Playing with and Training Your Rabbit
Rabbits are far more intelligent and playful than many people realize. In the wild, they spend their time foraging, exploring, digging, and interacting with their warren-mates. A rabbit kept in a small cage with nothing to do will quickly become bored, stressed, and prone to destructive behaviors. Providing daily enrichment and training opportunities is essential for a happy, healthy rabbit.1
Important: Rabbits should never be given exercise balls or wheels. These devices force an unnatural curved spine position and can cause serious spinal injuries. See our Exercise & Enrichment article for safe exercise alternatives.
Free-Roam Time
The single most important enrichment you can provide is daily free-roam time — at least 3–4 hours per day in a rabbit-proofed space. This allows your rabbit to run, binky (jump and twist in the air — a sign of pure joy), explore, and interact with you on their own terms.2
Rabbit-proofing your space:
- Cover or conceal all electrical cords (rabbits are attracted to them and will chew through them)
- Block access to furniture legs and baseboards
- Remove toxic houseplants from the area
- Ensure there are no gaps they can escape through or get stuck in
Toys and Enrichment
Rabbits love to toss, dig, chew, and rearrange objects. The best toys are often simple and inexpensive:
| Toy Type | Examples | Why They Love It |
|---|---|---|
| Toss toys | Plastic baby keys, small balls, stacking cups | Rabbits love to pick things up and fling them |
| Chew toys | Willow balls, apple branches, untreated wood blocks | Satisfies natural chewing instinct and maintains dental health |
| Dig boxes | A box filled with shredded paper, hay, or safe soil | Engages natural digging behavior |
| Cardboard | Boxes, tubes, egg cartons | Shredding and rearranging is deeply satisfying |
| Foraging toys | Hay scattered in a box, treats hidden in paper | Engages natural foraging behavior |
| Tunnels | Cardboard or fabric tunnels | Provides security and encourages exploration |
Rotate toys regularly to keep the environment novel and interesting. A toy that has been ignored for a week will feel brand new when reintroduced.3
Training Your Rabbit
Rabbits can absolutely be trained, and many enjoy the mental challenge of learning new behaviors. Training sessions should be short (5–10 minutes), always positive, and conducted when your rabbit is naturally active (usually dawn and dusk).4
Getting started with target training: Target training — teaching your rabbit to touch their nose to a target stick — is the foundation of most rabbit training. Once they understand the concept of "touch this = treat," you can use the target to guide them into almost any behavior.
- Hold a target stick (or your finger) a few centimetres from your rabbit's nose.
- When they sniff or touch it, immediately reward with a small piece of their favorite treat (a tiny piece of herb, a blueberry, or a pellet).
- Repeat 5–10 times per session.
- Gradually move the target to guide them in different directions.
Tricks rabbits can learn:
- Spin — follow the target in a circle
- Stand up — hold the target above their head
- Jump over — guide them over a small obstacle with the target
- Come when called — pair their name with a treat every time they approach you
- Litter training — place a litter box in their preferred toilet corner and reward use (most rabbits learn this quickly)
Social Play
Rabbits are social animals and, when properly bonded, will play with each other through grooming, chasing, and flopping near each other. If your rabbit is housed alone, they rely on you for social interaction. Spend time sitting on the floor at their level — let them approach you, climb on you, and investigate you. Never force interaction.5
See our Introductions & Bonding article for guidance on bonding a pair of rabbits.
Signs Your Rabbit Needs More Enrichment
- Chewing on cage bars or baseboards
- Thumping frequently without an obvious cause
- Destructive behavior (pulling up carpet, chewing furniture)
- Lethargy or hiding during active hours
- Aggression toward you or cage-mates