Handling

[BookerTRabbit]

Hey guys. I wanted to get your expert opinion on something. I feel like I am getting conflicted information regarding proper handling of rabbits. My bunny, like most, does not like being held. Most of my rabbit books reccomend letting her alone and not picking her up unless its neccessary. She really does hate it. So I try to only lift her if I have to, which isn’t too often. And when I do have to I cradle her on her back because that seems to be the most comfortable for her (she squirms the least).  So I thought I was doing the right thing….

I have read several training books and articles that say I should be picking her up everyday so she becomes accustomed to it. I was just wondeing what you think.  Will she get used to being held if I pick her up on a daily basis ? Will this help up bond ?

I spend lots of time laying with her and petting her on the floor, which according to the books is a good way to bond.

What do you think ??

[JK]

Hi and welcome!  Here is a good explanation on how to pick up your rabbit.

http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/care/handling.asp

[notjulesverne]

I never pick up my rabbit either unless I need to (which I will soon to try and clip his nails by myself). I just let him him come to me for pets and snuggles. he is trained to get back into his cage when I am ready for bed, and if he has to get into his carrier, I put it out a day or two before an appointment so he goes in and out of it, so when it’s time for a vet visit or whatever he just goes in and I shut the door.

[Sarita]

That’s a good article!

I’m not sure I have the answer as to picking her and handling her will help you bond or make her like it. I think most likely she will tolerate it after awhile but never entirely like it.

I think if you put yourself in your rabbits place you would have to think would like you to be held up off of the ground – probably not, you would be nervous – you might prefer to be held on your own level though where you aren’t feeling anxious.

Now if you want to put them in your lap on the ground or on the couch that might be okay with your rabbit – more acceptable than being held way up off the ground.

I do think that rabbits like to cuddle and to them cuddling is not being picked up but cuddling on the ground, like they do with other rabbits.

[MarkBun]

The following are my opinions on handling of buns – just like you have found out though, many people have different methods and thoughts on it.

I have found that there are two positions to hold buns – either up against the chest, with their head towards your shoulder or in your arms with their head towards your elbow. I try not to hold them on their back as trancing is a self-defence mechanism and, IMO, it means that the bun thinks it is about to die so it ‘goes away’ to its happy place.

A bun will become accustomed to being held but some may never really like it. I thought that Maryann was just tolerating being held until one day I caught her napping after I had been petting her for a while. Dono will dig and nip me if I try to hold him at all. One thing that people need to know is that buns can sense apprehension or fear and it makes them the same way. If you are unsure of yourself as you pick up a bun, they will feel it and be more squirmy. I have found that I can pick up most squirmers easier than others because I’m not afraid that I’m going to drop them.

One trick people don’t mention is about putting them back down. Most buns will squirm like the dickens as they get close to the ground. A trick that Save A Bunny teaches is to cover their eyes as you put them down. If they don’t see the ground, they don’t squirm for it.

[skwerlybuns]

We have had our 3 bunnies since they were babies, and they still hate being picked up, but we have to pick them up to take them downstairs to the “Bink-a-torium”.  We use a dishtowel for Misha since she is smaller and does not try to squirm out, and we use a small bath towel for the boys because Tancill is big and will try to jump down unless wrapped in the towel, and Bammer is just a squirter…… he always tries to squirt out of the towel before we pick him up.   Once in our arms they are quiet  and resolved to the fact that we are not going to eat them.

Once we get them downstairs we gently put them down and they “shake it off” and start binkin immediately.  🙂

[Steve Parker]

My bunny hates to be picked up. If I sit on the floor, he will crawl part way into my lap, however. Would this be an option for you?

[BookerTRabbit]

Thanks for all the advice. I’m confident in picking her up, I just feel like a big jerk because I can tell she hates it. I think I will keep on the mindset of “only pick her up if I need too”. Thanks so much for all the advice. Just want to make my Booker the happiest little bunn bunn in the world!ha ha.

[Princess*Smudge]

Hey, I’m not sure if this will help with your bun but when I first got mine she wasn’t a fan of being picked up at all. She’d tolerate it if I had to move her somewhere or if it was to get put on the couch or something like that but she would tense up and her heart would race and then she’d squirm to get down. For over half of the first year I had her I would get down on her level and pet her or even play with her with her toys on the floor. I noticed the more I did this the more she wanted to be near me. It’s taken a year and a half but now when I put her on the couch she will jump into my lap and up onto my chest to snuggle in. When I walk by her cage she perks up and “begs” to come out which she always gets hehe. I never thought that she would actually want affection like she does now. Be patient and just do what makes your bun comfertable and you might find that their comfort level around you will grow. Also when she was little and being picked up made her nervous and scared I found that taking her blanket or towel and putting it on my chest/shoulder underneath her really helped to keep her calm when I had no choice but to pick her up. Good Luck!

