Any tips on how to make grooming less stressful

[Michele823]

Both my bunnies are starting to shed a lot more then normal I can only assume that they are starting their heavy shedding for spring. I have groomed them before but it’s always been a once a week thing. With their heavy shed coming on I know this is going to be a daily process for a little while. My one bunny loves to have her whole body rubbed from head to tail so brushing her isn’t a problem at all, but my male bunny will hold a grooming against me for a good day and I’m afraid that having to groom him everyday until this is over is going to seriously damage the small bond we’ve already formed. He’s finally starting to lay out in the middle of the room and I really don’t want him to get scared and go back to hiding under the bed all the time. Any tips on how to make this less stressful for him would be greatly appreciated!

[mia]

Are you actually brushing? If so, you can try to just petting and removing the fur with your fingers. Wetting your hands once the chunks are out helps too.

[Michele823]

He won’t let me pet him past his head and ears =(

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

Michele: How long have you had your boy? My baby Boo used to only let me pet him on his head for a second. Now, if he’s in the mood, I can pet him from his head to his hind quarter. I’ve been working on him for months. I’m hoping that as he becomes less sensitive to my touch – that it will make handling him when I need to easier. I’ve tried brushing him – and he’s not a real fan. Sometimes I use the brush and stroke him with my other hand….so it’s less obvious. But normally I agree, I use my fingers as a comb – which he doesn’t seem to mind.

[mia]

You may have to be more forceful. Try putting your bun on a counter (or any other foreign area) and petting him while he’s there. He may not like you initially but may learn that your pets are acceptable. You can also groom while he’s on that foreign area.

[Michele823]

I’ve only had my buns since September, I adopted them from my local shelter and they had a horrible life prior to being rescued so he’s very distant. Me and my boyfriend usually are able to corner him and place him on the bed in order to groom him I’ll brush him and my boyfriend will pet his head and keep him from running away so we CAN get it done I’m just looking for tips on how to do this on a daily basis during the heavy molt without breaking the small bond we’ve already formed. I’ve tried treats and they don’t work, I’ve literally had a carrot tossed back at my face and he’s even refused dinner. I had to place his salad under the bed and leave the room. It breaks my heart to upset him but his sister loves to groom him and I’m scared she’ll get sick from ingesting too much fur.

[LBJ10]

I can’t say that Wooly likes to be groomed. LOL, but any grudge he feels is quickly resolved the second he sees his treat coming. I usually grab him and carry him to the couch. I set him in my lap and brush him as much as I can. Usually he will let me know when he’s had enough. I don’t push it because I know what I don’t get that grooming session I will get the next. Perhaps it would help if you didn’t try to do it all at once. Have you tried to gradually work him up to longer sessions? Try grooming him for as long as he will tolerate and then stop. Eventually he will tolerate longer grooming sessions.

[Michele823]

I let him go once he’s had enough, I try not to upset him too much.

[NikkiBun]

I agree with LBJ10, gradually working him up to longer grooming sessions. That what I had to do with my boy. He original would only let me pet his head and if I tried to touch the rest of his body he would run away. I found taking him to a different place (the dinning room table, the living room, or any neutral ground) helped him accept being groomed. I also realized that he didn’t like the comb because it made him all static-e so I just gently pull out the tuffs of hair as I pet him all over. When he done I stop and he gets a treat. Your bond with him can only grow stronger as time goes on (and when he realizes that you are his human slave).

[bunnylova123]

What I have to do with Vienna is chase her round, and gently pull out chunks of dead fur when she isn’t looking. She will not

be picked up 

[mia]

I think you’re doing great as is. Some buns are just tougher, whether by personality or history, and you just have to force them for their own good. I don’t think you’ll necessary be breaking any bonds you’ve developed. With some particularly stressful times maybe but just keep going and you’ll move forward.

One of mine will also refuse treats/food when picked up (which only happens after an hour of chasing/cornering) and during carrier time, even hours after carrier time (when they HAVE to be transported). Even pets and nose rubs during doesn’t ease her anxiety. Time has not changed this behavior nor the intensity of her disapproval of these actions but with time, she is more affectionate during normal interactions.

[Michele823]

Thanks for all the tips. We were fairly successful this morning, we got a bunch of fur off him. He gave me a thump and refused to take the carrot out of my hand but after I left him alone for a little bit he did come to the door of his cage and allowed me to give him a kiss although he wouldn’t come back out which is actually an improvement from the normal temper tantrum of throwing everything in his cage around and then sitting in the corner.

[Swamp Pop]

I’ve had the same problem, and I haven’t really been able to resolve it either. I’ve read that mini-rexes don’t need to be groomed as often- is that true? We’ve tried lightening the grooming schedule to once a month (checking their poops for “string pearls” regularly) and it seems like it only takes ours a week or so to start eating regularly again after a grooming session. We’re considering eliminating grooming sessions outside of molts altogether to see how they do, since even touching them lightly anywhere on their body seems to throw off their mood/appetite for days.

[BinkyBuster]

I usually sit down and hang out with him for a while. I pet him and get him used to me, and then I let him see/sniff the brush before I do anything. While I’m brushing I need to keep petting his head / ears. It’s his favourite spot to be pet, so I think it relaxes him. Any time I stop petting him there he gets irritated and either bumps me or runs away.
The only way that I can brush him is by petting his head at the same time, hopefully that will help a little. He is always rewarded with a little sumn-sumn at the end as well.

[Elrohwen]

I do a little bit at a time, while they are eating, but I generally let them go and don’t force the issue. For rabbits who don’t mat (like the wooly breeds) I don’t find that a ton of grooming is really necessary. I get out what I can, using fingers to pull clumps and a brush, but otherwise I leave them alone as far as grooming goes.

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