The Adventures of Tiny R
A Bunny's Tale

---

If It's New, I'm Interested!

Until Tiny R came into our lives, I never had any idea of how tuned-in rabbits can be to the things around them. Of course I knew that wild rabbits had to stay alert while out in the open to avoid a tragic end. But somehow I thought that domestic bunnies had become accustomed to their change in life style and preferred to lounge through life if they were fortunate enough to get a good home. I figured that pet rabbits probably had most of their exploratory instincts bred out leaving docile, cuddly mops in their places.

Was I ever wrong!

Tiny R is ever on the alert for something new. And he uses all his senses to make sure he's first in line whenever an opportunity for a good time comes along.

Tiny R is always watching. At least I think he is. The way rabbits often nap with their eyes open makes it hard to be sure. But this I am sure of . . . . he's always listening.

Tiny R is a lop but even with his ears hanging down, there's not a whole lot that gets by him. And even while napping, he has the ability to distinguish between normal, everyday noises and other sounds that tell him his full attention is needed.

One sound that perks him up is the sound of a bedroom door opening. Exploring under beds and inside closets is one of his favorite activities. Another sound he responds to is when I take the lid off the canister holding his mini shredded wheat biscuits.

Tiny R loves to have new things to explore. That's the reason I make mazes for him and fix things he can climb on. The changes don't have to be extreme to get his attention. Just changing the positions of ordinary things near his cage catches his interest.

Sometimes Tiny R accidentally creates an interesting toy. Such as the fireplace tools. The long-handled shovel and broom hang down from a stand. The bottoms don't touch the hearth so when they're bumped, they sway a little bit. Well, things that move get Tiny R's attention right away.

The first time Tiny R noticed the little broom move, it caught him by surprise. He had accidentally bumped it while passing by. Tiny R jerked his head around to see what it was. After he cautiously inspected the broom and decided it wasn't dangerous, he gave the broom another nudge with his nose. Of course, the broom responded by swinging merrily back and forth. Tiny R was pleased. He continued to nudge the broom with his nose 3 or 4 more times until Tiny R grew tired of the game and settled down beside the tools and took a nap.

Even today, many years later, Tiny R still enjoys playing with the fireplace tools now and then. The tools have grown old and sooty over the years but neither Tiny R or I are bothered by it. I'm just lucky that Tiny R is a black bunny. If he was one of those white bunnies with pink eyes, we'd definitely have a spot removal problem.

---

Get This Stuff Off My Porch!

The hearth in front of the fireplace is one of Tiny R's favorite spots. He likes to sit up there where he can see everything and take naps when he's tired. We keep a newspaper section at one end for him to sit on.

Lately we've been putting his Pet Taxi on the hearth with the door propped open and a stack of newspapers inside. Tiny R hops in and spends an hour or more shredding the papers and building a big messy nest.

But outside of his newspaper and his Pet Taxi, Tiny R doesn't tolerate anything else on his "porch." And don't think he doesn't notice if something else shows up.

When Eric's down on the floor playing with Tiny R, sometimes he takes his car keys out of his pocket and tosses them up on the hearth . Before you know what's happening, Tiny R darts over, grabs the key ring in his mouth and flings it off the hearth. If you dare to put the keys back on his porch, he immediately throws them off again. I don't know if Tiny R thinks it's a game or not but he always wins. It turns out he has more stamina than we do.

The same thing happens to anything else small enough for Tiny R to either get his teeth on or be able to push off with his head. Leave a magazine or a wallet up there, off it goes. Set a plastic coke bottle up there and, well, it had better be empty or have the lid screwed on.

I've come to the conclusion that Tiny R must have a streak of neatnic in him. Or maybe it's just plain old territorialism. Whatever it is, Tiny R has definite ideas of what he wants on his porch. And anything that doesn't meet his approval gets the old heave ho!

---

Who's Calling the Shots Around Here, Anyway?

Tiny R has always been on the alert to get what he wants. Nothing wrong with that. And when he learns a trick that produces a reward, he doesn't forget. Take, for instance, getting back in his cage when he's "asked".

To begin with, Tiny R loves his cage. Even when the cage door is propped up and he can come and go as he pleases, he often chooses to nap in his cage. So I'm pretty sure that Tiny R doesn't view being in his cage as some sort of punishment.

But sometimes it's necessary to interrupt Tiny R's outside time and get him back in his cage before he's ready to go in. To make the transition more like a game I've gotten into the habit of giving him a mini shredded wheat when he goes into his cage on command. I just point him in the right direction and repeat the word "cage" until he hops inside.

Smart bunny that he is, it didn't take long before Tiny R learned the connection: run across the bridge, jump in his cage and be rewarded with a treat. Then while he was busy munching, I could quietly lower and secure the cage door. Everybody was happy.

Tiny R soon figured out that this return-to-the-cage gig was an opportunity that could be maximized. And he's got his routine down to a science. Here's how it goes:

First he dashes across his three foot long bridge and bounces inside his cage. While I lean down to put a shredded wheat biscuit in his food bowl, Tiny R whips around and dashes out across the bridge to the fireplace hearth. Then he pops around and dashes back in again. Over and over, like one of those balls attached to a paddle with a rubber band. I'm telling you, he's quick!

