harness and leash

[snickers]

I know that you don’t walk a bunny, the bunny walks you. But I can’t even get mine to stop trying to yank the harness off. I’m so paranoid of chocking the poor thing that I keep in a little looser, but then he manages to get one paw loose and hes all sorts of messed up at that point. Plus when I do get the leash on him, hes jumping away so fast that he can’t be maintained. I’ve tired slowing adjusting him to the harness undersupervision, but theres no use. He hates it. Any suggestions on how to train a bunny to walk?

[Elrohwen]

Honestly, I wouldn’t use a harness. There are just so many stories of a bunny freaking out on one (like if a dog comes running up) and freaking out causing injuries or death.

I would just ditch the harness and maybe take him outside in a portable pen.

[Sarita]

It sounds to me as well like your rabbit is not comfortable on a leash and could injure himself trying to get the harness off. If he hates it, he hates it and you are going to have to give in to the bunny :~)

[Andi]

I have 3 of my 8 bunnies that go on a harness. Some of mine don’t freak out with it on but they look terrified, so i don’t put it on them. I found some of them just liked it, one was on it since he was young, maybe that helped.
Otherwsie I agree, and outside pen may be better if your bun cannot get comfy with a harness on.

Have you tried putting in on inside and distracting him with a favorite food maybe? anything just to have him feel ok with it on.

[MirBear]

do you put it on inside or out, hershey adores being on the harness but shes been on it since 2 months, twix was used to a collar rather than harness and the harness freaked her out at first but i would put it on her (inside) without the leash and allow her to hop around, then i started putting her in an x-pen outside with it, and now shes fin with just a leash and harness..

BTW collars are NOT acceptable for rabbits, they can easily break their necks from it, her old owner had her with one and i will never attach a leash to it… ever…

ooh i’ll start a thread on that

[RabbitPam]

In 8 years the only time I ever saw Spockie panic in fear was when I got a harness half on him, and he bolted. He was so frantic that he scared me to death! So that was that.

My feeling is that if your bunny makes it very clear that they hate something, it won’t really get better. Ask yourself the purpose of doing this. A bunny who resists medicine needs to get it anyway for its own good. But if the harness is so he can have a nice walk, or a form of play between you, and it’s upsetting for him, it’s not worth it.

Maybe you can make a little run or obstacle course with tubes and ramps for him to play in and out of, which will exercise him.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

ditto all-there may be a few bunnies who like it-and yes you could train. But why? You want to provide what they want not force them do what they dont want I’d just toss the thing

[snickers]

Thanks for the answers, I thought it had to be something I was doing wrong. I tried the ‘food distraction’ thing, but he just really doesn’t like it, and put a leash on him, just pisses him off. The leash was meant so he could get some fresh air, I don’t think he’s EVER been outside in his 4 years of life. and we don’t have a yard, we live in an apartment complex where all the grass is considered a toilet bowl for everyones dogs and cats, I didn’t want him hopping in that. yuck. alright so no more leash. I need to look into an inside obstacle course.

[Sarita]

None of my rabbits have ever been outside – I do open the windows for them though when the weather is nice (not too cold or too hot). I’m pretty sure if I tried putting them outside, they would HATE it too.

[RabbitPam]

Spockie was an indoor rabbit for 8 years, and we always lived in apartments. The only time he was outside was when we moved from MA to FL. Frankly, I think it bothered me more than it did him. I open the sliding doors to get some fresh air into my place now with Sammy (I did with him, too) and expected her to sit at the door and gobble up the smell of the grass. She doesn’t. She stays where her favorite spots are, and though I think she appreciates the breeze from the overhead fan, she doesn’t show any particular change as a result. I am beginning to think that Safety = Fun for them.

[Author]

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