How often should you pick up your rabbit?

[chorgi]

Hey, everyone!  I’m new to the forum.  I’m also a new rabbit owner.  I recently adopted a 3.5 year old English Angora.  She’s beautiful.  The family that had her previously bought her from a reputable breeder and had her spayed.   They recently had a baby, though, and just didn’t have time for her anymore.  She’s very sweet.  I’ve had her for about three weeks now, and she’s been fine with being petted, even requesting them by coming to me by lowering her head.  She will eat from my hand, flop near by, and doesn’t hesitate to jump onto my back or onto my bed.

The only thing I’m having issues with so far are picking her up.  She does try to get away when I pick her up.  She doesn’t bite or scratch once I pick her up, but as a soon as I set her down, she scrambles off as quickly as she possibly can, even before I’ve had a chance to remove my hands from her once she is on the ground (one place I’ve read online says you shouldn’t let them scramble away like that and should pick them back up again when they try that and repeat the steps till when you put them down they don’t try to scramble away… but I also know negative reinforment doesn’t work with rabbits, so I’m hesitatnt to actually try that).  I have done my research, and I understand that rabbits are prey animals.  The only time a rabbit ever gets picked up in nature is when they are going to be eaten.  I know some rabbits beat the odds and do enjoy being picked up, but I know that’s not the norm.  So I’m not expecting her to enjoy being picked up.  Rabbit.org and many other house rabbit oriented sites, including this one, are quick to point out that rabbits are happier if left on the ground because that’s what they are wired for.  I’m willing to accept that and I want her to be happy.  But, I have to groom her.  I’m also aware that English Angoras are prone to wool block and having matted hair if not groomed regularly.  She hates the grooming so much… I hate making her sit still for the brushing and I especially hate rolling her on her back so I can brush her tummy (I tuck her between my legs gently but firmly while she’s laying on her back)… she thinks I’m going to kill her and literately cries and wimpers (huffs and sighs almost like a child would cry).  When she’s on her belly, she squirms so badly that I have to lightly hold her ears with one hand, which makes her freeze (a tip I picked up online… otherwise she will NOT let me touch her hind feet at all).  Her previous owners butchered her hair with this uneven hair cut, and I think that’s how they kept her all the time. I’m letting her hair grow out naturally. She’s three years old and I don’t think she’s ever had to be groomed before… she certainly doesn’t seem like this is a familiar experience for her at all. I want her hair to grow out so that I can use her wool for spinning and felting. Hopefully, with time, she’ll learn to accept this 15 minutes of twice a week hell. I bribe her with treats afterwards (sometimes she will take them and sometimes she won’t take them afterwards).  I groomed her this morning, and I can tell she’s not very happy with me at the moment. The previous day she was running and playing and flopping and doing binkies and requesting pets and taking treats from my hand and licking my hand a bunch. Now she’s just pouting and generally avoiding me, though she will let me pet her if I initiate it.

Everything I’ve read on Rabbit.org, this site, and other seemingly reputable sites say that even though a rabbit doesn’t like to be picked up, you have to teach them to accept it because of nail trimmings, grooming, vet trips, butt cleanings, emergencies, etc.  Several sites also say that the only time you pick them up shouldn’t be when something “scary” is going to happen to them (like a nail trimming or grooming) so that they don’t associate being picked up with these activities.  How often should I pick her up?  What should I expect when she’s “used” to be handled like this?  I don’t want to do it too often and alienate her and make her feel hesitation to be around me.  I don’t want to ruin any chance of companionship with her.  But I also don’t want it to be a hugely traumatic experience for both of us each time she needs to be groomed (from what I’ve read, English Angoras need brushed out several times a week, especially when their hair is longest prior to a molt).  Other than this one issue, she seems like a very affectionate rabbit.  She has perfect litter habts, doesn’t chew my possesions, doesn’t nip me, and only lightly digs on a blanket occasionally.  I make sure to take great care to pick her up corrently and make sure she is properly supported at all times so that she can feel as secure as possible but also to make sure there isn’t any undo stress on her spine or opportunities for her to kick out and fall and injure herself.  

Thanks a lot for your help and advice!  I look forward to getting to know everyone here and growing in my relationship with Bunny! 🙂  I’m in the process of building her a two story condo with platforms to jump onto and ramps to climb.  She gets about 4-5 hours of free roam time a day, and hopefully that will increase, too, as I’m able to further become accustomed to behavior and she becomes more accustomed to me, as well.  Later, I may look into getting a second rabbit, as well, so she and I can have more companionship. 