All the while Tiny R is putting on this great display of energy and agility, I'm bent over with my arm through the cage door, trying to put the treat in his bowl. And he's bumping into my arm both coming and going like a frenzied beast.

If I only put one treat in his bowl, Tiny R quickly sizes up the situation and runs out through the cage door before I can get it hooked. So, to buy some time, I have ended up leaving two biscuits in the bowl. Which, as I've come to the conclusion, is what Tiny R had in mind when he created his high speed routine.

So, what began as a behavior modification for Tiny R has backfired. He now has me trained to leave two shredded wheat biscuits instead of one.

Yes, Tiny R has outmaneuvered me again. He figured out the game and came up with a winning strategy. Maybe that's why he looks so smug while he's sitting serenely next to his food dish, busily munching his extra biscuit while watching me with his big black eyes.

And smug? Yes, definitely smug.

---

Only Doesn't Mean Lonely

Over the years I've read about rabbits "bonding". Or a least the efforts made by their people to get two rabbits together in some sort of happy living arrangement. And I'm sure most rabbits do bond. But what do they do when there are no other bunnies to bond with?

Tiny R has always been "an only rabbit" since coming to live with us around 7 years ago. Not once in that time has he been in the company of another rabbit.

Maybe keeping just one rabbit isn't the best situation for a bunny but in Tiny R's case, the alternative was worse. At least he's been able to live a fairly happy life and did not end up as a tender meal for a roving fox or owl. Tiny R has never given us any indication that he lacks for stimulation or companionship. And to be quite frank, I doubt that he even knows he's a rabbit.

One time I put a mirror down in front of Tiny R. He took a look and didn't respond at all. Just hopped off in search of something fun to do. No interest at all in the bunny in the mirror. I tried the mirror thing several other times with the same response. So I have an idea that Tiny R doesn't even remember when he was young and was a member of a bunny family. I can tell by his actions that he doesn't think he's a dog or a cat. So what's left? A human, of course!

If Tiny R is bonded to anyone, it's Eric. He loves it when Eric gets down on the floor to play with him. No matter where he is, Tiny R comes hopping when he sees his big friend getting down to his level.

When Tiny R was younger, he liked to hop up on Eric's chest for a minute or two. He doesn't do that too much any more. These days Tiny R likes to make closer contact.

Sometimes Eric likes to lie on his back with his head resting on the hearth like a pillow. It sounds uncomfortable to me but Eric says it's not that bad. Anyway, Tiny R always comes over to sniff Eric's face and head.

Notice, I said head, not hair. Eric got tired of making appointments to get his hair cut about a year ago and decided to do a Yul Bryner on his thick head of hair. After an unannounced session with a Gillette Mach 3 razor, he came out of the bathroom with his new look. I'll admit it was a little shocking at first but before long seeing nothing but scalp looked entirely natural. But then I used to be an oncology nurse so I'm used to seeing guys with bald heads.

Tiny R can't resist Eric's freshly shaved scalp. He hurries over and starts giving little grooming licks on the back of Eric's head. But Tiny R has definite standards. The scalp has to be smooth. If it's been a few days since Eric shaved and there's a little stubble growing, Tiny R comes over to inspect but doesn't go into his full grooming mode.

There's no doubt that Eric is Tiny R's best friend. And when Eric is down where Tiny R is, you will often see them side by side, just chilling out, Eric's hand gently massaging Tiny R's back and neck.

So even though Tiny R is an "only" rabbit, he really isn't alone. He has lots of interaction with his humans as well as the dog and cat. He always seems to be in a good mood. And as long as he gets lots of attention and there's a lot of action going on around him, I think he'll continue to have a happy and satisfying life.

---

Someone to Watch Over Me

Tiny R has always been a remarkable bunny. He's exceptionally smart and adaptable. He watches everything. And whatever the situation, Tiny R always seems to find a way of fitting in. The fact that he's almost fearless definitely plays a role.

When I say that he is fearless I don't mean that he's foolhardy. Tiny R is constantly evaluating and making decisions about what he can successfully accomplish and what he should steer clear of. In other words, he knows better than to bite off more than he can chew.

For instance, Tiny R knows that Eric and I would never, ever hurt him. So he has no fear of us or anything under our control such as a broom or vacuum cleaner. Even when he was critically ill and I had to give him antibiotic injections twice a day, he accepted it as if he understood that I wasn't doing it to hurt him.

And although Tiny R's pretty sure of his safety around the dog or the cat, he still makes sure he has a clear line of escape before he confronts them about some sort of territorial dispute. He may be cocky but he sure ain't stupid! So far he hasn't made any major mistakes.

Sounds don't necessarily scare him. The vacuum cleaner is a good example. Whether it's the upright with the big light or the canister model with the long hose, Tiny R has no fear. In a way it can be a little dangerous. And although he usually has good judgment, unfortunately he doesn't recognize the potential for disaster connected with the vacuums.

