Leash training……????

[Ashley00]

 

Greetings from Pensacola Florida?  I love the site!  Thank you for all the information.  It has helped me and my rabbits live a happier life.

My two babies are both around 4 months old.  One male, Levi (neutered) and one female Lulu are wonderful and I enjoy trying new things with them.  My next idea is leash training.  I would appreciate any suggestion, trials and errors.

I think they are kinda used to the outside some, because I let them out on the screened in porch.  They both like laying in the sun and I feed them out there too, sometimes.  The slideing glass door slays partially open all the time and they go in and out all day.  They also have a liter box out there, they use more than the inside one.

 

Thank You,

Ashley

[ScooterandAnnette]

Walking a bunny is pretty much like walking a cat – they go wherever they want to, and you just follow along. We’ve “walked” all 4 of our bunnies – not all together, the most we’ll do is 2 at a time – but you really can’t train them to just walk along nicely like a dog. But if you do decide to try it make sure you have a harness – the pet stores here will sell “rabbit harnesses” but they’re really just cat harness in different packaging with a higher price.
– Annette

[Ashley00]

When I put the leash on Lulu, the calmer one,  she really, really freaked out.  Any more suggestions?

[JK]

First of all welcome!  I personally don’t like the idea of putting a leash on a rabbit at all.  I’m not sure why people want to walk their rabbits outside???? There is so much crud on the streets and grasses that I would not want my rabbit exposed to those things.  Their little bodies are so fragile I would also be afraid a good yank from something could hurt them.  This is just my opinion and I know there are others here that do leash their rabbits!

[Ashley00]

I really appreciate all opinions.  Thank you.

[Sarita]

Hi, I don’t advocate leash walking either, too dangerous.

I would also recommend that you don’t let your rabbits outside unsupervised, too many predators, I’m sure they love it, but it is so dangerous. One of our forum members almost had her rabbit taken away by a hawk out on her balcony – needless to say, she no longer allows her rabbits outside.

Here is an excellent article from one of North Texas Rabbit Sanctuary’s recommended vets:

The Indoor Bunny
by Loretta Pantenburg, DVM
Summertree Animal & Bird Clinic

I know rabbit owners often think that their rabbits would love to be able to play outside, but is that what your bunny really wants? And, more importantly, is that what is best for your bunny? As a veterinarian, I see the sad side of what happens when pet rabbits are allowed outside. I see the rabbits with heat stress that die because their owners did not realize that rabbits do not tolerate temperatures over 80 degrees for long. Rabbits that are kept inside in the cool air conditioning, then put outside to “play” in temperatures they are not accustomed to, often get heat stress, or worse, heat stroke. The few rabbits that survive heatstroke must be monitored for days afterwards for signs of kidney failure.

Sometimes when rabbits are let outside the neighborhood dog or cat gets in the yard, resulting in injuries or heat stress from being chased, or bite wounds from the dog or cat. Anything that frightens a rabbit (ie: dog, cat, loud noises, etc.) can result in the bunny kicking and hurting, or even possibly breaking, its back.

What other problems do we see when rabbits are kept outside? Rabbits are very good at escaping from very small gaps in a fence and they almost never survive to return home. External parasites are a big problem, especially in Texas and other warm states. The most common parasites we see are fleas and mites. These can lead to skin irritation and, in severe cases, significant blood loss or anemia. Fleas are a host for tapeworms.

We also see fly larvae (Cuterebra) and tapeworm infestation. This begins as eggs or larvae in the soil which then migrates through the skin to cause local abscesses and infection. In severe cases, brain or neurological damage may occur. Treatment often requires surgery or prolonged antibiotic therapy. Fly bites may carry pox virus, which can cause lesions that occlude the rabbits sight or breathing and make them vulnerable to infection. Shope’s fibroma is a tumor caused by a virus, carried by vectors (like flies), that is seen in rabbits.

By far the most common, and worst, thing we see is the bunny that comes in with maggots in its skin. This is usually around the rectal area, secondary to urine or feces getting on the fur, and flies laying eggs on the area. The result is usually a very sick rabbit with severe skin wounds and infection. Treatment usually involves anesthetizing the rabbit, removing the maggots, cleaning and debriding the wounds, treating with antibiotics, and LOTS of follow-up care by both the owner and the veterinarian.

