Summer time and playtime

Question
HI, i just got my little Gilda about two weeks ago, she's a dwarf rabbit. She's very cuddly *(when she doesn't want to play), and she's very active. i have a few questions for you and if you could get back to me that would be great.

My first question is: when i got her she was previously loved (she's only going on 3 months), so i picked her up at her first owners house and they put her in my arms, she squirmed to get comfy and then just stayed there until we got home. my husband works night shifts, so when he's sleeping it's mommy and Gilda bonding time. she loves to be out of her cage, running around on the couch. but when my husband is awake and in the living room watching TV with me, she WILL NOT come out of her cage, she really doesn't seem to like him. and the other day when i was out, he put her back in her cage and he said she put her ears right back, showed her teeth and hissed at him. she hasn't done it since, and she even let him pet her the other day. but is there more i could do to help her get a long with him?

my second question is: when it's just me and her, I'm not really sure how to play with her. usually I'll sit on the couch watching TV and she'll just race along on the top of the couch, or on the cushions and run to my lap, which is fine, she seems to have fun. but when she's down on the floor getting into her play mode", is there something i can do to let her know it's play time?

my third question is: it's been getting really hot out lately and my apartment is just roasting even with all the windows open, and i don't have my AC hooked up yet, how can i keep Gilda cool? last night was very hot with no really strong breeze, and Gilda was just stretched out in her cage (very relaxed) but she didn't want to have her playtime last night. what can i do to keep her cool?

Answer
What a great relationship you already have with your rabbit!  You two have really hit it off.  

It really sounds like she has bonded with you.  Because of that it may take longer for her to decide your husband is acceptable and allowed to become an honorary rabbit.  Some rabbits will get bent out of shape if another human gets near a human they have bonded with.  This will have to be between your husband and Gilda.  Some rabbits follow social rules and hierarchy more than others.  Gilda could be one of those.  You have already been accepted as an honorary rabbit.  And may even be regarded as an equal with Gilda.   Your husband will have to earn his place in the group.

Some thing that may help is if both of you sit or lay on the floor.  Just let Gilda do whatever she wants to do, even if that is nothing.  Rabbits are naturally curious and social animals.  In time, she may come out of her cage to spend time with you and if your husband is nearby on her level, she may decide to check him out.

Your husband may also have to do this alone.  Just sit or lay on the floor.  Watch TV, read, or just do nothing.  In time, her curiosity will get the best of her and she'll start to check him out.

Here's a couple of sites with some information about bunny body language.  Once he knows how to better recognize what Gilda's body language means, he'll know if he has crossed a bunny line and become disrespectful to Gilda:
http://www.muridae.com/rabbits/rabbittalk_hierarchy.html
http://www.muridae.com/rabbits/rabbittalk_insults.html
http://www.muridae.com/rabbits/rabbittalk_anger.html

Also, when your husband put Gilda away and her ears were back, he may have inadvertanly offended Gilda twice.  First, by picking her up.  Second, since he's not a member of the group yet, this furthers the insult of picking her up.  The ears that far back indicate Gilda was quite angry by this action.

It will take some time, but since she is already letting him pet her a bit, learning her body language and boundaries should help things move things along.

One other thing to be aware of is the Gilda will soon hit her teenage years.  If she already isn't spayed, she will have an increase in hormones and may become more territorial with your and/or her cage.  She may also become moodier.  

As for letter her know it's time to play, if you got down on her level on the floor when she's in play mode, that would probably be all the signal she needs.  You can then let her run around you.  Or she may want to hop on your back.  Or play a game of hide and seek.  

And to keep her cool until you get your AC going, you can set up an oscillating fan near her cage.  If you have any tiles around, you can place them in her cage or in her favorite spots when she's out of her cage.  You can also create bunny chillers by freezing some water and putting them where she can lay next to them.  These site have some ideas for bunny chillers:
http://www.3bunnies.org/bunnyAC.htm
http://www.hopperhome.com/hopperhomebunsinthesun.htm

And make sure Gilda stays hydrated with lots of good veges and is drinking water.

It really sounds like you've got a great rabbit, have lots of good times with her!