Rabbits are so cute and adorable, it’s difficult to keep quiet when we see one. It’s Human nature to talk to our animals to convey our wants, needs, and great love for our animals. But, do rabbits like being talked to?
Rabbits are very social animals and like to be talked to. Bunnies associate love and protection with the sound of their owner’s voice and bond quickly with their caretakers. While rabbits cannot speak as humans do, they employ body language and grunts to communicate love to their owners
If you are considering the purchase of a pet rabbit for your family, it’s important to consider how to forge a close bond with your bunny. Talking to your rabbit in a calm, soothing tone is the best way to form lasting connections of love and friendship with your pet. So let’s further explore how to talk with your rabbit and discover how they talk with you too.
Do Rabbits Respond to Your Voice When You Talk?
Rabbits generally don’t seem to do much aside from eating and look cute. But if you pay close attention to your rabbit, you learn there is a lot more going on inside that fluffy head of his.
Rabbits do respond to the voice of their owners. Rabbits learn over time to recognize their owner’s voice, and can even be taught to respond to simple commands when properly trained. While a rabbit’s response can be subtle, they employ vocalization, body language, and thumping to respond to voice commands.
In the wild, rabbits are always on alert. This is because they are prey animals, and must always be ready to flee a predator looking to eat them.
Rabbits communicate with each other using:
- Volcalizations
- Body language
- Actions, such as thumping the ground with a hind foot.
Rabbits live in family groups and are very social. They also watch out for one another and will alert the rest of the rabbits of any perceived danger. Pet or domestic rabbits retain these abilities, but their family structure is completely different than their wild cousins.
Pet rabbits have a strong need to bond and develop a family or community.
Once you purchase a rabbit, you become its family. It may take some time for you to develop a strong bond with your rabbit. However, bonding is well worth the effort, as your rabbit will be happier and healthier, and you will have a devoted friend.
With patience and persistence, you will find that your rabbit will learn to recognize your voice. He will also recognize how you smell and what you look like. After some time, and a little training, your bunny will come to you when you speak his name.
How Do You Talk to Your Rabbit?
it is important to always talk to your rabbit in a soft and calm tone of voice. Rabbits have very sensitive hearing and will quickly sense aggression and tension in their owners. As a result, rabbits can often become frightened if spoken to in a loud or raucous tone of voice.
Begin talking with your rabbit in a calm and caring way from the moment you bring him home. He will learn that you are talking to him, and through repetition, will discover the sounds you make have special meanings.
When you are talking to your rabbit, use his name. In this way, he recognizes this is what you call them. You will eventually be able to call his name and have them come to you. Talk with your rabbit just as you would another pet.
When feeding your rabbit, you can say things like:
- “(Your rabbit’s name), are you hungry? Here’s your food”
- “(Your rabbit’s name) would you like a treat? Here’s a carrot.” Use the word for the type of food you are giving. This will teach your bunny what different things are called.
Also, tell him it’s time for bed when you secure him for the night. Or use the word, “play” when offering toys and having fun or other free-time activities. Talk to him as though you are talking with a young child who is just learning.
Your bunny isn’t going to talk back to you, at least not in human language, but rest assured he is learning that what you say means something.
Why Do Rabbits Like Being Talked To?
Rabbits like to be talked to as a result of their innate social nature and their intense underlying need to feel safe. As rabbits begin to trust with the sound of their caretaker’s voice, they often associate this voice with love and protection and bond quickly with their owners.
Rabbits like to have friends and family. By talking to your rabbit, you are confirming they are special and a part of your life.
Talking to your rabbit is one of the best and easiest ways to form a bond with your new companion. This works on a psychological level for both of you. As your rabbit becomes familiar with the sound of your voice, he will associate you with the love and protection you give him.
Your Rabbit will Speak to You Too
Rabbits communicate in a variety of ways. Bunnies do their best to train their humans to understand what they are saying. Communication requires both parties to be active participants.
If you want your rabbit to respond to you and understand, you need to realize that he wants the same things from you. You will need to be observant and do your best to show your rabbit that you understand his needs as well.
Rabbits “speak” mainly through body language but also make vocalizations to communicate. If you understand some of this language, you will be better able to connect on a deeper level.
Here are some common things rabbits “say” that through observations, people have learned to interpret:
- Ears. If a rabbit’s ears are straight up, he is interested in something. These rabbits may be listening and trying to decide if what they perceive is a threat to them.
- Thumping. If your rabbit thumps on the floor, it’s to get your attention. Rabbits usually do this to warn you they sense danger. Something is scaring them.
- Lying Flat. This can have a couple of meanings, so paying attention to the circumstances will help you determine the meaning. If your bunny runs up to you and then lies flat at your feet, he is probably demanding to be petted by you or groomed. Your bunny might also be telling you he’s hungry.
- Jumping and Twisting This is a sign your rabbit is happy and wants to play. He is literally jumping for joy.
- Back Turning/ covering eyes with ears. You are in trouble. You have done something that your rabbit is very upset about, and you need to make it better. Rabbits are known to hold a grudge, so it is suggested you try very hard to make up with your rabbit.
- Touching noses. Rabbits will often touch noses to say they are sorry about something. They will do this with other rabbits, people, and other family pets.
- Charging. Well, this is something that rabbits have up their sleeve that no one is ever prepared for. Not the dog, not the cat, and not humans. No one expects the sweet bunny to come racing toward them at the speed of light, acting like it is about to attack.
If your rabbit charges at a person or another animal he is saying, “Get out! Go away! You are in my territory.”
Rabbits will also use different sounds to tell you things. If your rabbit grunts at you, you’re irritating him. If your bunny whimpers, he might be afraid of something. Rabbits will also purr to show they are happy and content.
Rabbits Like Vocal Interaction
Don’t feel awkward talking with your rabbit. Bunnies need interaction to form a bond with you. Your rabbit will learn various words and phrases and will teach you some language of its own. Work with your bunny daily and as much as possible, you’ll be surprised at how much you will both learn.