Getting a rabbit used to handling

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This topic has 2sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 1 month ago by kurottabun.

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- 10/10/2018 at 12:57 PM
  Josh
  Participant
  10 posts
  Only my second post but I thought I would give it a go since the last question I asked actually got a bunch of responses that actually worked! My rabbit is now comfortable being given pets and actually seems to enjoy them. Now on to the next thing I need him to be comfortable with, being handled. Im not talking about being picked up I just me holding him in place for like nail trimming and brushing. As it stands now he is fine being pet but the second he sees a 2nd hand coming he is OUTA here, I just want him to tolerate it. I can tell his nails are getting long and soon he will need to be groomed but I cant do anything about it right now. Hes 5 months old and has been with me 2 months, he is very comfortable being around me and playing with me but not with 2 hands touching him. Suggestions like giving him a treat as a reward for letting me pet him worked to make him more comfortable there but dont seem to work with this. Honestly this might kinda be my fault because a few weeks after I got him I needed to take him to the vet for a check up and really struggled to get him in his carrier so maybe he still remembers that. Just wondering how you guys started on getting your rabbits to be ok with being brushed or having their nails trimmed while being held by you.
- 10/10/2018 at 2:05 PM
  Asriel and Bombur
  Participant
  1104 posts
  For brushing, if you have a shorter hair bun like a lop (basically not a lionhead or angora) a great thing is a lint roller. It’s the only thing my boys remotely tolerate, and it’s super gentle on them too. Just lay out his greens or a treat and you can usually do a few good sheets full and just pluck the rest off while you pet him.
  
  As for nail trimmings, some buns are atrocious. I just take mine to the vet to get clipped for $20. Better than having to fight with them. They usually get a trim every 3-4 months.
- 10/16/2018 at 10:33 AM
  kurottabun
  Participant
  908 posts
  Have you tried doing it while he’s resting? I normally brush Kurotta and clip his nails when he’s all sleepy and lounging around because that’s when he’s the least wary. I just slowly hold one paw at a time
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