Help me groom my rabbits

[sarahthegemini]

My rabbits will still not tolerate being groomed. I’ve tried multiple different brushes and combs trying to find one that they won’t hate. I’ve got a grooming mitt which works wonders in removing hair but they see it on my hand and run. Because of this, they have hairy poops almost daily. Which is obviously not acceptable. The only thing I can do is get them into their carrier – which is very stressful for them, especially Peanut – put the carrier up on the table and groom them up there. It’s so stressful for them but what choice do I have? I need tips please Giving them treats during doesn’t work because they refuse to eat anything whilst being groomed. It takes them a while to forgive us too!

[Wick & Fable]

Do they let you pet them? If so you can pull out hair systematically. It’s so much more effective on Wick than any brush. Find the molt lines and pluck to see what fur patches feel like releasing that day.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Wick on 11/26/2017 1:55 PM

Do they let you pet them? If so you can pull out hair systematically. It’s so much more effective on Wick than any brush. Find the molt lines and pluck to see what fur patches feel like releasing that day.

They do enjoy being pet and I try to gently pull out the loose hairs but I don’t feel I’m able to remove a significant amount compared to how much the mitt would remove (if they could just sit still for a couple of minutes!) I don’t think they’re moulting as such either, they just shed a lot. It’s been going on for as long as I can remember. 

[Fluffykins]

How I got fluffykins used to grooming would be to give him a dried herbs treat (from pets at home – he can’t resist the red ones). His absolute fav and the benefit was it took him a good while to eat.

Then I’d sit there and stroke him and sneak in a few grooms with the brush. First he would hop away.

Id move away the brush, then get the treat under his nose again. Stroke for a few seconds while hes munching then get another groom in with the brush. He’d hop away.

Depending on how far he hoped away and how interested he still was in his treat, I’d either stop there or do it another 1 or 2 times. This would be daily.

Within a week or two I could get in a good uninterrupted 5 minute grooming session.

Once he was at the point where he wasn’t actually afraid of the brush (I use a furminator) I put him on a table top, still with a treat, and do a good 30 or so min grooming session.

You have to persevere, and *starting off* with a treat he absolutely loves, first, before he even saw the brush was the way to go for me.

Nowadays I can do a long grooming session in his playpen. I just do it right after I’ve plunked down his bowl of greens or pellets. The food is a massive distractor. I save those dried herb treats for nail trims now

[LittlePuffyTail]

Dampen your hands with water and use them to rub your bunnies just like petting, same direction as the fur. Rub hands together to remove fur and repeat until no big chunks are coming off. This works wonders. Also helpful in hard to groom areas like belly and armpits. Sterling is mega hard to groom. He still hates this but growls and tries to bite me less when I do this than when I use a brush or comb.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By LittlePuffyTail on 11/26/2017 2:56 PM

Dampen your hands with water and use them to rub your bunnies just like petting, same direction as the fur. Rub hands together to remove fur and repeat until no big chunks are coming off. This works wonders. Also helpful in hard to groom areas like belly and armpits. Sterling is mega hard to groom. He still hates this but growls and tries to bite me less when I do this than when I use a brush or comb.

Unfortunately, I’ve failed with this technique too. If my hands are even slightly moistened, bunnies freak out. How do they feel it? And why do they detest water so much yet happily lay down with their ear plonked in the water bowl 

[OverthinkingBun]

Sort of like what fluffykins suggested, I use “petting sandwiches” to groom my slightly skittish bunny. Start off petting the bunny in their favorite way (like cheek scratches?), stroke the bunny’s back, and once the bunny is relaxed and enjoying it, gently use the brush for a few strokes. If the bunny looks upset, stop, and go back to petting. Either way, you should pet frequently to reward the bun’s cooperation. I wouldn’t try sneaking in the brush, though, you probably aren’t going to trick them.

Polly Oliver was so scared of the grooming mitt at first, too! I just wore the silly thing while sitting with her, without using it for a while, until she got over her fear.

So basically I gave up on giving her a really thorough grooming until she got more comfortable with it, but she’s doing pretty well now.

[Fluffykins]

I think they’re only scared of grooming because they see it as harming them. Once you use it and they can see it isn’t any harm or hurting them in any way, they get over their fear. They are smart, sensible little creatures!

The other thing I also did before even the steps above was leave the brush under his nose and let him sniff and bite at it. Obviously not full on bite but test it with his teeth. So when I got to the stage of using it on him, he wasn’t scared of the object, rather the action.

Edit: I tend to do that with everything new I need to use on him (eg nail clippers). I had to do it with the medicine syringe just leave it under his nose and let him check it out. Works great.

[Dface]

Yumi is my lion head and she won’t sit for grooming. Like yours she sees the brush and legs it.
A little while ago Bam suggested using a lint roller-its fantastic. She *tolerates* it.
She still hates it but it is fast, and effective. Only you’ll go through a layer per “brush” stroke. So youll use a lot per groom.

I also find it is how they are feeling at the time. With Peep, my angora cross, it’s a patience game, he’s brushed in sessions throughout the day when he’s willing to sit for me, otherwise he gets too worked up. So little and often can sometimes work better than long sessions

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Fluffykins on 11/26/2017 3:42 PM

I think they’re only scared of grooming because they see it as harming them. Once you use it and they can see it isn’t any harm or hurting them in any way, they get over their fear. They are smart, sensible little creatures!