The other day I took the floor attachment off the end of the vacuum hose to suck up a couple of stray rabbit poops off the fireplace hearth. Well, Tiny R dashed over to the end of the silver tube and tried to stick his head up to it. I suppose he just wanted to see what was in it. Luckily, I saw what he was about to do and snatched the hose back in time. Otherwise I can just picture Tiny R's fuzzy black face being sucked up tight. Or maybe an ear being dragged up the tube. That definitely would have been a traumatic event. Tiny R was lucky I was alert and still have pretty good reflexes.

Hmmmm. Well, I guess I'll have to amend my statement about Tiny R's ability to make safe choices. Just like a kid, he has to be watched over because he still makes mistakes sometimes.

It's our responsibility to watch over him and keep him safe. But, hey. Isn't that part of the bargain? Look at all the smiles Tiny R gives us in return.

---

I Know What You Mean

Can rabbits talk? Of course the answer is "no." Outside of occasional humming and a few low pitched growling sounds, I've never heard a sound out of Tiny R's mouth. Does that mean he can't communicate? Heck, no!

Tiny R is a master communicator. He lets us know exactly how he's feeling and what he wants. He does this through body language and the use of tools.

When Tiny R was young, we didn't have a clue that one day we would be "talking" to each other. That was before we gave him a set of keys. In the years since, Tiny R has learned how to express himself using his basic, overall cuteness, his plastic keys, his bell, thumps, cage rattling, body positions and head tilts. And, of course, the occasional "growl" when Tiny R wants to send a warning to other members of the household.

If Tiny R had been a docile rabbit, perhaps he wouldn't have developed his communication skills as quickly or as well. Looking back, it's clear that his spunk and intelligence had a lot to do with it. For our part, it took close observation and learning how to interpret his messages.

Early on, Tiny R started communicating with us. When we got up in the morning, the first thing Tiny R would do was stand on his hind legs, grab the wire front of his cage and stand there, waiting for us to come over and open his cage door. Then out he'd hop to begin his day with us.

Standing up with his nose pressed against the front of this cage obviously got our attention and produced the desired results for Tiny R. So Tiny R socked that little trick away in his brain and used it whenever he wanted out.

Then Christmas came and Tiny R received his set of plastic keys. That, I think, was the turning point. Those keys gave him the means to make a unique noise to get our attention. I remember the first time he used them to get out of his cage.

Maybe it was just an accident. Maybe he was just playing. We heard Tiny R throwing his plastic keys around in his cage. They made a wonderful, sharp clacking sound. Naturally I went over to see what he was doing. Tiny R immediately dropped the keys and hopped over and grabbed onto the front of the cage. I laughed and opened the door and Tiny R hopped out.

Well, that was all it took. From then on, when Tiny R wanted out, he grabbed his keys with his teeth and sent them flying against the bottom of his cage up against the cage door. If that didn't get our immediate attention, he repeated the trick. And if we were too slow in granting his request Tiny R grabbed the keys again and dumped them inside his ceramic food dish, which gave off another distinct sound.

We, of course, responded as quickly as we could. The door to Tiny R's cage was lifted and latched. He hopped out in triumph. Mission accomplished. All because Tiny R had learned the secret of the Magic Keys!

The plastic key set is only one example of the "tools" that Tiny R has learned to use to his advantage. He can also use his bell and other toys and cage accessories to get jobs done. And he can even take the lid off his shredded wheat canister with his teeth. That's the reason we have to keep it up high, out of his reach.

Tiny R's body language is a chapter all by itself. I'll save that for later.

So if somebody tries to tell you that rabbits can't communicate with you, that they're just furry mops without a voice, just smile sweetly and realize that you're listening to an idiot. Anyone who's spent time with a bunny can tell you that rabbits have a whole lot to say. All you need to do is learn how to hear them.

The Flying Bun

I'll be the first one to admit that I'm easily amused. I get a kick out of silly little things. For instance, Tiny R's ears.

Tiny R has beautiful lop ears, silky and black. Not too wide and not too long. Just the right length so that they don't drag the ground when he's resting in his peep or bus position.

Tiny R loves to have his ears rubbed. Especially the inside. He almost goes into a trance when we lift his ears into an upright position and stroke them gently.

But getting back to the subject of flying buns: This morning Tiny R was sitting on the fireplace hearth on his newspaper. He decided to do a little grooming and tipped his head over to reach the fur on his abdomen. His two black ears swung out to the sides and levitated like the wings of a small airplane. And they stayed that way for the entire grooming session.

The sight of those ears sticking straight out to the sides brought back memories of a long-ago TV sitcom, The Flying Nun. Tiny R's ears looked every bit as air-worthy as the nun's hat that Sally Fields wore on TV. In fact, I wouldn't have been surprised to see Tiny R take off if a big gust of wind had come his way. Good thing he was in the house. Other wise Tiny R might have become the world's first "Flying Bun."

See what I mean about being easily amused? Flying buns? Oh well, maybe that's the reason I usually have a smile on my face.