Harness Wear?

[Napoleon]

I was wondering if anyone knew how to train their bun to like their harness? So far, Napple doesn’t like his much, and tries constantly to nibble on it and get it off. I’ve tried giving him treats while in it, but he stiill seems angry at me when I put it on him, and when he’s wearing it. I want to take him to the park every once in a while, or just take him on car rides, and i’d feel safer if he had his harness on during transport.

Any tips?

[Sarita]

Honestly, I just cannot recommend you do this at all. We recently had a member who had her bunny in a harness and he got startled and injured himself. Rabbits are not meant to be harnessed – they are much too delicate and startle too easily. When transporting always use a carrier, that is the safest.

As for the park, it’s really too dangerous – you don’t know what you will encounter (dogs, pests, etc.) and you don’t know what they use on their grass (pesticides).

I know that is not what you are wanting to hear, but really that is my best advice :~)

[Elrohwen]

I have to agree with Sarita – I just don’t think harnesses are a good idea because the risk of injury is so high.

[Napoleon]

It’s true, that’s not what I wanted to hear, but I really appreciate your honesty.

I live right across the street from a small park (not busy, not many animals), and I don’t really plan on taking him there too often. It’s sort of like my backyard of sorts, that’s how close it is. I’ve never seen them use pesticides, but I suppose I can’t be sure.

Also, Napoleon doesn’t seem to FREAK OUT with the leash, he just doesn’t seem to like it. I know it will take a while to gradually get him to associate his harness with good things (if i decide to keep using it), I was just wondering if anyone had any experiences with this.

Does everyone else here feel this way? I could have sworn i’ve seen a few pics with bun harnesses…

[Beka27]

I’m sure some people use them, but the majority of experiences we’ve heard about have been bad ones, up to and including several rabbits breaking bones and requiring surgery. Rabbits are far too fragile for harnesses, and they are not secure. More often than not they escape partway and then injure themselves trying to free themselves the rest of the way.

As far as parks go, there are too many variables that you have no control over… as mentioned animals (squirrels, birds), pets (dogs can easily get away from their owners if they want to, even if leashed), and the unseen dangers (fleas, mites, poisonous lawn treatments). He would probably prefer being able to exercise in a safe space in the house.

[Meg Pressley]

I have a harness, but Pixie hates the feeling and texture of it and always tries escaping. So we no longer put it on her, at all.
Aria on the other hand is calm about it, and seems to not be too bothered by it, but she will jump around and chase the leash, and then lounge around most of the time.

So I get mixed signals from them both, but I very rarely ever use it or put it on them. The only reason I did use it was for the time I let them get a little exercise by roaming around the house but we didn’t have enough bunny proofing things so I used the harness — now I stick with letting them roam around the one room I can bunny proof rather easily. Otherwise, I don’t use the harness.

 

[Stickerbunny]

Some rabbits get taken out with harnesses but they spook so easily, when the harness yanks them back (think bun freak out from a predator with them trying to zip away and hide but the leash is stopping them mid leap) they can become injured very easily. The H style harnesses I have been told are the safest for buns and I know a lot of the agility groups use those for their buns but it, again, is inside. For the park, most parks do use fertilizer or pesticides so I wouldn’t want him eating the grass from there. Also, parks have dogs (which carry worms, which your bun can get) and raccoons (again, can spread diseases to your bun) etc. As well as if there are predator birds out in the area I have seen hawks swoop down for dogs / birds on harnesses with the owners right there (one lady was walking with a cockatoo on her shoulder and SWOOP hawk attack… luckily she took the hit for her bird!).

If you want to take him outside for fresh air, a secure porch with covering and potted grass/plants to dig/eat is probably safest. Though, also, you have to think of heat – my buns HATE weather above 74F, they begin to pant and act miserable. So, remember to be careful with that as well if you do take him out. I thought about building them a secure run outside, but given how they flop on the A/C vents if the temp reaches 73F in the house… I don’t think they’d like the 85-90F weather. lol I do want to build them an area where I can give them potted plants to dig out though, that is easy to clean up… one day!

[Napoleon]

Hmm, I didn’t know all this info! Most of the sites I searched online didn’t have anything bad to say about harnesses. Interesting!

Well, I live in Hawaii, so there are no crazy birds or raccoons, but I suppose it might be too hot for my bun. I do have a balcony thing, so maybe I can clean that up and make that his little outdoorsy area.

