Understanding your rabbit

Rabbits' behavior and body language are largely due to instincts.

Sounds

 * Continuous grunting: often accompanied by circles around your feet as a mating ritual where the goal is to charm the object of affection. A behavior common with intact rabbits.
 * Growling: a short barking growl, which occurs with aggression.
 * Loud piercing screams: when a rabbit is afraid for its life, caught by a predator or experiencing great pain.
 * Low grunting: sign that the rabbit is satisfied and feeling well.
 * Low squealing: a very soft noise you can hear only when very close. Anecdotally, a sign when the rabbit does not want to be pet anymore and wishes to be let free.
 * Teeth purring: gentle gnashing and grinding of the teeth; a sign of content. Often heard when being pet. A louder gnashing or grinding of teeth accompanied by a hunched position is a sign of great pain.
 * Thumping: a loud drum of feet against the ground; when a rabbit is afraid or alert and feels threatened. At the same time, the rabbit's pupils are often enlarged, and it will immediately seek a safe refuge.

Body Language

 * Binky: a high jump and kick in the air accompanied by a shaking head. A sign of happiness and playfulness.
 * Bunloaf: a 'brooding hen' position. Relaxing and napping, but prepared to run at any sign of danger. The longer its legs are stretched behind it, the more relaxed the rabbit is. A flop is the ultimate sign of trust.
 * Flattened on the ground with ears flat against head and eyes wide open: the rabbit is trying to hide from something that scared it and ready to flee.
 * Flop: when a rabbit tips over on its side. Often mistaken for dead. A sign that the rabbit is very happy and relaxed and trusts you.
 * Hard nudge by the nose: "You're in my way!" or "Leave me alone!"
 * Kicking backwards: a sign of protest. You probably did something to displeasure the rabbit.
 * Kicking sideways: playing or fighting.
 * Licking you: "I love you!"
 * Lunging with ears backwards: aggressively starts forward to bite. The rabbit is defending its territory. Often occurs with insecure or territorial rabbits when you intrude on their cage.
 * Periscoping: standing on its hind legs; curious of its surrounding. Also precludes a jump to a higher level.
 * Rubbing its chin on various objects including yourself: marking the object as part of its territory. Rabbits have scent glands under the chin.
 * Running circles around the feet: often accompanied by continuous grunting; part of a mating ritual where the goal is to charm the object of affection.
 * Scattered droppings: marking territory.
 * Soft nudge by the nose: "Hello!" You should acknowledge the greeting with a gentle pet.
 * Tail held high: excited from another rabbit or a new toy.
 * Twitching tail: spraying urine. Often occurs with intact rabbits.

Behavior Problems
For problems with aggressive rabbits, see Aggressive Rabbits.

The links below contain more information about common behavior problems with domestic rabbits.
 * Kinenchen, Why is my bunny acting terribly?
 * Anne McBride, Behaviour problems in the domestic rabbit
 * Anne McBride, Thumper, fiver, wee-er, biter - The natural behaviour of rabbits and its influence on behaviour problems
 * Mary E. Cotter, Seven Common Behavior Problems In Rabbits
 * House Rabbit Society, Amy Shapiro, Tools of the Trade
 * House Rabbit Society, Marinell Harriman, Age Related Behavior
 * House Rabbit Society, Amy Shapiro, Rebel with Paws
 * House Rabbit Society, Dana M. Krempels, Ph.D., FAQ: Shy Rabbits
 * Anne McBride, Behaviour Problems
 * The Rabbit House, Rabbit Behaviour Problems
 * Christine Carter, What Bunnies Don't Like!