Josh

 

[kcomstoc]

Rabbits shouldn’t be picked up unless necessary (getting nails clipped, I pick up my bunny so he can get out of his cage *at the time he can’t be free range*, taking to the vets) things like that. it’s ok to do if you have to but NOT if you are just picking them up to pick them up (this is what I’ve gathered from this website *I am also a new bunny owner I’ve only had my bunny for 6 months*). My bunny “hmphs” away (kicking his back legs out) when I put him down, he does it because he doesn’t like getting picked up but he deals with it because that’s how he gets out of his cage to get exercise hope I helped out

[BabyD]

… as a soon as I set her down, she scrambles off as quickly as she possibly can, even before I’ve had a chance to remove my hands from her once she is on the ground…

If you could somehow cup one hand over her head to cover her eyes when setting her down, she won’t see the ground and won’t try to scramble off.

Let her feet touch the ground first, then remove that hand to uncover her eyes.

[Bam]

They do get used to it. I’ve had to pick Bam up a lot and it stresses him out less now than in the beginning. I’ve had to treat wounds in his ears twice a day for three weeks when he had a reaction to a vaccine. When I first got him he had mites, I had to treat him for them and brush him daily to get rid of the excess “dandruff”. He’s had stomach-issues and I’ve had to syringe-feed him simethicone and pellet-slur, I also had to syringe-feed him after his neuter when he wouldn’t eat. None of that could be avoided. And nowadays his heart doesn’t start to race and he doesn’t make like little sobbing, noises like he used to or shed when I pick him up. It’s like he’s been there, done that, it’s bad but not terrible.

[Isabel]

My bun used to squirm quite a bit when I picked him up. I would pick him up at least twice a day (from upstairs to downstairs and vice versa), and each time I experimented with slightly new ways to hold him. He really enjoys (or tolerates) having a hand in between his front legs and then having his bum cupped and swooped up. He really doesn’t like his hind legs touched at all, and won’t kick if I back off of them. It made him much more calm, and now he doesn’t squirm at all. When I put him down, he’s also quite calm.

Figure out what’s best for your bun, and maybe that will make the bad situation a bit less stressful

[LBJ10]

I would say you should pick your bunny up no more than necessary. Now what is necessary can mean different things for different buns depending on their needs. Obviously, she is going to need to be groomed. Yes it would be nice if she would learn to tolerate it. Picking her up for short periods and offering her a treat certainly can’t hurt. Some rabbits response well and some do not. This did work for my rabbits though. Leopold gets a treat whenever he is picked up and he knows it. Sure, he tries to make his escape when he sees you’re going to grab him. Once you have him though, he accepts it and starts looking for that treat. With Wooly, I have to groom him more often. So he definitely wants to associate being picked up with being groomed. I usually take him out of his space to groom him and I set him in my lap. I will groom him as much as he will tolerate at the time. I don’t worry about it too much because I know if I don’t get it all, I can work on it next time. And yes he does occasionally have “butchered” spots. If he keeps avoiding me and an area starts to mat, I do lop it off. It is less traumatic that way and I don’t really think he cares about his appearance too much. With all of this being said, if bribery and trying to associate being picked up with good things doesn’t seem to be working then I wouldn’t continue to push the issue. I would find another method. Like some people trick their bun into going inside their carrier and then they transport them to a foreign surface.

[chorgi]

 BabyD – This idea really helped, thank you.  I can still tell that she wants to run away as soon as I set her down (and that she hates being held), but she isn’t trying to jump or scamper away while my hands are still on her.  I feel that she’s safer and won’t accidentally harm herself now, even if she doesn’t like being held/picked up.  

[chorgi]

 Isabel – Thanks for the reply!  I’m hoping she slowly learns to tolerate this. 🙂  I had her for the first week and pretty much just let her be.  She would come for pets quite often (and treats), but I didn’t force the issue of picking her up or holding her.  I didn’t groom her for the first week because I wanted her to just get acclimated to me and the new house.  She seemed so happy exploring a new place and was running and doing binkies and flopping and was even starting to lick me.  Then the first grooming came, and she hated it so much and wouldn’t even take a treat from me afterwards.  She stopped doing the binkies and didn’t ask for pets for a few days.  Then she started acting okay after I hadn’t tried to pick her up for 3 days and she even licked me again… but then I groomed her for the second time, and she acted even more afraid than the first time.  Her third grooming session wasn’t as bad, but I could still tell she hates it.  I just keep thinking she’s going to stop wanting anything to do with me if I scoop her up for 15-20 minutes twice a week.  I can tell she really hates it when she’s on her back getting brushed and such.

