster lathes. Rabbits also love to tear up sheets like sheets of newspaper and they like to throw light thin stuff around. Don't be too upset if your rabbit is a little on the lazy side, actually most rabbits are. They aren't used to playing with toys out in the wild. A rabbit can be lazy, just like a lion can and not be fat. Their body works different than us.

Answer 3

If he likes to chew why not try some wood chews from the shop.
My bunny was exactly the same.
She wouldn't play with me all she did was chew and chew and chew!
I got tired after a while of her chewing everything so i went to the shop and bought her some wood chews.
I got her out of the cage and put the wood chews in front of her and she went MAD over them.
Whenever i get her out i hold the wood chews in my hand and throw them for her and she actually hops after them (its like she's playing fetch like a dog).
Because she chewed her cage also i put a couple of her chews in and i have NEVER seen her chew her cage since.
I hope what i have said has helped :o)

Answer 4

He would probably enjoy some treats (this would help the bonding process). Since you're worried about his weight, try to ration his pellets and offer more timothy hay. For treats - don't use processed ones, they can contain a lot of fat. Instead, try veggies and fruits - the natural ways to your bunny's heart! Good luck.

Answer 5

First don't any plastic things. They eat it and it gets stuck. Second rabbits love to make mess. So they they love cardboard and soil. Don't mind the mess that's what they like. Try hiding food in stuff like toilet tubes, pringles tubes work very well, pine cones, hay filled bags (material or paper bags).

Answer 6

www.rabbit.org has tons of links. Check under behavior for lots of chewing and training tips.