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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Walking your rabbit…

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    • Mr.Buck
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        I recently purchased the rabbit harness and leash from a petstore but found not only are they too big, but I don’t think I’d really like them even if they fit correctly because it just looks like he could easily get out or be uncomfortable…

        http://www.petsmart.com/product/ind…oduct+Type

        Let me know what you guys think, should I go for smaller or just get something completely different? I’m in no hurry and if I need to order something offline that will be returnable, I’d be happy doing that as well because There is plenty of time before the midwest will be bunny friendly outdoors.

        I’ve seen long rope leashes that you put around them also, that way it is specific to your rabbit’s size.


      • Sarita
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          I don’t recommend this at all – you cannot walk a rabbit like you do a dog.

          Also rabbit’s have very fragile bones and if they get startled and try to run on a leash they can seriously injure themselves. I’m not at all an advocate of this. Rabbits are not meant to wear harnesses or collars.

          I would recommend that if you want to take your rabbit outside, you put them in a an x-pen that is covered and closely supervised by you.


        • Mr.Buck
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            Ok – I’ve heard of a lot of people taking them outside and just wanted to be extra cautious. I don’t think they’re like dogs at all, but it’s the general idea of having a back up in case he chooses he doesn’t want to come when he’s in the backyard. I’d like for him to have a nice time loose outside. It would be completely supervised of course, but they are like goats in the sense that they can be very stubborn if they don’t think they are done with something.


          • Sarita
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              I totally agree about the stubborn factor :~) Sometimes you can entice them with treats – like shaking the treat bag to get them to come inside.

              I don’t let my rabbits outside myself but when I got my first rabbit I did and the only way I could get him was to corner him somewhere. I then just decided to let him have just an area where I could catch him to bring him inside when I let him outside. I also made the mistake of trying to put a harness on him and he panicked and I then decided it was a bad idea.


            • Mr.Buck
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                Well, when I tried on the harness, he was totally fine with it, he’s a very good bunny(IMO – but he’s my first). I left it on him and he just ignored it, and hopped around a bit. But this is the same bunny that will sit perfectly fine while I do his nails with a grinder. He seemed all refreshed when I was done, he binkied too.


              • Monkeybun
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                  Agreed, if you want him outside, put him in an xpen. Much safer!


                • Mr.Buck
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                    I think I’ll skip the harness and leash, but I still want him to have a much larger space than an xpen can provide. He likes to move and I don’t want to limit him too much. I mean, I take my dog to the dog park, so being loose in a secured backyard – sounds like fun! I could get a lot of exercise that way too!


                  • Monkeybun
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                      the problem with letting him run loose in the yard, is holes under fences, birds, poisonous plants, cats, dogs, racoons, etc.


                    • Elrohwen
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                        It would have to be a very secured backyard for me to let my bunnies out there outside of an xpen. I have seen some town homes with brick walled backyard – no holes in a brick wall and with a 6-8ft fence you’re unlikely that the neighborhood stray dogs and cats would jump in (though of course hawks are still an issue). Even then I would be afraid that if I really needed my bunny to come in he would be impossible to catch and he might get injured.

                        It’s definitely a risk and everyone has to decide for themselves. We have some members who have built large enclosures (much larger than an xpen) that are securely fenced and the rabbits have quite a bit of room to run around.


                      • Mr.Buck
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                          He would be monitored the whole time wherever he went in the backyard, it was just installed last year, and we’ve checked it for my dog who is very small and didn’t even find anything. Of course I will check it extra careful before letting the bun loose in it, but I just would like him to be able to get a good run. I see wild bunnies running around in the fields together all the time, I can’t imagine he wouldn’t love that.


                        • tobyluv
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                            It can still be dangerous for a rabbit running around supervised in a fenced yard. I have read stories where an animal came from nowhere and attacked the rabbit, and I have unfortunately heard two first hand accounts of a rabbit being attacked while a person was in the yard with them. There is also the chance that a rabbit will eat a plant that may be poisonous, or pick up a parasite such as worms, ticks or fleas.


                          • Mr.Buck
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                              There are a lot of dangerous things that rabbits go through, like being picked up and walked around. Buns still deserve to be let out of their homes/cages/hutches for some free time. Of course as far as bugs go, I’ve already talked to some people and found there are prevention medicines that can be used on rabbits. There are no plants in the back yard, just grass and very few weeds. It isn’t fertilized or anything dangerous like that. I would of course watch what he does eat – dandelions are suppose to be very good for them. Maybe the first time I take him, I can feed him before a little extra so he’s not hungry enough to eat anything.


                            • RabbitPam
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                                It seems that many bunnies are quite content to have the run of a house where they can explore, get exercise and feel safe, so I never feel like I am depriving her by opting not to have her outside. In fact, several bunnies here as they get older establish routines and favorite places and elect to stay in certain rooms even with free run of a whole house. They have such different personalities that their preferences vary as well.

                                Which is why I am soooooo jealous that your bunny is easy to handle in nail trims, and even tolerates a harness without complaint! I don’t ever use a harness in part because when I tried one once on Spockie he panicked so badly that I had never seen him that terrified (and it was only half on when he bolted so it was dangerous as well) and swore never to do that to him again. They are true individuals.