I do take him on car rides often, and don’t have a small critter carrier, so I’ve been using a gym bag with a towel in it. I suppose that’s okay though, seeing as it’s not too far a walk to the car, and he’s got free range of my backseat once we’re in. I guess I’ll invest in a carrier if I want to bring him to my family house, or other places. I know it’s not common for buns to get out much, but I hate just leaving him alone at home while i’m out all day, everyday.

Thanks to everyone for the input!

[Sarita]

Hawaii…so jealous :~) Lucky you and lucky bun! Definitely invest in a good carrier – not sure what type of natural disasters you may have in your part of Hawaii but having a carrier is a good idea for plopping bun in for emergencies. Also, not sure what kind of crazy drivers you may have, but I have had someone t-bone me in my car with my Mango bun in the front street who was luckily strapped in and did not sustain any injuries and we had another forum member in a very bad wreck (she’s fine and so are the buns) in her car, so having a carrier is essential. I recommend a hard sided carrier with a top and side opening.

[Stickerbunny]

Yeah, an animal free in the backseat in ANY accident will slide and at the least break something, at the worst get killed even in a fender bender. I have a $12 carrier hard plastic so they aren’t that expensive and always good to have, especially if there is a hurricane or other emergency. Getting him out isn’t really bad for him if he doesn’t mind the car.

[LBJ10]

Leopold tolerates a harness, but I won’t use it outside. I think it really depends on the rabbit. Like the others said, most don’t like them and will even freak out if they get spooked. If your bunny doesn’t like wearing the harness, then I wouldn’t force him to wear it. Giving him treats won’t necessarily make him more accepting of the harness.

[Monkeybun]

From what I have read, hawks, eagles, falcons all exist in hawaii. So….

better to be safe than sorry

[LoveChaCha]

I wouldn’t force the bun to wear the harness if he does not like it/tolerate it.

I did the same thing, and Chacha and I went outside.. and I never let her out again. She freaked out while being INDOORS in the harness, freaked out outside with all of the noises. I scooped her up and she is 100% an indoor bunny.
 

If you went to a park or something, you would need to find out if the grass has been treated or not.

[bunnies!]

My rabbit has a harness too,but I try to put it on her.She then goes all crazy so now I don’t use it that much.

 

 

[inspiring]

Ponyo loves her harness! She actually has no problem with me putting it on anymore because it means she can go outside. She loves being outside but I guess she’s an odd bunny lol She doesn’t run or act any different with the harness on..

[cactuspancake]

I wouldn’t make a bunny wear it if they didn’t like it. Both my bunnies are very good and well behaved in their bunny jackets! They’ve been outside a bunch of times and I also use it at the vet when they’re alone so they can run around! Neither of them struggle or nibble and they both run and binky then lay grass and nibble when they’re outside Also both my bunnies have *had* to go on several long car trips due to my traveling and after about 5 car rides they flop out, eat veggies, and groom while in transport. I lined the back seat with tucked in towels and let them just have it and they’re very well behaved. I used to put them in the carrier but it’s so stressful for them, so I try to set a maximum time limit in the carrier at 5 minutes for going to and from the car. This is just me and my bunnies, and my special situation. I can’t imagine everyone having this luck with good behavior on the harness and in the car though! Just do what makes them most comfortable and always make sure they can “make the choice” to hide or take the harness off or whatever

[Monkeybun]

The problem with that, cactus, is it isn’t safe for you or the buns to have them loose. What if there’s an accident? Better to have them displeased in a carrier than… lose them completely.

[Napoleon]

Posted By Monkeybun on 07/05/2011 08:02 PM
From what I have read, hawks, eagles, falcons all exist in hawaii. So….

better to be safe than sorry

Very weird. They’re probably more located on the outer islands than O’ahu, and more in the country. I live in town. I’ve been here my entire life, and have NEVER seen a bird beyond the size of a large pidgeon, or sea bird.

Anyway, I guess it depends on the bun, and Napple doesn’t like his much. Oh well, can’t blame me for trying, right? As for the backseat, I take him for 30 minute to 40 minute car drives at most, maybe once every couple weeks, and i’ve never been in a car accident. Not to say that there aren’t unsafe drivers out there – I know there are – but, i’ll take my chances every few weeks. I’ll keep lots of towels and pillows in the backseat though, I think that’s a great idea.

[Author]

Messages