Handling, bonding, and playpens!!

[Holland lop,Ty]

So a couple days ago, when I went downstairs to refil Ty’s waterbowl, and when I came back to my room, I noticed he was on my bed!! So I tried to pick him up ( I ended up with a bunch of scratches that drew blood!), but when that didn’t work, I put him on a shoebox lid and lowered him down. Then I herd him back to his cage and went on the internet to find out if I was holding him properly. It turns out I was supporting his hind legs when I was supposed to be supporting his bum. And it says that I’m supposed to handle him quite often while he is young, so he’ll get used to it? So I tried that the day after, and he HATED IT! He’s was strugling so hard I was afraid he was going to hurt his back, so I put him back on the ground and he ran straight to his cage. Two days later he was scared to go too close to me, but he lets me pet him, but not as long as before. I think that by holding him, it broke our bond?!

Also I made a playpen, two days ago (more like a divider for the room) for him out of cardbord (a lot of hardwork, the hight, cutting it, the cardbord itself was big, so it was bulky to handle) and he was focusing more on getting out of the playpen/divider than playing or running around like he used to before I made the playpen/divider.

 

Help?

[CheriB603]

How old is Ty? I’ve never met a bunny who LOVED being picked up. (No letters, please, I’m sure there are some out there) and in fact most HATE HATE HATE it! “Handling” when they’re young really just means daily petting, gently touching their toes (front & back – though they get suspicious when your hand goes back there!) And over time seeing that they are relaxed while you touch them, sliding your had gently under the belly and out again… Lots and lots of very slow, gentle touching – preferably while there are treats involved – so they don’t freak when your hand comes toward them. Once you establish trust, then maybe gently lift your bun an inch off the ground and right back down. Move GLACIALLY slow and eventually you may be able to pick them up to move them a short distance, but you’re never really going to make him happy to be floating in the sky. Patience is key.

[CheriB603]

Oh – and as for the “playpen”… He’s not stupid. He wants to be on the other side. He’ll chew and throw a tantrum to get there. And if you put him on that side of the divider, he’ll want to go back to the first side. They always want to be wherever they’re not allowed.

[Holland lop,Ty]

Haha! You’re right about that when you put him on the other side he’ll want to go back to the first side! He’s about 9 weeks, by the way, so I don’t think he’s old enough for treats or veg. And thanks for the advice!

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