Holding rabbits

[Edda]

Do your rabbits let you pick them up and hold them? Mine was ok with it first when I got him, but these days he really does NOT like it. Earlier tonight I tried to pick him up and he kicked like crazy and tried to bite me. I just wanted to be nice to him and pet him a bit, but the little guy is very protestive. Is there any way to get him to like it?

[jerseygirl]

I read in your intro you’ve had him a month now and her about 1 yr old? Perhaps he’s just settled now in your home and being more independant. Generally rabbits don’t like being picked up and they’ll let you know it. Some tolerate it but still don’t like it. Some – but this is rarer – actually enjoy being picked up and cuddled.

Stick to giving the pets and massages where they feel safe with all feet on the ground. After the trust is built – he may tolerate being held again.

Obviously sometimes you need to pick them up. When you do, be confident about it and hold them securely. Really support their hind end because if they can kick out here they can actually break their backs. When you rabbit takes to struggling when you hold them, it’s important you can get to the ground level quickly if they’re about to get free. I find mine are calmer when I hold them by covering their eyes or tucking their heads into the crook of my arm. Some have found giving the rabbit a verbal clue that you are going to pick them up helps also.

There’s not really a way to get them to like it – but you can keep them calmer and have them learn to accept it. Like if you pick them up, hold for 10-20 seconds then place them safely down again and reward them. It may help make things less stressful for them for those times you have to pick them up.

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Yea I find that bunnies are not big fans of being picked up, Luckily when I am up high transporting the bunnies somewhere they do not struggle, (somehow they know that if they struggle it could be dangerous to them) Thistle just breathes really hard, and Fern looks unhappy.

To get my urge to pick up and snuggle those little bunny faces, I actually just pick up Fern’s front half so her back legs are still touching the ground. she does not mind this. Thistle is a bit more nervous than Fern so I wouldn’t try this on him just yet, I need to gain his trust more, but he is getting a lot better with letting me ruffle his fur and pet him a bit more… wildly.

[Beka27]

My buns (both spay/neutered, almost 3 yrs old and about 5 yrs old) do not like to be held. They will tolerate it for a short time, but usually I sit on the ground and pet them when they want attention. I try to reserve picking up and carrying for when I have to do nail trims…

[MooBunnay]

I have 8 bunnies and not ONE that likes to be picked up I really only pick them up now when I have to, usually to do nail trims or feed medication, or to remove them from behind the couch because they escaped their pen and snuck back there! I have more fun hanging out on the floor with them, then they crawl on me, and try to eat my books that I am reading, and then shove their nose under my hand for pets. That way is much more fun than when they kick and struggle if I am holding them.

[Jessie]

My rabbit wont let me hold her either. It really makes sense, they are living critters with their own autonomy and just dont like it. I think it would be easier and happier to accept that and play with your bunny on the ground. They really like pets, and nose rubs, so that might be a better way to bond.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Two of mine don’t mind at all; Rupert and Kahlua. Kahlua I had since she was a baby and handled her alot. Also from what I read, lionheads are more easy going that way. Rupert was not good at being held but he got there with lots of handling and treats.
My vet clinic’s techs have said to me many times I have the best bunnies for handling Such a compliment!

Many rabbits don’t like being held because they feel unsafe. Its instinctual to a prey animal to be free to escape from predators right? So if you want to hold them, work on it slowly and give lots of positive reinforcement By slowly I mean holding them in your lap for ten seconds while sitting on the floor short

But Noot and Chuck don’t like being handled. I got them when they were older and quite fankly I think they deserve to have things their way rather then my way. I am their retirement home they’ve earned, rather then they are my bunnies who have to please me So I let them do their own thing and only handle when necessary-that being said-I CAN pick them up -they just don’t like it

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

My bunnies both hate being picked up! They tolerate it okay but if they think you’re going to grab them- they will run and hide. Also, when we put them back down, Chubs at least, always lets me know how annoyed he is by thumping and then foot flicking me as he runs off. Comet just hides. I always make sure to give them a little treat when I do have to pick them up so it’s not a totally negative experience!

[Deleted User]

If your rabbit kicks hard because of being picked up you have to be careful he doesn’t hurt himself, like Jersey posted above. I even wonder if those buns that are reported to ‘like it’ don’t just tolerate it and freeze up. My rabbits now can all be picked up and carried but with 1 of them it took over a year to get to that point. I experimented with different ways of grasping them to find what gives them the most security. It depends on the size of your rabbit, too. My youngest bun sits on my shoulder like a rat but I still have a hold on him. My largest bun likes to sit on my arm in front of my stomach with her head tucked in between my waist and elbow, and I have that arm’s hand under her bum for supporting her weight. Another rabbit I have insists to have his feet against my chest and will be carried very far that way. And then there is Lint… he has to be carried with one hand under his chest and the other under his tail. If his feet touch anything on me he will try jumping/scratching/kicking and it’s just a bad idea. I had to get mine to allow me to pick them up because they live in the basement at night but come upstairs for the day.

[Beka27]

I am always doubtful when people insist their buns LIKE being held or carried. I truly think it is more of a fearful, prey animal freeze rather than the bunny being truly relaxed and at ease. I can carry my buns and they do not fight me, but they are fearful, and ALWAYS happy to be put back down. It’s very important you figure out a safe way to carry YOUR buns. Petzy described a few different methods which are good.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Hahah Beka You have to come to my house Kahlua will flop in my lap tooth purring Kokanee (though hated it at first) loved lap cuddles too Rupert is good-but your right he’s not a cuddler-beside me fine but not in momma’s lap. He does cuddle with Dave though

[Beka27]

Oh, I trust you K&K! I really meant more of random folks who insist, “No he LOVES it!” And their bun’s eyes are popping out of his head and his heart is beating a mile a minute… You can obviously read the signs but some people seem oblivious to what their rabbit does and does not like.

[Rolan]

Tom and Taz don’t like being held or picked up either. If I need to carry them I usually lure them into a box (that they can’t jump out of) or their carrier with some food and carry them like that. When they’re not hungry I just put them in myself, so they’re still being held only for a second. They don’t struggle when I carry them in my arms, but they seem to mind less this way, without the hands holding them. They just seem to wonder why the floor is moving all of a sudden. But I don’t really need to carry them that often. If I need to hold them to check something or brush them or give meds I just keep them on the floor, or on a table when their nails need clipping. For petting (if they let me) I just sit on the floor with them.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Oh, I trust you K&K! I really meant more of random folks who insist, “No he LOVES it!” And their bun’s eyes are popping out of his head and his heart is beating a mile a minute… You can obviously read the signs but some people seem oblivious to what their rabbit does and does not like.

LOL
Personally I think Kahlua to be a bit dull and I theorize that she doens’t know she’s on a lap…
My friends eight year old packs her around the house when she visits (I always give Kahlua to visitors who want to ‘hold one’) and she never minds at all hehe

[Catayn]

My rabbits used to love getting lap time when they were babies, noe they will allow sometimes, but they won’t, by any means, enjoy it. A nose rub is okay though.
Now, if I’ve got veggies with me, it’s a completely different story, amazingly they start loving mommy!

[Author]

Messages