Bringing a new house rabbit home is a very exciting prospect. You're going to have a permanent companion, but one whose behaviors you've little idea about. In some ways they're like cats, but they'll treat you like their subordinate. In other ways they're like dogs, but with a very different perception of their environment. Follow our guide to becoming friends with your house rabbit to get those crucial first few days with bunny going smoothly...

Firstly, be prepared to lose one area of your home. This is likely to be under a table, under a bed or under a sofa, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue. The reason for this is that bunnies, by nature, live in burrows and they'll want a place that they can run to that's sheltered and when you are not. Invade that space and they're likely to get very angry at you, charge and you and even bite, so watch out!

Secondly, let your bunny get used to the house one room at a time. Bring him in, inside his cage (ideally this should have a sheltered area and enough space for him to lie down without being squashed) and place the cage along one wall, but so that he can see the whole room. Then, leave the room for about an hour so that he can suss it out. Return to the room and act as normal, but quietly until you go to bed and leave him again. This is the room that his cage will always be in and the room that he will run to when he's scared or tired, so bear this in mind.

The next morning, let him out into the room but with the doors shut. If he bites anything that you don't want him to, or goes to the toilet in a place you don't want then stamp your foot once on the ground and say in a stern, loud voice 'NO'. Stamping is what rabbits do to warn their family that there is danger and he will learn to respect and trust you for warning him that something is not right. Simply telling him off in a normal isn't going to communicate to him 'this is bad' and soon you'll have a bunny that thinks he's boss, doing whatever he wants whether you're there or not. If he repeatedly does something naughty then put him back in his cage without any cuddles, kisses or treats for around three hours.

Our final tip for making friends with your bunny is to try not to pick him up if he doesn't like it. Yes, this is difficult when they're so cute and cuddly by nature, but they're prone to vertigo and will feel like a bird of prey has caught them when you hold them. Instead, let them come to you and flop down beside you on the sofa for a stroke.

Rabbits are very hierarchical by nature, so the basis of making friends with them is establishing your rank within the home quite strongly. Be firm with rules and don't be afraid to stamp your feet and put him back in his cage when he's naughty. He won't hate you for this but will respect you instead and if you get a lick on the hand one day then you know you're best friends; this is his way of saying 'I love you!'.

Stan Tian

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