The other thing I also did before even the steps above was leave the brush under his nose and let him sniff and bite at it. Obviously not full on bite but test it with his teeth. So when I got to the stage of using it on him, he wasn’t scared of the object, rather the action.

Edit: I tend to do that with everything new I need to use on him (eg nail clippers). I had to do it with the medicine syringe just leave it under his nose and let him check it out. Works great.

Sorry fluffykins, I completely missed your first response. It’s stress I tell ya! I’ll definitely try to warm them up to the grooming mitt, one stroke-and-treat at a time. I’m just so worried it’s going to take ages and I need results fast! 

In regards to letting them have a sniff of the mitt so they know not to be afraid, I tried that previously and Peanut sneakily took a nibble  But I’ll keep trying and I’ll just be extra vigilant. 

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Dface on 11/26/2017 3:45 PM

Yumi is my lion head and she won’t sit for grooming. Like yours she sees the brush and legs it.
A little while ago Bam suggested using a lint roller-its fantastic. She *tolerates* it.
She still hates it but it is fast, and effective. Only you’ll go through a layer per “brush” stroke. So youll use a lot per groom.

I also find it is how they are feeling at the time. With Peep, my angora cross, it’s a patience game, he’s brushed in sessions throughout the day when he’s willing to sit for me, otherwise he gets too worked up. So little and often can sometimes work better than long sessions

I’ve tried the lint roller and that doesn’t work either. Sorry guys, I’m not deliberately shooting down all your ideas, I promise! I’ve just tried so many already with little success  I think they can just sense when I’m trying anything other than my bare hand. 

I managed to get a good grooming session done this evening by getting them in the carrier first. But that in itself is so stressful. It makes me feel so guilty. 

I talk calmly to them, pet them in between grooms and whatnot in an attempt to get them to see that being groomed isn’t so bad. They seemed to forgive me quicker this time, so that’s something 

[Sirius&Luna]

Yeah, the lint roller is what works for mine, who hate all else. They still don’t like it, but because it’s so quick I can just do a roll down them every now and then. Eg, I put down their salad, and do a couple of rolls while they’re distracted, and it’s SO efficient it doesn’t need to be done a lot. Will they not tolerate it even briefly while their head is in the treat box?

[Fluffykins]

Everyone must be using some awesome lint rollers as I can’t get mine to work on my clothes, let alone the rabbit!

Sounds like you’re on the right track sarah, I’m glad you managed to get a little bit of grooming done! I wouldn’t personally use the carrier if it already stresses them out as then you’re dealing with having two stressors and they will just associate the grooming with double stress.

Can you get them on a small table (or iron board) and put treats or food down. If they are anything like my fluffykins they will explore first and sniff at all the edges but because it’s fairly small it shouldn’t take too long. Once they’ve settled down on there, and they notice the food, and have their nose stuck in that, you might be able to get in a couple grooms. It is so important to keep talking and kissing and stroking etc to help keep them calm.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Sirius&Luna on 11/27/2017 3:50 AM

Yeah, the lint roller is what works for mine, who hate all else. They still don’t like it, but because it’s so quick I can just do a roll down them every now and then. Eg, I put down their salad, and do a couple of rolls while they’re distracted, and it’s SO efficient it doesn’t need to be done a lot. Will they not tolerate it even briefly while their head is in the treat box?

Maybe the lint roller I used was too sticky. I never tried it on Buttercup, just Peanut and he freaked out. 

Honestly I could put down a big pile of dandelion (crack cocaine for my two) yet as soon as they sense I need to groom, they scarper. Even Buttercup who is very food oriented 

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Fluffykins on 11/27/2017 4:19 AM

Everyone must be using some awesome lint rollers as I can’t get mine to work on my clothes, let alone the rabbit!

Sounds like you’re on the right track sarah, I’m glad you managed to get a little bit of grooming done! I wouldn’t personally use the carrier if it already stresses them out as then you’re dealing with having two stressors and they will just associate the grooming with double stress.

Can you get them on a small table (or iron board) and put treats or food down. If they are anything like my fluffykins they will explore first and sniff at all the edges but because it’s fairly small it shouldn’t take too long. Once they’ve settled down on there, and they notice the food, and have their nose stuck in that, you might be able to get in a couple grooms. It is so important to keep talking and kissing and stroking etc to help keep them calm.

The trouble with not using the carrier is, there’s no other way to keep them still. But you’re right, it’s double the stress. Which I really want to avoid I’ll try and get in a few grooms this evening or perhaps the afternoon might be better as they’ll be more sleepy? I’ll take everyone’s tips onboard to try. Something has got to work! 

[sarahthegemini]

Got a few pets with the mitt on Buttercup. She bun loafed and then flopped. But then I took it too far and tried petting her side with the glove and she scarpered. Til that point, it was going well. I think the trick is to use light pressure much like when I just pet them with my hand. I tend to use slightly firmer pressure with the glove as that’s the most efficient but that could be what they dislike. I approached Buttercup afterwards with bare hands and pet her to reassure her and she was okay. A little grumpy but okay

I managed a few pets with the mitt on Peanut too. I used light pressure and he was sitting, then bun loafed, then stretched out. I stopped when I could feel him get a bit suspicious and I gave him a treat.

I’ll try and do this every day. Feeling a bit positive already

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