Living with the Intelligent Bunny
Personally, if you own the Intelligent bunny, I think you lucked out. That's just me though. I have an affinity for them. For those who forgot, or those who are just too lazy to go back and read the last article, (haha) - here is the definition of the Intelligent Bunny.
Brief Description: The intelligent bunny is unusually smart. It can often be seen watching people. Yep, just blatantly staring and studying your every move. It tends to be extremely alert and it is difficult to catch unaware. The intelligent bunny can act happy, sullen, affectionate, introverted, extroverted, etc, but those emotions are usually a secondary response to something that they have already processed. They are typically straight forward in their nature and are unlikely to "beg" for attention, affection, or even treats.
I will try to be unbiased here with my Pro/Con list:
Pros
The Intelligent Bunny...
* Does not need constant attention from people to be happy
* Is easy to predict - they show their cards all the time
* Is usually neat and clean
* Will constantly surprise you with how much they understand
* Is fiercely loyal and will be dedicated to you or to whomever they bond
Cons
The Intelligent Bunny.....
*Might not want to be held that often because it likes it's own space
* Can be a bit territorial with their things - I don't mess with your stuff, quit messing with mine.
* Shows it's cards all the time - if you don't take it seriously, it will object
* Will appear sullen if it cannot bond with one person
* Has specific expectations of you
Tips for Living with your Intelligent Bunny and Loving it!
* You will undoubtedly have the most fun if you nurture the intelligence in your bunny. Include your bunny, if it wants, in your daily activities - I always wanted to bring Chubasco around the house with me and have him sit on a stool while I sewed bunny pillows, washed dishes, cooked, etc. I have a feeling that he would have loved watching. He certainly stood with rapt attention watching us build nestboxes and furniture. This always just added to our amusement because the intelligent bunny is rarely destructive. Rotate your bunny's toys, otherwise he will get bored. Make your bunny work for it's treats - mentally. You can buy special toys for this, but you can also just hide the treats in a play space or stick them inside of things. Talk to your bunny.
* Give your bunny some space and respect. Your bunny probably sees itself as semi-autonomous from you. It might view your sweeping in and picking it up as an invasion of it's personal space. Try to give your bunny the option to come to you instead. When it does, capitalize on those moments and be affectionate but not smothering. Make sure your bunny has independent down time. You will need to clean your bunny's space and that means touching and moving it's things. The name of the game is consistency. Try to do it at the same time of the day, the same days of the week. If your bunny knows what to expect, it can view you as the cleaning crew, and not an instigator. Make sure your bunny has a few things to call it's own - a pillow, a toy, a box, etc.
* Make sure that you, or someone in your home bonds with your bunny. This is so important. The intelligent bunny wants one good friend. It will only thrive if it feels completely safe and understood by at least one person with whom it has frequent daily interaction. This particular characteristic is very dog like. This is a bond of trust. It is built by consistent behavior, consistent attitude towards your bunny, consistent respect.
The KEY: The intelligent bunny wants to be loved FIRST. If you prove that, it will love you back in ways that surprise you on a daily basis.