Harness Questions (wasn’t sure where to put this)

[Rabbitpossm]

Hey there. First off I wasn’t sure which topic to put this under, was thinking under care but put it here as I was unsure.

Anyways. I was wondering if anyone had experiences with rabbits and harnesses. My bunny is definitely a house bunny, he’s enjoyed time outside on the porch but I find he spent too much of it hiding from all the crows that live outside our porch so we’ve stopped going out there. but I’m going to be driving cross-country to move back to my home city. I’ve researched it a bunch and feel confident about taking him, how to make it the best experience possible for him, emergency kits and so on. But I wanted to get a harness for him in case I need to transport him outside of his carrier for whatever reason, or so he can have some time out of his carrier when we stop in parks and such for breaks. I tried out an ill-fitting harness from petsmart that I didn’t have high hopes for (the harness selection wasn’t great and was just kind of generic ‘well this will work’ seeming things. Rather than good proper things for bunnies.)

Anyways, long ramble but tl;dr. Harness recommendations would be appreciated and any stories, information, or advice for getting them use to it would be appreciated. I have low hopes of getting a harness that Sully will be okay with since he’s never been a fan of being held and he had a very unenjoyable experience with this first harness that I tried. I think my first step is going to do some more picking up/holding training with him to get him more comfortable with that and then lead that into getting use to a harness. 

I’m looking at biting the bullet and paying for expensive shipping to get this one (us to canada) Does anyone have experience using it?

https://bunnyapproved.com/product/trixie-harness-and-leash-set-for-rabbits/

[kurottabun]

Personally I don’t recommend harnesses in general especially if your bunny doesn’t like being constrained. It’s dangerous if they start bolting – bunnies can break their back with a harness.

How about a pen? You could set up an x-pen and clip a sheet over the top

[Asriel and Bombur]

I agree with K. If a bunny doesn’t like being held, they probably won’t enjoy a harness. I tried really slowly to harness train Bombur when we first got him. He was fine at first, but it eventually spooked him so much he started bolting all over the apartment and smashing into things to get it off. As K said, it’s so easy for them to either take off suddenly and break the back from the strain of you tugging and him bolting.

I’ve taken my boys out to a super quiet park with an x-pen and they absolutely loved it! Especially if there’s a top or you’re in their with him to keep him safe it would be a great idea.

[Rabbitpossm]

yeah I think i’m going to go back to that plan then. I’ll just make sure his pen is accessible when we pack the car. I figured I’d never do a harness with him for those reasons but was questioning it again when my mum was bringing it up. I didn’t think sully would ever like it, but my mums rabbit is fine with his harness which she mainly uses to bring him outside to groom him. 

Thanks guys, no harness for sully! (: 

[Q8bunny]

All buns are different, so you just really need to know your bun.

Chewie hates being held, but enjoys outings on his harness. We have a modified H-shaped harness (the no-choke kind) on a stretchy leash. (This one: https://www.kuwait.petzone.com/petsafe-easy-walk-cat-harness-and-leash-red-15799.html ) We’ve also tried the little vest harnesses, but it was too hot in Kuwait for those. Maybe now that we’re back in Canada…

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