Rabbit Physique Language: 12 Positions & Their Meanings

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mini rex rabbit standing behind the stones

Rabbits make nice companion pets, however their physique language is slightly completely different than canine or cats. If you happen to don’t know what you’re taking a look at, it may be simple to misread rabbit positions and habits incorrectly.

Listed here are some frequent rabbit positions and what they could imply.

The 12 Rabbit Physique Positions & Their Meanings

1. Chinning

Rabbits have scent glands below their chins that they use to mark their scent. “Chinning” is when a rabbit rests their chin on an object, which might both be to determine it as their territory or to easily map out the place it’s been.

rufus rabbit chins small decorated christmas tree — Picture Credit score: Rabbitti, Shutterstock

2. Flopping

Flopping is a novel habits that’s typically shocking to new rabbit house owners. When rabbits “flop,” they actually flop over onto their sides and expose their stomach. It could possibly look alarming at first, nevertheless it’s only a signal that your rabbit is totally snug and relaxed. That mentioned, in case your rabbit is exhibiting indicators of misery, akin to problem respiration or tremors, then you would be mistaking a medical situation for this frequent flopping habits.

3. Flattening

Flattening is when a rabbit flattens themselves fully in opposition to the bottom, often with a tense physique. This can be a proactive posture which means the rabbit is sensing a doable risk and is able to run if obligatory.

4. Binky

A “binky” is when a rabbit jumps into the air, maybe kicking and twisting. This can be a good, pure habits that exhibits your rabbit is feeling playful. In any case, that is what rabbits do naturally.

cape hare rabbit playing — Picture Credit score: Michael Potter11. Shutterstock

5. Physique Rigidity With Ears Pinned

In case your rabbit is lunging ahead or tensing their physique with their ears laid again and an upright tail, it’s an indignant or territorial habits. It’s making an attempt to warn you that it doesn’t like what you’re doing, and for those who don’t cease, it might escalate to extra aggressive behaviors.

6. Mendacity With the Head Flat on the Floor

In case your rabbit is mendacity with their head flat on the bottom, it’s exhibiting an indication of submission. It might be asking to be pet or groomed as nicely.

7. Periscoping

One of many few clear-cut behaviors, rabbits that “periscope” are curious and making an attempt to survey their environment. If you consider a rabbit within the wild, this place presents a bonus for rabbits to scope out predators or search for companions.

juvenile rabbit standing tall and curious — Picture Credit score: Jack Newcombe, Shutterstock

8. Flat Ears

There’s a refined distinction between ears which might be pinned again and ears which might be flat again; all of it comes all the way down to the remainder of the physique language. As talked about, ears which might be flat again with a tense physique are a defensive or aggressive posture. Conversely, if the ears lie flat again with a relaxed physique, the rabbit simply rests.

9. Upright Ears

Rabbit ears which might be straight up often imply your rabbit is curious or alert, wanting and listening to what’s occurring round it. The ears are often pricked if one thing catches your rabbit’s consideration.

10. Ears Relaxed Again

Rabbit ears in a impartial place, considerably resembling how Easter rabbits are formed, are an indication that your rabbit is relaxed and content material.

owner holding mini rex rabbit — Picture Credit score: Kyttan, Shutterstock

11. Hunched

A hunched rabbit is an uncomfortable rabbit. Together with the hunched-over physique, rabbits on this place will typically relaxation extra of their weight onto their entrance paws to keep away from their stomach touching the bottom. This can be a signal that there’s one thing improper along with your rabbit’s digestive system which will require a vet, akin to GI stasis.

12. Loafing

This may look just like hunching, nevertheless it’s fairly completely different. Loafing is when your rabbit fluffs itself right into a ball that resembles a loaf of bread. That is achieved to preserve physique warmth and means your rabbit is snug and presumably prepared to fall asleep.

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Different Rabbit Physique Language

Rabbits are expressive creatures, however you need to know what they’re making an attempt to say. Except for these positions, rabbits talk their emotions with behaviors like:

Nipping, which might be a “love chunk” or an indication that your rabbit needs you to cease what you’re doing.
Grunting, which is an indignant response towards somebody that needs to be taken as an indication to again off earlier than it escalates to biting or scratching.
Thumping, which is an attention-seeking habits to specific concern or alert others to one thing they noticed or heard.
Nudging with the nostril, which might imply lots of various things from taking part in to establishing territory.
Licking, which is an indication of affection.
Screaming, which is an indication of terror or excessive ache.
Tail wagging, which is principally a rabbit “speaking again to you.”
Tooth grinding, which might be an indication of contentment or an indication of a medical downside. The latter is often extra excessive.

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Conclusion

These positions are essential to know to grasp what your rabbit is making an attempt to inform you, even when a few of them are a bit complicated. Similar to canine and cats, spending time with rabbits offers you context clues into your rabbit’s emotions and it turns into simpler to interpret the subtleties of their physique language and behaviors.

Featured Picture Credit score: Preechaya Kaewsuwan, Shutterstock

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