Does she do the royal bunny freak out when you try to hold her? How are you picking her up?

I was scared at first too and then I just told myself I had to be able to do this.  The trick is getting a very firm grip so that they feel secure. It’s a piece of cake now.

I found it harder to get up with Spockie if I started from down low. I did lean over from a standing position, scoop him up and toward me very fast so he landed squarely on my chest with one arm firmly under his back legs/behind and the other holding on higher up. As I did so I straightened up so we were both upright in seconds. Then I would let him climb up to a more comfortable spot looking over my shoulder, still with both hands in place. Then I kissed his neck alot while I leaned back just a bit so he’d really feel secure.

How do you pick up a heavy book bag or a grocery bag? It’s kind of that confident 1,2,3 upsadaisy lift you do with slightly heavy things that you are ready to brace with your body and support with your arms. They get your confidence and preparation for a good strong hold and support, and it happens fast so they don’t have time to struggle until they’re already up. You can sit down in a chair as soon as you get her on you, but that can lead to the crawling around behind your neck move on her part. (Most common maneuver at the vets!) Or, you might try sitting in a chair and picking her up from the floor onto your chest while you’re sitting (to practice) then stand up. One of you could briefly hold her in place on the floor beforehand.

i hear ya on that one!  i was terrified to pick up baby bun for the first couple of YEARS i had her.  she fought furiously against it and i was scared she’d get hurt if i forced it on her too much so i just didn’t.  you can imagine what trimming her nails was like.  oi.  also i thought (silly me) that i was respecting her by not trying to pick her up too often but really all that did was prolong my fear of doing it.  then, as many of you already know, when i had to give her post-op meds 3x daily i just had the mind-set of ‘this HAS to get done’ and it was a breeze.  now we’re both used to it.  she still struggles a bit sometimes but i can totaly handle it.

then i got pinky.  lol.  same thing all over again except she’s HUGE and can inflict serious damage with those muscular thumpers of hers.  it’s my mission to practice picking her up but this is harder than it sounds.  i have had some success some of the time but i find myself giving up if she’s too kicky because i know i don’t really HAVE to pick her up.  and i swear she knows it.  lol.  

then yesterday i had a breakthrough… it was such a nice sunny & warm day here (finally!) and i thought i’d bring pinky out onto the porch with me in the bunny harness & leash.  the harness is the kind with both neck & chest straps and i managed to get the neck one on her by laying it down on her cage floor, coaxing her to stick her head over it by petting her & then gently / quickly clasping it.  then of course she got upset that this thing was half hanging on her & so i HAD to pick her up to finish putting it on & then to carry her onto the porch.  her, the dog & i were hanging out & then my adjoining neighbor (i live in a semi with a covered porch that stretches across the front of both units) came out with her dog.  her dog is the same size as bogart – 66lbs – and likes to chase anything that runs like most dogs, so again i HAD to pick pinky up.  she was perfectly happy to be in my arms in this situation & was soaking up the pets.  it was funny… when i wasn’t petting her, her ears were all perked & listening to my neighbor & i talking.  she didn’t seem freaked out.  anyways it was great practice for putting her down nicely & for picking her up again & so i’m getting the hang of it with her now finally!

anyways… that took longer to explain than i thought it would .   I recommend to keep trying.  maybe try taking her to the vet for a nail trim?  having an appointment scheduled may give you the ‘i HAVE to’ frame of mind that helped me out.  once you get a few experiences of relative success i think it’ll get easier.  good luck!

Don’t feel like horrible parents because you can’t hold her! But, it’s important to learn, since you’ll need to pick her up for nail trims, health checks and if she needs to go to the vet.

Is she struggling when you pick her up or just not letting you get her at all?

I also find it works better if I’m standing. I just reach down with both hands – and scoop them up. I also think if we’re apprehensive or nervous about it, they sense that. I know some people have had good success with using a treat afterward, so there’s a positive association with being picked up. But if the ONLY time you pick her up is to go to the vet (or something else tramatic) she’s going to never want to be held. But if you practice several times a week and hold her for a minute or two to give her some nice appreciative pets, it should improve.

Here I found some videos that might help…I’m at work so I don’t know what the audio is like (in terms of what they are saying) but it LOOKS good to me, might help ya!

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=jdt0XKNlfRY

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=394WrfWmXKE

I just want to clarify – if it is about not knowing how to hold her than you have gotten some great advice, but if it is more about that she has changed since she is now living in your home and not at school then I have some other questions:

How old was she when she was at school? How long have you had her? How often do you pick her up now and for what reasons?

hopscotch doesnt mind being picked up, but freaks out in a carry box.. u have had some great advice, i dont think there is anything u can do but practice, getting her used to it