[Bunnies4ever]

I rarely pick up my buns either. The only time I pick them up is when I place them in their carrier. They squirm going in, but never squirm when I take them out. They hate the carrier so much that they are happy to get out so I can pick them up without any problems. I pick them up with one hand under their rump and other other under their chest and I hold them close to me. Also, covering up the eyes is a good idea. I do that whenever I groom them around their face. If they can’t see the brush, they can’t fear it.

[rabbitsmba]

I must confess to picking up my bunnies and snorgling them but it only lasts a few seconds – I swear! But other than that, picking up should be kept to a minimum.

I do however, think it is very important to know how to do it and feel comfortable doing it. Everytime a bunn’s feet leave the ground, instinct kicks in and makes them think they have been caught by a predator and are bring carrier off to become dinner – so this is why they squirm. And it’s true, the more nervous you are, the more nervous the bunny will be. Practice it a few times – make it a swift and quick movement and hold them securely so they feel safe. Even though they shouldn’t be handled all that much (unless of course, they like it), I still think it is very important to know how to properly and safely do it just incase an emergency should arise and you need to get them out of a situation fast.

I can’t help but remember seeing a little boy walking down the street with a rabbit. He couldn’t have been more than 6 and he was carrying it by holding it forward, just under its arms, away from his chest, like he was handing it over to someone. The rabbit just hung there, and it was a pretty big rabbit compared to the size of the boy – the rabbit’s feet reached down to the boys knees. It was so funny – the rabbit didn’t wriggle at all, like it was totally used to being carrier this way. Being a little concerned about whether or not the boy owned the rabbit or just found it, I stopped my car and asked him what he was doing. “Just takin’ my bunny for a walk…” was what he said.

[skunklionshow]

Rbbtsmba…that gave me a chuckle.

I tend to handle when I do my bunny maintenance, going to the vet, or to force Jessica to exercise.  Jessica is a chunky monkey and she doesn’t always come out during exercise time.  I only do the force exercising if she hasn’t come out for hip hop time in a few days.  Once Jessi is out, then Leo follows.  I will admit that every now and then I will snaggletooth a bunny for some “hug therapy”.  I can’t help it they are just so cute! 

[Hannah]

Rabbitsma… that’s an awesome story. >__< Some bunnies (like Humphrey) might actually benefit from regular handling, while others (like Monty) don't need that sort of stress.

[Sage Cat]

I found that if I pick my buns up at least every other day – for a quick snuggle – that it is no big deal. However If I have not picked them up for several days – they get mad at me for picking them up. This leads me to believe as long as it is a regular thing for them – they will tolerate it. Then, if I have to pick them up – for a Tune Up or to go to the vet – it is a lot less stressful for them.

I make sure to say “pick up” and “down” – at the appropriate times – so they know what is happening. Then I give them a treat; and wouldn’t you know – they sit and wait for the treat, then run away with it!

[BinkyBunny]

Sage Cat – I think that is a great idea to give them a voice cue of when it is going to happen, that way bunnies who are extremely nervous about being picked up won’t begin to fear every time a person comes near….they may learn to book it with the voice cue, but at least they know they are going to be picked up at that time, otherwise they could become distrustful all the time.   I can see how this could help with the trust factor.

Rucy tolerates being picked up very well. she’ not fond of it, but she won’t fight it.   Jack – he hates it hates hates it.   Bailey, I had to pick up at least once every single.   She became very used to it, but she was not fond of it either.  

I was at SaveABunny yesterday, and one of the bunnies, Thoreau was hanging out with Marcy resting, and just snuggling.  He looks like he’s a bit stressed out in the pic and I guess he can be a bit “introverted” but he is one of those rare bunnies that seems to enjoy being held. 

I think the “enjoyment” of being held is rare, and really it’s just part of the individual bunnies nature.  But for the most part, if we can just get our bunnies to tolerate to make it easier on them and us to do their nails, scent glands etc, it sure would make things easier.  

But then there are bunnies like Jack, that no matter how much I pick him up, it is a traumatic experience everytime, so I have learned to be quicker.  I get through the nail trims and cleaning very fast! 

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