[chorgi]

 Bam – I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with all those problems with your bunny!  I’m glad that he’s tolerating the treatments and such.  I hope Bunny starts to tolerate her groomings, as well.  I’m not expecting her to like them, but I hope that she does accept them and that it doesn’t keep her from trusting me and being affectionate.  I’m just trying really hard to make sure her hair doesn’t get matted and that I get most of the loose hair out of her coat so that she doesn’t get wool block.  I can tell she’s going to have very, very long hair.  It’s growing so fast.

[chorgi]

 LBJ10 – I’m going to start only picking her up on the days i groom her (Sundays and Wednesdays are the schedule that I’m going to “try” to keep to).  If she seems to still be having trouble with the whole thing after another month or so, then I might try picking her up more often but for short sessions and just offering treats.  The carrier is a good idea, but I’d still have to roll her onto her back to brush her tummy and feet, and I know that’s the part that she hates the most.  I’m sure I’ll have to cut an occasional matte out as well.  I’m not really worried about her having a “butchered” spot if I have to cut one out.  I don’t think her previous owners let her hair grow out all, though.  I’m pretty sure they just kept her cut short  She looked hideous the first day I got her because of how close they cut her hair and how uneven it was.  3 weeks later, and it’s amazing how much of it has grown out already.  I think her hair has grown an inch and a half or maybe two inches in three weeks.  Now it just looks like she has layers (I think that look will stay with her till she molts naturally for the first time and I pluck/brush out all of her wool).  Do you feel that grooming a rabbit is best when done on a foriegn surface?  I’ve been just putting down a towel on my bed and groomer her there.  She’s used to getting up on my bed for playing and running around and such on the days she isn’t being groomed. 

[chorgi]

kcornstoc – I’m glad to meet another new bunny owner! 🙂  It sounds like your bunny has gotten fairly used to his routine!  I’m really not expecting mine to ever like being picked up or groomed, but I hope she learns to accept it as part of her regular routine.  I’ll not pick her up except for her groomings on Sundays and Wednesdays.  I’ll just be patient with her and see what happens.  I just hope she doesn’t let these grooming session keep her from being affectionate with me the rest fo the week. 🙂

[tanlover14]

Hey Chorgi – congrats on your new bun! And an Angora – they are just so beautiful! But with lots of work on grooming for sure!

I thought I’d give you my feelings on picking up your bunny. As much as everyone says it’s bad – I’ve come to learn it’s necessary certainly for lots of things. I took the advice of quite a few people when dealing with my first three babies – three Tans – and never handled them unless necessary. Which has made them almost impossible to hold. So we have implemented a system with them – we pick them up about once a day. Pick them up, give them a craisin or treat (our buns go nuts for craisins and we prefer giving them their favorite for dealing with the picking up), and then set them back down. Being picked up (just for a few seconds or for a quick walk into the next room and back to simulate what you will need to do sometimes) has really helped make handling them much easier. AND has made them much less terrified. They still get nervous but they aren’t hyperventilating every time we pick them up. Except for one Tanger, he’s a work in progress still!

As for the putting down when fighting – I only re pick them back up if they physically fight me to get away. If they are scratching, nipping, and kicking I will keep a firmer grip on them before putting down. It sounds like with your girl it’s only the terror of the drop and being away from your firm hold that is making her skittish to get away. My Nora is the same way. She’s not fighting, just nervous in that position I believe. Which is probably why the hands over the eyes have helped. So I don’t believe re picking her back up with help that issue at all, she’s just nervous.

Every time you pick her and up and put her down give her a favorite treat though so she will begin to associate her acceptance of handling with a treat. Positive reinforcement. If she kicks or tries hard to get away (while in your arms) hold her firm until she calms. Then give her a treat and put her down. I usually give them the treat before putting them down so they are having the “good feeling” WHILE experiencing the holding.

[Treori]

Could you not get a towel and herd her onto that and then groom her on the ground? I know Freya hates being picked up, but her breeder did it a lot, so health checking her once a week isn’t bad, I just have to be quick to get her on her back to make sure all her bits n bobs are clean and her hocks are nice n healthy (rex’s are prone to sore hock). But I can do the ear/eye/lumps n bumps check with her on the floor and she sits nice and quietly for that.

