While rabbits are small animals, they still need a lot of exercise! In the wild, bunnies can run up to five miles a day, so it’s important we give our pets lots of opportunity to mimic this.
Although some rabbits are very active, others are more sedentary. A lack of exercise in your bun can actually cause depression, so encouraging your rabbit to get moving is important for both their physical and mental wellbeing.
How Much Exercise Do Rabbits Need A Day?
Your rabbit should have a minimum of four hours of free range exercise a day. Ideally, your rabbit should be able to exercise when they want to, but this is not always possible. Rabbits are most active in the morning and evening, so two hour slots at these times can suffice. However, more is better!
If you can, we recommend your rabbit has free range of a space at all times, whether that is indoors or outdoors. They could have a dedicated room in your house, or a large run in one of the rooms. If they are housed outside, attach a run to their hutch so they can come and go from their exercise space when they like.
You may find that if your rabbit is older, they do not want to exercise as much. However, it is important to keep them engaged in moving, as a sedentary lifestyle can massively impact their health. Larger breeds also tend to be less active than smaller breeds, so may need some encouraging.
There are a few different types of exercise that are important for your rabbit. Not only do they need to be able to run, but they should have a space where they can jump, binky, climb, forage and explore. They should also have toys to play and interactive with. Don’t forget that your rabbit is a natural prey animal, so should also have plenty of areas in which to hide if they feel afraid.
Why Is Exercise Important For My Rabbit?
Exercise is important for your bunny for a number of different reasons. In the wild, they could move up to five miles a day, hopping with speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. Therefore, a lifestyle confined to a small space with no room to roam isn’t going to be a healthy option for them.
Weight Gain
One of the main reasons exercise is so important for rabbits is to prevent weight gain. Rabbits have fragile bones and skeletal structures, so too much weight can put excessive strain of their small bodies. This can be very painful for your bunny.
Boredom
Boredom is another reason exercise is important. When your rabbit is bored, they can act out. This could involve chewing, digging and scratching at things they shouldn’t, or even over grooming themselves so they create bald patches.
You may also find your rabbit is less tolerable of you when bored, which can lead to behavioral difficulties. They may not want to be picked up and may become snappy with you.
Depression
Many rabbit owners don’t realize that their bunnies can become depressed with no interaction or exercise. These little animals are very social, and need lots of stimulation to keep them healthy and entertained.
If your bun doesn’t have regular access to a space to move, play and explore, you may notice they become very sedentary and want to sleep all the time. So, lots of time with toys and time with you helps to keep them healthy.
Ways To Exercise Your Rabbit
A Large Run
Keeping your rabbit in their hutch all day is not a good idea. They need access to a space at least 24 square feet in size, but even larger if you have a large breed of bunny.
If you can, give your rabbit access to this space at all times. The best way to do this is to give them access to a whole room in your home. This will give them plenty of space to move around in, and they won’t feel cooped up. Just make sure you bunny proof the room first!
If this isn’t an option, you could attach a puppy pen to their hutch, whether they live indoors or outdoors, so they have room to roam outside of their hutch. If your rabbit lives indoors, we recommend that you let your rabbit out of their enclosure whenever you are home and awake.
Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk, so giving them space to exercise during these hours is very important.
Time Outside
If you can, letting your rabbit explore outside in your yard or garden is a great way of exercising them. Time outside will give them lots of new sights and smells, which will keep them engaged and curious.
When your rabbit is outside, you should always monitor them. This is to make sure they don’t eat something they shouldn’t (ie. a dangerous plant), and are not at risk from being attacked by a predator. If your rabbit senses they are in danger, they can bolt very quickly!
Exercising them in an enclosed space outside is a good idea. You can use a puppy pen. Make sure this space is predator proof, and that your bun can’t jump over the sides and escape.
Another way to allow them to explore outside without the risk of them hopping away is to attach them to a leash. This is not so much a good idea if you live in a city, but if you live in a quiet area you could take them for a walk around your neighborhood.
Rabbits can be trained to walk on a leash, but you will need to take some time getting them used to the leash. This is so they don’t pull when on the leash and hurt themselves.
Rabbit Toys
Rabbit toys are an excellent way to both stimulate your rabbit’s mind, and get them moving. There are many different types of rabbit toys.
Providing your rabbit with different types of toys will ensure they don’t get bored. These can include puzzle toys, chew toys, wicker toys, toys to hide in and toys they can destroy. You can even create your own toys out of cardboard which your rabbit will love just as much as store-bought toys.
Don’t forget to swap out your rabbit toys from time to time. Rabbits can get bored of toys, so switching them for a toy they haven’t seen in a while keeps them entertained and on their toes!
Another “toy” is allowing your bunny access to multiple levels and obstacles. These include different platforms and pieces of furniture such as the couch. Giving your rabbit these areas will allow them to hop up, hop down, crawl under and hide, all of which will entertain your bun and keep them engaged and exercised.
Digging Boxes
Rabbits love to dig. It is hard wired into them; in the wild, rabbits dig to create burrows and forage for food, and this digging instinct remains in domestic rabbits. Therefore, if you don’t provide them with spaces to dig, you might find they scratch at the carpet, the couch, or any of furniture they can get their paws on!
Unfortunately, you can’t discourage your bunny from digging. Asking your bun not to dig is like asking them not to be a rabbit! Instead, you can provide them with dedicated areas to dig that will satisfy their instincts and keep them exercised.
A digging box is a fantastic way to do this. They can be made from a cardboard box (with low cut sides to allow your rabbit easy access), or a low plastic tub. Fill the box with shredded newspaper, hay, a few treats and some of their toys. They’ll love to forage for the treats and toys.
You can also hide treats in puzzle toys or a treat dispenser ball. Your rabbit will have to work out how to get the treat out, but this will also satisfy their foraging behavior and force them to exercise.
Quality Time
Rabbits are very sociable animals, so spending quality time with you is a great way to not only exercise their bodies, but also their minds. A rabbit that lives a solitary life can easily become depressed, so make sure you dedicate time to your furry friends.
When spending time with them, make sure you get down to their level. Even if you are not actively “playing” with them, they will enjoy being near you. You could sit on the ground and read a book or play on your phone, and your bun will like being able to hop up to you and interact.
When you are home, we recommend letting your bun out of their enclosure. This will allow them to spend more quality time with you, making them feel part of the family. When a rabbit is socailized properly, they are much less likely to become depressed.
Training
Believe it or not, rabbits can actually be trained. While litter training your rabbit is something most owners do, rabbits can also be taught some more exciting tricks. These include spinning in a circle, moving in a figure of eight, and even jumping over fences on an agility course!
To train your bun you’ll need some treats to get them motivated. Training them will take time, but it is a great way to keep their mind stimulated while also moving their bodies. Once they have mastered basic tricks, you can move on to some harder tricks.
