Rabbits are prey animals. This means a lot of things:

• They are built for speed - they have high muscle mass and low skeletal mass, which means they are delicate and easily injured, even from their own struggling when they don't want to be handled. They can kick hard enough to break their own bones or even their back. Please see Handlng.
• They hide illness and injury - this may attract predators who will go after the easiest target - this means that you may not be aware of a problem until it is well along. See Health and Behavior.
• They are quiet - since making noise would give them away, they communicate in many ways that don't make noise. See Behavior.
• They are not assertive about their needs - humans keeping prey animals must pay attention to a lot of things, including subtle signals, to assess their pets' overall well-being
• Fear can cause a bunny to have a heart attack, even if the threat is not real
• Stress can have long-lasting effects even after the stressor is removed
• Most rabbits do not like to be picked up - prey animals prefer to have their feet firmly on the ground so they can run away if they feel the need
• In order to have a good relationship with your rabbit, you must first gain its trust, and this is something you can't rush - let the bunny get used to you, get curious about you, and eventually he will come check you out and ask for attention. Never break the trust your bunny has in you or it could take a very long time to get it back.
• Never chase a bunny unless it is an invited game of "chase"
• Never yell at or hit your bunny
• Why punishment doesn't work

This page still under construction!! More to come...

Articles

Frightened as a Rabbit: Anatomy and Physiology of Fear and Stress in the Rabbit

The House Rabbit Society's article on the effects of stress on the domestic rabbit

The First Line Of Defense Against Disease

The Wisconsin House Rabbit Society's article covering the effects of reducing stress on a domestic rabbit's health

Appearance And Development Of Diseases

A good general article on the appearance and development of disease

Winning Over a Shy Bunny

Dana Krempels's article on understanding the "shy" bunny

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