                              • Elrohwen
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                                  Keep in mind that not all bunnies even like the outdoors. I’ve tried taking mine out and they’re terrified and run inside as fast as they can. Domestic rabbits that have always lived indoors might be more comfortable just running around the house.


                                • Mr.Buck
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                                    Yes, every animal is different Elrohwen – but I’ll let him decide that. I think he’d love some outside free run time, especially if he gets to chase around the dog. Fully supervised, and I’d bring some toys out there too. However, if he doesn’t move at all or just tries to get out the whole time, I wouldn’t make him stay out. I’m not trying to torture him.
                                    He’s a funny bunny, they told us at the shelter bunnies are very sensitive to vibrations and then we got home and a few days later while running the washing machine, he decided he needed a massage I guess, both hands on the washer and just sitting there relaxing. It was pretty cute.

                                    We had another very successful night last night with him and my dog – it was really cute! Flopping and binkies again.


                                  • Tipsy Bunny
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                                      I know there are a lot of people that do not like leashes and harnesses, but my bun does not mind them one bit. Because i dont have a backyard, I like to let her run around my university farm’s grassy area and its huge and super quiet… nothing ever goes on there, no dogs or cats and because there are other animals there, no pesticides are ever used on the grass. I have her on the harness as well because I want to teach her how to go over jumps and if we compete I will need a harness. Anyways, when I take her on the leash, I always have slack on the leash unless she goes somwhere she cant, but I constantly follow her so that she feels the freedom and run around to get the exercise she needs. She loves being out. Her ears are always up, and she hops everywhere taking the occasional break, and then lounges in the dirt. If she didnt take to the harness so well, I wouldnt have gone through with it. It was an easy introduction or letting her hop around my apartment with the harness on and walking with her in my apartment with the leash.


                                    • Rei
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                                        My sister used to walk her bunny on a leash and she loved it! Idk if mine would like it. I would just be concerned about them freaking out and hurting themselvse trying to get away..


                                      • Mr.Buck
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                                          Thanks Tipsy Bunny! So, how do you get out to the grass, do you walk her on a leash and she knows where to go now, or do you carry her?


                                        • BinkyBunny
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                                            Posted By Rei on 02/09/2012 02:34 PM

                                            My sister used to walk her bunny on a leash and she loved it! Idk if mine would like it. I would just be concerned about them freaking out and hurting themselvse trying to get away..

                                            This is a good point Rei.

                                            This actually has happened to a few of our members before. They are fine on the harness until something startles them.  And it can be very scary.  Two did injure their leg due to panicking.  So it is something you have to be careful aware of. 

                                            I think that if you are trying the leash out and something does startle the bunny or the bunny does freak out, the best thing is to let the leash loose (if it safe to do so) as this member did: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tab…fault.aspx

                                            These next experiences aren’t meant to say that people should not take their bunny on a harness, but it is good to be cautious and learn from their experiences, so you can try to prevent it from happening.  

                                            https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tab…fault.aspx

                                            https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tab…ault.aspx. 

                                             


                                          • BinkyBunny
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                                              Regarding outdoor play:  If a bunny likes the outdoors and the area is secure and doesn’t have plants that will cause digestive issues, then you just have to watch for fleas afterwards and treat properly. Though fleas can happen to indoor only bunnies too.

                                              I don’t know where you live, but if you have birds of prey, you will want to watch for those.  We did have one member have a close call.   Her bunny was on an uncovered outdoor patio, with an arcadia door open to the house.  She pulled her attention away for a half a minute and her bunny started screaming and ran into the house with the hawk clinging on to the its back!  Now that is one nutty story, but true!  

                                                There are some animals, like Raccoons that can spread a very nasty disease through their urine, though it’s not all that common, it is enough so, so that when I do bring my bunnies into the vet for  acting out of character/ill, the vet would ask me if my rabbit has been outside.  That’s when I learned from my vet about the fatal illness that can be spread not only to rabbits, but other animals as well.  We do have high raccoon population here so that may be why that is a bigger concern here. 

                                              Again, this isn’t to scare the notion out of someone as I, myself, dream of the day of having a safe outdoor run again(I used to before I moved), where I can hang out with my bunnies (if they enjoy it).   But it is just something to keep in mind to make the outdoor experience fun and safe.


                                            • jackikal
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                                                I don’t recommend the harness you bought (I bought the same one), but I HIGHLY recommend the leash that comes with it. If it’s the same as mine, it’s stretchy and soft. This is good because the rabbit will gradually feel the tension building up which will teach him/her that there is a limit to how far they can go. My rabbit loves going outside and walking along the trails around my house, seeing dogs, cats, wild bunnies, and all sorts of things. We take walks by the river, through the park, and even in the city. People are quite taken by this sight!

                                                Here is a video I took of my rabbit walking around Downtown Portland, OR. Enjoy!
                                                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYxi0OPYu5k&feature=relmfu


                                              • Mr.Buck
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                                                  That video is soo cute! Where did you get that harness?!?!?


                                                • jackikal
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                                                    Thanks!

                                                    My sister gave it to me, so I’m not sure where it’s from. It’s made for puppies, but it works wonders for rabbits.

                                                    It’s called the ipuppyone. Here is a Google Image search.

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                                                Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Walking your rabbit…