Getting her to tolerate grooming

[Sparky04]

With Ragnar’s foot problem, I haven’t really been working with her on grooming. I have one of those zoom groom brushes which is Mordecai’s and a metal comb. Even if it doesn’t work on her fur, the zoom groom is softer and I thought might help her work up to more intensive grooming. Ragnar doesn’t like to be touched unless she intiates contact, so no petting but she will lean on me and sit on my lap as long as she put herself there. She’ll also reach up and boop my nose with her nose but that’s more just adorable and not helpful to grooming.

Anyway, she’ll move away if you touch or groom her, even if she’s eating. I want to try to get her comfortable with grooming and I don’t want to break her trust. She’s been here less than two months and didn’t know what to make of people.  I was thinking about giving her a piece of fruit and brushing her for as long as it takes for her to eat the fruit. Then maybe try to gradually increase the time, but stopping of course if she runs away. Any tips?

[JackRabbit]

We do the M&Ms during salad time. It took a few days for them to accept it, and Moshi still rebels occasionally, but they *really* like their salads! The fruit idea sounds like a good start but you won’t get much time the way bunnies inhale fruit. Maybe start with a bite of fruit and work your way to greens/herbs and eventually a meal?

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