my rabbit runs round me

Question
i have a mini lop rabbit named ben and i let him run around in my back garden while watching him he has his own character i know he is helthy.He runs around flicking his leg sideways in the air,but the problem well answer i want to know is,when i go over to him He sniffs me then Runs in circles around me about 20 times and if i walk away he follows me he has never bit me he loves being stroked he was brought from a good breeder but i don't under stand why he does it and i cant find out how so I'm hoping you can help me, he is only 8 months old ,thanks for reading my message.

Answer
Hi,

The running and flicking his legs is what we call a "binky"...it's a happy dance and the sign of a relaxed and very happy bunny.  We have some rabbits that do some spectacular binkies...especially our 30 pound Flemish.  

The circling of your feet is a very natural behavior.  You have a horny teenager and what you are seeing is sexual prowness.  A simple solution...get him neutered.  Male rabbits can become very aggressive as they mature...and your mini-lop at 8 months is like a horny (excuse the expression) human teenager.  Hormones are raging.  A rabbit's primary mental function in life is to reproduce and that is what he is displaying to you.  As he continues to mature sexually, he most likely will become aggressive (this is when many rabbits are "set free"), will spray urine that is smelly and difficult to clean to mark his territory and some of them just become somewhat difficult to handle.  Some unaltered males will develop testicular cancer...and we do have a survivor in our rescue.

Directly answering your question...you have a rabbit that is displaying perfectly natural behaviors.  We do like the binkies and try to keep them around....but the circling will only get worse as he becomes older and sexually frustrated..so a neuter should be considered.  One caution on rabbits...not all vets can treat rabbits.  They present very different medical issues than dogs or cats...and procedures most vets consider common can easily kill a rabbit. Depending on your location, it might be challenging to find a rabbit savvy vet...but don't settle for inexperience..the cost is too great.

Randy