Your bunny is much safer inside.  It’s great that she is free roam in your apartment.  A rabbit in a harness or leash can very easily get injured. They can choke if they get scared and pull on the leash. I know of one instance where a harness got imbedded in a rabbit’s throat. Besides those hazards, a rabbit outside is exposed to parasites – fleas, ticks, worms, etc.  And with the threat of RHDV-2, it is advised to keep rabbits indoors.

Agree with tobyluv. Not only is it dangerous, but your rabbit isn’t likely to enjoy it. They are prey animals, so they feel most safe in familiar surroundings. They don’t enjoy exploring like a dog would. Don’t put your bun at risk because you saw some people online do it. Often this is more about getting a cute picture to post on the internet than for the rabbits benefit. The vast majority of rabbits don’t go outside on leashes, but the few that do of course stand out on social media.

To be fair, some bunnies do like going outside. Other bunnies do not. Taking them outside on a leash, however, is not recommended. Leashes and harnesses should be used with extreme caution, if they are used at all. If you insist on taking your bunny outside, a better option would be to set up a pen or run and then supervise them.

The others are correct though. A bunny certainly does not need to go outside. Plus there is all the stuff you have to deal with if you do take them outside. Fleas, mites, parasites… you would have to treat your bunny for those things. Depending on where you live, diseases are also a concern. There is currently an outbreak in certain parts of the US of RHDV.

Yes, a pen would be a much safer way to test the waters. Another thought would be a pet stroller. If your bunny isn’t afraid of being in a carrier, then she might enjoy going for a little stroll in a pet stroller.

Definitely go somewhere you won’t run into any dogs. Leashed or not, they could cause panic in your bunny. And yes, unleashed could be very VERY disastrous. A dog could do serious damage to your bunny without even trying. You hear about small dogs getting mauled by big dogs all the time. One more reason why taking a bunny outside is risky.

One more word of caution, make sure that wherever you go they are not spraying the weeds. Herbicides and other chemicals can make your bunny very sick. Do you know anyone with their own yard? Perhaps that would be a safer bet than a public park.

Loose dogs? Don’t mean to be a downer but you got lucky there. Birds of prey are another danger. You won’t know they’re there until they come in for the kill. I would stick to the x-pen. I really hope nothing happens to your bun and she enjoys herself, but I think you’re playing with fire.

I second what others have said. It’s very important that the bun cannot bolt while attached to the leash, that’s what can cause spine injuries.

I also remember an older thread where it was recommended by a veteran leash-user that the pre-requisite was that the bunny be trained to run into his carrier in all conditions, so the bun would run to the carrier when out and about, rather than having to pick them up.

My impression is that you are moving way too fast and did get lucky that your bun did not panic. Leashes and harnesses are debated (as you can see), but those that support it still say it involves lots of training indoors first, followed by outdoors in your own backyard, with reliable return to the carrier in all situations.

I agree with Dana. To clarify – when I suggested testing the waters with a pen, I wasn’t suggesting that you could switch to a leash if she seemed OK after being in the pen for a few minutes. I’m glad everything turned out OK and your bunny seemed to enjoy herself. If you continue to take your bunny outside, I urge you to find a safe place. Find a place where dogs are not allowed and no chemicals are used on the grass. Use a pen for now. I like Dana’s suggestion of doing some training with your bunny before attempting a leash outside again. There are a lot of variables and unknowns, so you want to be extremely cautious even if things turned out OK this time.