Holding bunny?

[QuinceysMommy]

I’m curious. I’ve looked up and read about how bunnies usually don’t like being held because they’re just naturally afraid as they are, prey animals. However, I’ve also read about and seen some bunnies that do not mind being held/carried. 

I wanted to know if there’s a way for you to “train” your bunny to get used to getting picked up? Note that I do not wish to hold my bun ALL the time, but it would be helpful for him to not be afraid when I’m just going to simply move him somewhere else or something.

[michelleann31]

Well see, I have 2 babies, Pepper that we adopted @8 weeks old as a baby,and Dio we got 2 moths ago from the animal shelter who is 3. Pepper does not like to be “picked up” necessarily, but will jump up onto the couch and then onto my chest to be held and cuddled. Dio on the other hand was held a lot in the shelter, and will let me pick him up for a cuddle so long as I get all the way on the ground with him,get close to him so that he is under my neck, close to my chest and I first scoop up and support his front legs, then fully support and scoop up his back legs while keeping him very close to my chest and then I can sit up and often lean against the couch and cuddle and kiss him for a minute or 2. This is kind of our routine after I get home from work and even if he is in my hubby and I’s room he will come out when he hears me come in and sit at my feet for attention until I get down on the floor with him and have our cuddles. I think as long as you learn the proper way to hold your bun, and do it with confidence, security and love your bunny will learn to trust you and not mind it so much. There are some great videos on youtube about this, this is a fantastic one by eastbaycritters, basically showing exactly how i was describing how I pick up Dio as I keep him close to me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6Fky4XEQy0

Good luck!

[Deleted User]

When I first got my Henry as a 9 week old baby bunny I had big dreams of nursing and cuddling him for every hour of my waking day. Not having met BB (and not knowing anything about bunnies even though I ‘thought’ I did?) I just assumed if I picked him up and nursed him he would be ‘all good’ with it and would learn and get used to being held – NOT! I couldn’t approach him – Henry ran away. If I wanted to pick him up, the chase was on, and I was always covered in scratches if I succeeded. Then I met and became a BBer and realised after reading (I love reading everyone forums) that 80% of BBer bun’s don’t like to be picked up or held. And the bunny’s that do, I’M JEALOUS! ha ha ha….
I have learned it has nothing to do with breed, nor what age you got your bunny, where you got it from or how you raise them – it is the bunny’s individual personality. Some (lots) bunnies just don’t like it. I stopped picking Henry up completely and was amazed that within weeks I could approach him and pat him. A year on, I only pick Henry up if I ‘need’ to (for a birthday photo, he he hehe he….) and even though HE still doesn’t like it (and I know he doesn’t) – I no longer get torn to shreds, nor do I have to chase him cause he lets me approach him. And I only get snubbed for a day or 2 till he gets over it, lol! Henry and I love each other ‘cuddle free’……
I know there are occasions when you HAVE to, like us putting Henry outside (in a hutch) for an indoor pest spray – and honestly, if you HAVE to, you just do it no matter the consequences. But after having Henry for a year now, he is more tolerant of being picked up but I don’t take advantage of it – I still only do it if I need too.
I am not suggesting your bun is anything like my Henry, I just thought I’d share my story with you on the chance (Quincey?) shows simular behaviour and if what I shared helps you both. As Michelle said (previous post) – Good Luck and cheers.

[HECA]

When I had my Peanut… He hated to be held. It was pretty much a case like AndHenry said… If he knew I was going to pick him up… I’d have to chase him. I also didn’t pick him up unless I had too, but he was trained well enough (actually he trained me) to know what “bedtime” meant and he’d hop off to his cage when called. He would jump on the couch and crawl into my lap… Or sit next to me when he wanted to cuddle.
Now with Butters… He stands up on his hind legs in front of me to be picked up, and when I do… He honks. BUT he only let’s me pick him up. Anyone else tries, and he’s outta there!

It’s going to depend on your bun. It’s nothing you can “train” or everyone would do it. Most buns aren’t going to like being picked up. It’s just a fact. If your bun lets you do it… YAY… If not… It’s not going to affect your relationship with him/her. It all comes down to this…The bunny makes the rules in this relationship. You just follow along and do whatever you can to make the bun happy. When your bun is happy… You are happy.

[QuinceysMommy]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I guess it really does depend on the bun’s personality. I take my rabbit to get groomed (nail clippings and the like) at the shelter I adopted him from, and he was so terrified because he wasn’t used to being out of the house, being with a stranger, etc. That was probably the only time he willingly let me hold him and stayed calm as I did so. Well, it’s nice to know that he finds comfort and chooses to stay with me when he’s scared, I guess. :p

I’ve looked into getting your rabbit used to being touched in a certain area that signals that he/she is getting picked up? My bun hops away so fast when I touch his sides! It’s like he already knows what’s going to happen…haha!

[HECA]

They are so smart.  

I swear sometimes they know you’re going to pick them up before you know. 

[Author]

Messages