How to politely tell someone that they cant hold your bunny

[Cocoa]

Sometimes my brothers friend will come over and she always wants to hold the bunnies. She just want to hold her for a second to take a picture for Instagram. I am fine with her holding one because she never holds her long, just long enough to get a photo. The issue is that she doesn’t hold the bunnies right. I repeatedly tell her that she isn’t holding her right and try to show her how to properly hold her. She still doesn’t do it right and doesn’t listen to me. I don’t want her to hold them anymore but how can i say it without being rude? I know bunnies don’t like being held, but Cocoa tolerates it so i only let her hold Cocoa. She is no longer allowed to hold them. I don’t want it to sound rude but she isn’t listening to me telling her that shes holding them wrong.

[Rio and Buns]

“Sorry, I don’t want her to get hurt so I’d rather not have anyone hold her anymore.”

It’s also not rude to tell her that if she doesn’t listen to you and hold your bunny correctly, then she can’t hold her at all. But I can see how it could be difficult to say that.

[Cocoa]

Thank you Rio and Buns. What do I say if she asks why I can hold her and my friend can hold her but she can’t? I get anxiety so sometimes even small things like this bother me so I want to be prepared so my anxiety isn’t as bad

[Rio and Buns]

Maybe just don’t hold the bun while she’s around and tell her that nobody’s holding her anymore unless there’s an emergency.

[sarahthegemini]

Just say “rabbits don’t like being picked up” It’s simple. It isn’t rude to say she can’t hold your rabbit..

[Muchelle]

She can take her IG pics from the floor =.=

[Rain]

Yes, I agree with Muchelle! I take the cutest pics and vids of Rain from the floor. I’ve never had to hold her. You can tell her how they are prey animals and feel like an eagle is scooping them up when they aren’t on the ground. If she doesn’t listen to that, you’ll have to be a bit firmer. I saw on your other thread that one rabbit keeps biting you. Maybe she’s very scared because of your brother’s friend holding her incorrectly. I get anxious too, I know how it feels. But when it comes to my rabbit’s wellbeing I don’t let anything stop me from keeping her safe. I agree with what Rios and Buns said above about not holding the rabbits near her.

[Mikey]

Seconding everything thats been said! When I want pictures with my buns, I lay on the floor with them. Sometimes Bombur likes to sit in hoods or perch on shoulders, and in those cases I might be sitting. If I want a picture while holding the buns, I get someone else to take the picture for me so I can hold the bun correctly. Your brothers friend can lay on the floor for a picture if she really wants one, she has no excuse.

I personally would tell her flat out that she is no longer allowed to hold either of them as she refused to listen to you in the past on how to hold them. If she pesters you, I would just shut the door.

[Cocoa]

Thank you

[Cocoa]

Thank you

[Rain]

How is the issue now? Has she stopped doing it?

[Cocoa]

Yes she has. She no longer holds the bunnies and Lily is being more friendly

[Tay]

I always just say – she’s super jumpy and WILL jump out of your arms if you aren’t holding her right. Leave her on the ground and get to her level. and if they say “why can you hold her?” i say – because she’s mine and I know how to hold her and prevent her from jumping out of my arms. If she jumps out of your arms and breaks her spine you’ll wish you never held her.
usually just telling them how fragile they are if they jump or fall is enough to make them understand your concerns

[Cocoa]

Thank you

[Gordo and Janice]

I’m glad to hear you are putting your foot down and protecting your rabbits. Good for you. You are their protector now. They can’t fend for themselves against predators and inconsiderate or ignorant humans. I once heard that rabbits have the intelligence of a 3 to 5 year old child (don’t know how accurate that is). So they are like your children. That is how I felt about my little rabbit. Some may say that’s going too far but that is the way I felt and I would do anything to protect my children. So again good for you!

[Cocoa]

Thank you. I bet they are that smart by some of the things my bunnies have done…

[Author]

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