As I said she doesn’t like being picked up, especially up high (like if I stood up) so I try to keep it as short as possible, and I don’t take her up high.

[chorgi]

 tanlover14 – Thanks for your thoughtful reply!  I may try picking her up more often.  I’m going to wait a month and just pick her up the twice a week for grooming and see if she starts to settle down, but, I have a feeling she’s going to be like your tans and it’s going to make her nearly impossible to be held due to her lack of experience being held.  Unfortuntately, she’s an English Angora and she’s has to be groomed regularly and thoroughly.  It occured t me the other day that life for a house rabbit must be much easier if they are short haired. 🙂  I’m trying to feed her craisins and raisins (she loves both and goes after them like an addict under normal circumstances) for treats when I pick her up, but often her heart is pounding so much that she doesn’t have much interest in food while she’s in my arms.  I’ll keep trying, surely she’ll eventually start to connect the dots that she’s not in mortal danger.  Often times, after I set her down, she won’t eat any treats from me either for an hour or two.  She’s making it hard to give her positive reinforcements. 🙂 I’ll just be patient with her, it just makes me worried she’s going to stop trusting me.  I’ll remember to hold her till she stops struggling, too, so that she doesn’t think that behavior is what will get her set down. 

[chorgi]

 Treori – Thanks for your reply!  I could try herding her onto a towel for grooming, but from what I’ve read and been told (I’m also learning there are as many opinions about every facet of rabbit ownership as their are rabbit owners… haha… confusing cute little bundles they are), it’s best to take them to a foreign place when they have “scary” things happen to them like nail trimmings, medication, grooming, inspections, and any cleaning.  That way they know those things won’t happen when they aren’t in that place… and when they are in that place they know what’s coming and it isn’t a surprise to them and they have a chance to mentally prepare for it.  But, what you’re saying makes sense, too… finding ways to work with her natural tendencies and not against them. The House Rabbit Society’s page said that you shouldn’t try to buld a relationship with your rabbit based on being held or picked up because rabbits are prey animals and won’t learn to trust you or bond with you if you’re constantly trying to restrain them… but they also go on to say that you have to get your rabbit to learn to accept being picked up because you need to be able to handle them for vet visits or if there is a fire or for more routine things like grooming or giving medicine (I’m really dreading having to ever syringe feed her medicine… I wouldn’t know where to start at the moment).  I’m just trying to procede with patience and compassion.  I know she hates the grooming and I hate doing things with her that she hates.  I’m just hoping that with time we both learn to understant one another’s intentions better. :-) 

Honestly, the worst part of grooming her (for both her and myself) is when I have to brush her feet and tummy while she’s on her back.  I have to keep her on her back for about 10 minutes, and she sobs and huffs and breathes hard the entire time.  I have to lightly hold her ears and place a towel over her eyes to keep her from squirming and running away.  The whole thing would go faster if she didn’t try to pull her hind feet from me when I brushed them.  I’m as gentle as possible, but it takes time and effort because she gets little bits of her litter and hay stuck in her feet and because she’s walking on the wool on her feet it tries to mat up, as well.  I really do feel for her because I know she’s so scared.  I hate doing this to her, but I also don’t want her to get wool blocked and I know that if I go too far between grooming or don’t do it thoroughly enough, her hair will felt/mat and it’ll just be a more scary due to having to get out the mats or cut them off.

[LBJ10]

Having Wooly outside of his realm definitely helps. He sits still longer because he’s deciding if he really wants to try to escape or not. =p

[Treori]

No that’s understandable, Freya’s breeder handled her a lot, so she is relatively easy to check over. I’ve noticed she trances very easily though (tip her onto her back and stroke her forehead, she stops moving almost instantly, and it takes turning her back over completely to break the trance again)… not sure how much of a good thing that is but it means I can clip nails/check her belly and bottom for mats and cleanliness easily.

I used to want an angora SO badly, but now the thought of all that grooming? I would be wary or adopting even a lion head. They are beautiful rabbits, but so much fur! I tried to tempt my mum once to get me one by offering to knit her a jumper from the rabbits cast offs, moults and left overs from grooming…. it didn’t work

What about once you have moved her to where you wanna groom her you dump a handful of her favourite food or treats? So she sits still while you start grooming her? Freya might be seriously peeved at me, but if I drop pellets in front of her nose I could switch the hoover on beside her and she won’t budge until she has finished the food AND sniffed everywhere including all over me to make sure she got it all lmao

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