House Rabbits

[Defcon5]

I quite fancy a furry friend to keep me company!

I had a lovely pug but sadly he died earlier this year and my house is quite empty. I have since changed roles at work and my new shifts aren't really suitable for another dog, and i was thinking of getting a house rabbit, does anyone have one?

Are some breeds more friendly than others? Do they like to play? Will they tunnel through to next door?

Also, guinea pigs make me sneeze, am I likely to be allergic to rabbits too?

[samuelellis]

I have two house rabbits and personally i think they are brilliant pets

Mine have a cage in the front room but it is alwasy open - they use this as a toilet/hay eating area, did not really have to toilet train them either, they worked out where to go themselves

I would strongly reccommend getting 2 rabbits instead of 1. The reason for this is that they can keep each other company when you are out and trust me once you get a bonded pair they are stuck together (nothing cuter than seeing a pair of bunnys playing/slumped asleep together) Most rescue centers will provide you with a already bonded pair if you ask.

In regards to them playing with you - its a bit hit and miss, firstly you need to get them used to you - i found the best way was just to sit on the floor at bunny level and let them come to you. Bunnys will not tollerate being picked up but they do tollerate stroking (heck one of mine will lick my face if i get down to bunny level)

Be prepared for them to taste everything you own - even after extensive bunny proofing of my front room they have still eaten the carpet under the sofa (cant see it dont care) some of the wallpaper, some of the paint off the door and landed me in hospital with cracked ribs (long story)



But after all that i would not swap my bunnys for the world

[Mubby]

My first house rabbit called Mubby was a real charachter, he would play with me constantly, I swear he thought he was human, and he had run of my flat at the time, but id have a home made huge pen in the sparee bedroom he liked to take himself off into, a little destructive he did like to nibble the wall paper and carpet but a great companion.

I then introduiced Binky his female house bun to him and he changed, suddenly he was a rabbit and didn't think he was like me anymore! but it is the cutest thing ever to see them lay together, although bonding a pair is not always easy, unless they are young. When she came along I had to start putting them in thier pen when I was at work as she was quite destructive and chewed the sofa and things when I wasn't there to stop her! but it was a huge enclosure half the size of the room with lost of tunnels and hides etc

They will use a litter tray and are relatively clean, make a bit of mess eating hay and the likes but nothing major at all. You would also have to get them spayed/neutered as they spray and boy does it stink! but after they are done this stops.

I've just lost my girl on Sunday and she was 8.5 years old, so expect them to live a while. I will have another house rabbit one day.. a continental giant is on my list!!

as for what breed, I don't think there is a good breed and bad breed, just dont go for perhaps one of the tiny breeds like netherland dwarfd as they are a bit small and could get stuck in places! lol

You also have to be willing to bunny proof, they like wires and thats no lie! so you need to do a bit of hiding and proofing or the inevitable will happen!

bunnys are great, especially house bunnys I think you get to see a whole different side to them when they live indoors with you!

Edited by Mubby on Thursday 11th October 11:31

[Happy82]

I had a house bunny, he was ace apart from chewing everything in sight and stealing my Chinese takeaway

I trained him to use a litter tray but the git was a bit of a clean freak and would drag his toilet to me once he'd pooped and sit there stamping his foot and looking at me menacingly (for a bunny) until I cleaned it

Ralph was an ace companion, was very sad when he died

As for allergies, are you sure it was the guinea pigs you were allergic to and not the hay?

[shoebag]

Big-Boy my rabbit with Dave my Greyhound

[The Highway Man]

Did someone forget to tell pooch its his job to chase the bun round a race track?

[Animal]

Get a pair, pairs are better.



However, if it can be reached it will be eaten...

[The Highway Man]

I've got a pair of Dutch does. However, I won't let them anywhere near the house as they are bloody barking mad! They live in 8x6 shed and have the run of the garden, weather permitting.