Hoppy Hour! - The Benefits of Pet Rabbit Play Dates

Every other Sunday, the Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society hosts what we call "Hoppy Hour" - a time for rabbits and their humans to get together and allow everyone to socialize. The rabbits get to socialize, and the humans do, too. While the bunnies don’t always behave, there are "referees" there to keep everyone in line.

Don’t get me wrong - our bunnies love human attention, and I think most rabbits are happy even if they never see another of their kind again after they leave their brothers and sisters. Still, I’ve noticed many positive changes in our rabbits since we started attending Hoppy Hour.

Let’s start with Sable, my boyfriend’s chubby, seal-point rabbit. She was always pretty friendly with people, though she wasn’t very active. While my boyfriend was filling out the information to adopt her from the Animal Humane Society, they went over her history and included that she had a body score of 6/10 based on a veterinary examination. This was largely due to her weight. We tried getting her to exercise, but she would lazily hop around, find a comfy place, and relax in the middle of the room.

At her first Hoppy Hour, she not only had fun with the other rabbits, but she made rounds to every human in the room to be petted. I’d never seen her be so friendly! She would usually just tollerate pettings, but here she was actively seeking them out. This behavior continued after we got home. When she’s out of her cage, she binkies around the room (a binky is a little hop-dance thing they do when they’re happy) and nudges our feet with her nose to get attention. This all happened after just one hour of playtime with other rabbits.

Then there’s Daisy, my adorable white lionhead bunny. She’s a very shy rabbit, both with people and with other bunnies. The only creatures she’s not shy with are cats, and my cats are more annoyed with her than anything. When she comes to say hi to them, they lightly bop her nose to make her hop away so they can resume napping. It took her a few trips to Hoppy Hour, but she’s at last warming up to other bunnies. She’s even a little more friendly with me!

When I tell others about Hoppy Hour, most think the idea is ridiculous. Taking a dog to a dog park to play is perfectly normal, so why is it so hard to believe that rabbits can enjoy social time, too? As long as they are spayed, neutered, and in good health, it’s a great activity for both human and bunny alike.

Granted, the strange looks I get about Hoppy Hour are nothing compared to the looks I get when I tell them Daisy and I are starting Rabbit Agility classes!

Bunnies are intelligent pets who enjoy the company of people as well as their own kind. Allowing a group of rabbits to play together on neutral ground (note: Do not try bringing your bunny to another bunny’s house to play! They are very territorial!) is a wonderful activity that can improve your rabbit’s quality of life. Contact your local house rabbit society or animal rescue group to see if there are any Hoppy Hour groups in your area! You and your rabbit won’t regret it! Read more on Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society Hoppy Hour.