So what do I, as a veterinarian, recommend? Try setting up a play area inside your house. Include a variety of play toys, items to chew on, and ideally a companion rabbit. Provide a rabbit-safe environment, free from the worries of heat stress, injury, trauma, and parasites, and your bunny won’t miss the outside. He will also enjoy a longer, healthier, happier life.

[JK]

Sarita – GREAT article! Plus – since rabbits do not get vaccinated like cats and dogs do, it just opens them up to numerous possible diseases.

[babybunsmum]

ew sarita that article is disgusting… excellent to know… and disgusting.  i’m glad you shared.

it took me some practice to be able to put the harness on swiftly so that it caused the least amount of aggrivation to the buns.  in fact, my first bun got so upset that i didn’t even bother to take him outside.  he was grunting & almost whining (a sound i had never heard from him ever before – poor boy) and continuing the stress would not have been in his best interest.

we had a few really nice & warm days unseasonably early & i was itching to sit out on the porch & enjoy it.  i also wanted to spend time with the buns like we do when we hang out in the living room.  even though putting on the harness & leash went well & both buns seemed relatively relaxed (they went out at separate times), my porch is not fully enclosed and so to take them out there requires my full attention.  it ended up not being a very relaxed scene for me.  i was worried about off leash dogs spotting her & running at us, or roaming cats… didn’t even think of parasites.  ew.

[Beka27]

i’m going to chime in here and recommend that you don’t leash your buns. i think they have a lot more fun running and jumping and lounging inside where they’re safe, rather than feeling confined by a harness. also, the harness can get caught on something and they can get strangled easily.

now… is your whole porch screened in? top to bottom? if so i think that would be relatively safe for them, as long as you were sure no predators could get in. buns can die of fright, so be cautious when they’re out, screened in or not.

[kimberleyanddarren]

hmm is there already a post on this because i have deja vu lol
anyway yes rabbits cant be ‘walked’ as such basically you put a lead on them so they cant get away and get lost, but the walking consists of the bunny hops wherever they like and you follow like the bunny slave we all are you could try putting the lead on the one that freaks out but not actually going anywhere, for example, before giving a nice treat to nibble on the floor, this way s/he will get used to it before actually going out

[KytKattin]

~Wow, I never really thought about the parasites and such. I have often taken my rabbits outside to graze in an expen on nice days (I can’t tolerate temps over 80 either!), and they always seem to enjoy it so much that I don’t know if I want to restrict them to the indoors.~

~Though as for not being able to train them, what about people who do jumps and sort of agility courses? I thought about trying that with late Peter, but he always was to lazy to care.~

[CookieLopBaby]

hmmmm, I’ve never actually “walked” my bunny so I don’t know if this will help. However Cookie does have a walking “jacket” and leash. But I only use it for vet trips. You know, I never actually put her down, but it just gives me a sense of peace. Cause I was so worried about me opening her carrier or a mistake happening, etc, and just had a worry that some big dog would gobble her up. but I’m personally really scared to let her walk with a leash, cause she binkies and jumps around so much I’m scared that she would get tangled and break a leg or something.

[Beka27]

some people do those agility courses and sutff, but is that just another part of the the rabbit breed shows i thought? i think that in itself would be more stress than it’s worth for a creature as delicate as a bun. same as with dog shows… 99% of people with dogs would not do all that, they just enjoy their pets and try to give them the most comfortable, stress-free life possible.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I take my buns outside OCCAISIONALLY.

I actually took them out on Sunday it was beautiful out (about sixteen celcius-maybe 60 farenheit?). I put them in harnesses, and attach a leash, but I don’t hold it (they don’t like that) and then set them down and follow them around the yard. The yard is fenced so nothing can get in, but it’s also a new area so there arent’ any old trees that attract birds or anything. It’s boring, since I have to follow them around, but they sure seem to like to run around on the grass! In the fall, we go out into my parents garden, since everything in there is bunny food (Kale, strawberries, beets, carrots, romaine and chives) and just let them hop around, eat and dig.

It’s short periods of time. Leashed so I could catch them. And not only supervised but I”m literally two steps away from them at all times.

[kimberleyanddarren]

yes i agree with K&K u need to take them out and stay 2 steps behind at all times

[Author]

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