What’s with the grunting?

[soapy_margherita]

Hi all.

I have an adopted 2 yr old male rabbit we have had for nearly a month now. He settled in very quickly but his behaviour is still getting more extroverted and social and every now and then he does something new that I don’t understand. Like suddenly he has started making a very un-rabbit-like noise.

 

Him and me have a bit of a routine every morning, or whenever I come back from leaving him alone for a while. He starts by doing some hoppy headshake things because he is happy someone’s around. Then he will start what I assume is playing. He runs up to me and usually stands right behind my feet, and if I turn to face him he runs around to be behind me again, like he’s playing hide-and-seek but is using me to hide behind! If I walk away from him he chases me. I usually have to try and stroke him at this point cos he’s so cute, but when I touch him he will binky and hop away. I walk away and he will run up to me again. Then we repeat this until he calms down enough to let me stroke him properly.

 

Recently he has started making an odd noise when he does the binky and runs away from me. It’s definitely not a growl, and it’s not like the tooth grinding he does when I stroke him. It’s like a honky grunting noise. I have heard him do it once while eating but now he does it when we ‘play’ as well.

 

I assume he is playing and not angry/scared with me because he doesn’t run away and hide he always comes back to me. So is this just an excited playful noise or something else?

 

Thanks!

 

[Sarita]

Sounds like he’s trying to communicate to me. Some rabbits are more vocal than others – he sounds like fun!

I have a rabbit who snores and grumbles when he eats.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Awww sounds like you two are getting on very well!

I can’t recall if he’s neutered? Even if he is, sounds like he’s doing the love dance + honking (which is a love noise). Very sweet!

As Sarita said some buns are very vocal and some are almost always silent.

[Beka27]

are you the one with the lionhead-lop with the funky hairdo? (we hear form so many new members, it’s hard sometimes to keep track!)

he sounds like such an awesome, fun bunny! grunting can be a bad sound, but based on his behavior before and after the grunts, it definitely sounds like it’s his happy noise!

[soapy_margherita]

Yes this is Max the lionlop

I’m glad to hear it’s probably a happy noise based on his behaviour. It certainly sounds very weird coming from a rabbit I had no idea they made noises like that.

He has been neutured, so I don’t think it’s a mating noise.

He really is a lot of fun. Sometimes he will be sitting still and as soon as you touch him he does a massive binky and hops away, like he is spring loaded. Very funny to watch!

 

Hmmm, maybe I should try making the noise back at him. When no-one else is around to hear of course, lol.

[bunnytowne]

What a fun character he certainly likes his new home. Coming out of his shell and used to you is bringing out all kinds of fun playful behavior.

[MarkBun]

My girlfriend’s bun used to be a big grunter. She just liked to talk. He does seem to be doin’ a mating dance with you though. He wants you to be his girlfriend.

How long has this been going on? I know some buns can react differently during cycles too.

[Balefulregards]

It might not be a “mating dance” per se – As Coco does it even after her spay- but it does mean “You belong to me, baby”

It is the “I LOVE YOU AND AM SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU” dance. Sometimes she grooms me after she is done dancing.

I love the head shake part of the dance. It slays me every time.

[jerseygirl]

Sorry to tell you, the “un-rabbit-like noise” is very rabbit like, as you may have figured from the responses so far! Particularly for Bucks.

[soapy_margherita]

Ha, that’s fine with me. I love the noise he makes, it makes me laugh. Add to that his crazy jumping/spinning/running in circles and he is the most entertaining part of my morning!

I thought I would put up a few pics of him so people can see his mullet and mutton chops as everyone seems to think he looks unique

 Sorry they are huge!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Haha, you weren’t lying when you said mullet and mutton chops!

He is pretty unique

[Beka27]

i keep getting the image of Fabio with his long golden hair flowing in the breeze…

[jerseygirl]

He is AWESOME! You need to enter him in some photo competitions on Bunspace!

[Cassi&Charlie]

Haha Fabio…he is pretty groovy though! He’s a very cool looking bunny & he sounds like a lot of fun to have around.

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