Games to Play with Your Rabbit

Games are a great way to bond with your rabbit and get to know him. Rabbits are intelligent and can associate words and sounds with particular activities; games help stimulate them mentally, helping them learn and keeping them from getting bored. Games with you and toys that they can play with on their own also help keep them occupied so they don't engage in destructive behaviors, like chewing furniture.

  1. Hide and Seek

    • Play hide and seek with your pet rabbit by dropping a towel over her head and letting her find her way out. You can also try luring your rabbit out with a treat. Pay attention to your particular rabbit's needs and personality; if she gets stressed or frightened when she's covered with a blanket, try a different game. Perhaps hide the treat instead of the rabbit, placing it in a pocket or a closed fist and making your rabbit sniff it out before you give it to her.

    Fetch

    • Some rabbits will run after and fetch toys that you throw. The ideal toys are ones that rabbits can pick up with their teeth, including wire cat balls with bells inside, chew toys for birds or even a cardboard ring cut from a toilet paper roll. Your rabbit might bring the toy back to you or throw it back and forth with you using his teeth. He might also run away with the toy and want you to chase him. This really depends on your rabbit's personality, as many rabbits find being chased a frightening activity.

    Piggyback Rides

    • With a bit of patience, you can train your rabbit to ride on your back. First, get your rabbit comfortable with sitting on your back by lying on your stomach and placing a treat on your back, so your rabbit hops onto you. Get up and move a little so she gets used to the feeling. Eventually, your rabbit will become comfortable with the motion and will calmly ride along on your back as you crawl.

    Jumping

    • Rabbits need exercise, and training them to jump for treats is a good way to help them get that exercise. Sit in a chair with a treat, such as a banana; instead of giving it to your rabbit right away, show it to your rabbit and make him jump up to get it. If you talk to your rabbit and call the treat by its name, you can teach him to recognize the word "banana" and maybe even jump excitedly when you offer one verbally.