Personality Profiles for Rabbits

Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society


Personality Profiles for Rabbits

A description of the rabbit’s personality.

  • Would you describe the rabbit as cuddly/active? easy-going/opinionated? playful/mellow? Inquisitive/cautious? social/shy?
  • During playtime, how active is the rabbit? Do they respect barriers like the exercise pen or are they always trying to escape?
  • What kind of toys does the rabbit enjoy? Types of toys may include newspaper, cardboard box, noisemakers, baby keys, towel, chew toys, humans, tug of war, food dish
  • How does the rabbit like to be petted? Cheek rubs? Ear rubs?
  • What surfaces has the rabbit experienced (wood floors, linoleum, carpet, etc) & how did they react?
  • Does the rabbit jump up onto things?

A reference to their litterbox habits (& how they will improve after being spayed/neutered)

  • Is the rabbit truly litterbox trained, or just cage trained?
  • How reliable is the bun out of the cage?
  • Any unusual habits like laying in the litterbox or digging in the litterbox?

If female, a reference to how important it is to get her spayed for her own long-term health.

A summary of how easy/difficult the rabbit is to handle, hold and pick up.

A summary of how the animal responds to people, loud noises, and children.

A brief description of any special needs & how they can be handled.

  • Any special grooming considerations? Fuzzy lops/Angoras require extra brushing, etc.
  • Anything unusual about the teeth?

A brief description of this animal’s ideal home.

  • Is this a good rabbit for a first time owner? Or would an experienced owner be a better fit?
  • How much activity/exercise/social interaction does the rabbit need?
  • Does the rabbit enjoy cuddling or does she prefer her independence?
  • Has the rabbit lived with other animals successfully? How did the rabbit react to animals met at the shelter?
  • How much noise can the rabbit tolerate? Will a busy home with children be OK or would a quiet home with just adults be better?
  • How does the rabbit react to dogs? Cats?

Any educational items related to this rabbit.

Tips on Profiling Difficult Behaviors

Look for the positive! You always want to be truthful, but is there a way to phrase a characteristic that makes it simply factual and not negative? Help the potential adopters to focus on what they can do to help the rabbit (bunny proof, come to her level, etc.) instead of what the rabbit will do that is “bad” (chew, struggle when picked up, etc.). Not only does this make the rabbit sound more interesting and adoptable, but it helps to remind the people that they have a responsibility, too.

If the rabbit seems scared or very shy:

  • (Rabbit) is still learning that people are not scary. Be consistently gentle with her and your patience will be rewarded.
  • (Rabbit), like most rabbits, is cautious around new people and situations
  • (Rabbit) is a very active, curious bunny who is still a little shy of humans. She probably hasn’t had much human interaction in her past, but is learning to associate humans with good things like food and pets.

If the rabbit does not like being held:

  • (Rabbit) has probably not been handled much in her past and is still learning that good things can happen when people pick her up. Like most rabbits, she is happiest with all four feet firmly on the ground.
  • (Rabbit) does not particularly like being held, but enjoys sitting next to (or on?) you for pets.
  • (Rabbit) adores being petted and accepts being held, but frankly she is too young to have enough of an attention span to stay still for very long. [This was used on a juvenile rabbit's profile.]
  • (Rabbit) also loves to cuddle – especially if you are kind enough to get down on her level.
  • She permits handling, but is anxious while being held. She is much more content to have all four feet on the ground.
  • He likes to be in the middle of everything, and strongly objects to being contained or even picked up.

If the rabbit chews:

  • Since rabbit’s teeth grow continuously, they have a natural need to chew. (rabbit) is especially fond of chew toys, so you will want to keep a good supply of cardboard boxes, paper towel tubes, and the like on hand for her as well as taking extra care to bunny proof her area to keep her safe.
  • (Rabbit) is still a youngster and explores her world with her teeth. She can be diverted with appropriate chew toys (like cardboard boxes or paper towel tubes), but you will want to make sure that her area is well bunny proofed for her own safety.

If the rabbit is not litterbox trained yet:

  • (Rabbit) is still learning about litterboxes, and frequently poops when out to play. However, virtually all pee is contained in the cage/litterbox. This should improve greatly once she’s been spayed. It usually takes about 30 days afterwards to see significant improvement in litterbox behavior.
  • (Rabbit) uses his litterbox, but not exclusively. If hay is allowed to fall outside his box, he is inclined to poop/pee wherever the hay is. Careful attention to hay placement – or a second box just for hay will minimize this issue.
  • (Rabbit) clearly understands that urine belongs in a litterbox, although his aim is definitely that of a young animal. Droppings, however, seem to still go everywhere. Since he was only recently neutered and is still quite young, this should improve as he ages.

Information provided by Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society