Bunny keeps toppling over!

[rabbyrabby]

Hello everyone, and sorry for the topic title that might be more alarming that it has to be.  

I have a 4 or 5 month old Netherland Dwarf rabbit.  The breeder I bought him from couldn’t tell me the exact age which is why I only have a range, and I’m not even exactly sure it’s a Netherland Dwarf (a goofy picture of him is my avatar, sorry it became sideways!).

Anyways, I bought this little buddy because my girlfriend has a rabbit and after spending some time with it, I really thought rabbits were awesome.  I’ve been around pets all my life, but this is the first time having a rabbit. 

Ok so the main point.

Do younger rabbits NOT get as comfortable as they can when they are sleeping?  My girlfriend’s rabbit (over 5 years old) would stretch out in all different ways to relax.

My bunny is very healthy, very friendly, very curious, but it is somewhat nervous and cautious.  He’s actually pretty awesome, he doesn’t chew on things around my apartment room.  Also, he gets lots of play time.  I have a big playpen for dogs and he just zooms up and down until he eventually naps.

So yeah, my bunny naps a lot.  He goes into his makeshift hut (it’s cardboard that I made, it’s even two-story) and depending on how deeply he’s sleeping, his eyes go from almost all the way open, half open, to all the way closed.  When his eyes are all the way closed, he’s in a deep sleep, and he gradually topples over and he pops back up to the position he was in.  

I feel like he would be much more comfortable if he just let his body topple over instead of trying to fight gravity .

Is he not comfortable enough yet to where he doesn’t have to be ready to run?  When he naps/sleeps, he’s sitting up, with his front feet hidden under his fur.  His head droops down almost to the side until he eventually topples over, when he finally catches himself and readjusts.

He’s not hurting or scared, because after his quick nap he starts stretching and yawning, makes his way over to the water, then the hay, then he starts grooming with no indication of pain or fear.  He loves bananas and almost jumps out of the cage when he seems me open the fridge.

Sorry for the long post!
Thank you for reading.

Rabby

[Lucky Star]

He sounds like a cutie! I have two netherland dwarf mixes that I got when they were about 5-6 months old. Both have some quirks, which is probably what is going on with your rabbit. For instance, my Cinnabun likes splashing all the water out of his dish on random days. My George often sleeps in strange positions. Neither of mine have fallen over while asleep (that I have seen), so I can’t honestly say I have any experience with what is going on with your little guy. However, unless he is seeming sick (stops eating, sneezing, looks like he is in pain, etc) then I don’t think there is anything wrong with him.

If he starts to fall over while awake, that would be a problem that should be checked out.

[LBJ10]

It sounds like he starts out in a loaf and then starts to feel sleepy. Leopold does this sometimes. He will be sitting there and the he will begin to doze off. I don’t know if he’s fighting falling asleep or what, but sometime he will jerk himself back up before he slinks all the way down. When he actually wants to sleep though, he will be in a full-on flop position. That’s why I think that he will not want to go to sleep, but he’s having trouble fighting it. Otherwise, why not just flop on the floor and get comfortable?

[rabbyrabby]

Lucky Star,

Thanks for the reply and thank you for sharing about your experience!
Quirky is the perfect word for how this bunny is! He’s goes from super active to nap time in literally a minute.

I was worried he’d be really shy and maybe even aggressive, he’s unaltered, and did a big no-no at the breeder’s farm. Instead of picking out the happy, friendly rabbit that greets you, I felt bad for the one in the back quivering in fear at the sight of humans (he was literally shaking with his face hidden in another rabbit’s back).

But he’s actually really sweet and has never been aggressive at all.

Anyways, I’m rambling! Thanks for your help!

[rabbyrabby]

LBJ10,

This is a good explanation. I’ve only had my bunny for a week, so I’m thinking he may not be ready to be super comfy and letting his guard down yet.
I’m hoping he can relax a little soon!

[Lucky Star]

Rabbyrabby- That’s great that he is so nice with you even though he is shy! My Cinnabun was like that. When I met him and George at their foster mom’s house, Cinnabun ran under a table and wouldn’t come out the entire time I was there. George was running around, playing, sniffing us, and just generally being cute. Cinnabun has opened up now more and is really sweet and affectionate now.

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