New Angora needs grooming now - Will it ruin a future bond?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 10sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 7 months ago by MoxieMeadows.

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- 09/25/2015 at 9:48 PM
  Jilly
  Participant
  4 posts
  Hi there!
  
  I’m new to bunny care, and I’ve read some books/articles to prepare for for my first bunny
  
  A few days ago, my little Angora boy (3 months) came to live with me. His hair was a little matted and his nails really need a trim. Here is the question/problem:
  
  In all of the articles that I’ve read, it says to introduce yourself slowly – open the cage and let him come to you. Don’t reach in the cage and pull him out. Don’t force him to sit on your lap…etc.
  
  I totally understand that pulling him out of the cage and making him sit on my lap will not make him happy – and is scary for him. The problem is that I do need to get him out of his cage and groom him. I’ve only had him a few days, but I can see that his coat needs work before it gets really bad.
  
  How can I do the grooming that he needs without violating all of the rules that I’ve read about making your bunny trust you? I really like this little guy, and I want a happy bond together
  
  I would appreciate it so much if anyone has tips on getting his fur fixed up without him dreading my hands and lap.
  
  Thank you,
  
  Jilly
- 09/25/2015 at 11:45 PM
  Eepster
  Participant
  1236 posts
  Treats to bribe him to sit still.
  
  Angoras are breed for mellowness, so with any luck yours will be true to that.
- 09/26/2015 at 12:11 AM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17242 posts
  If you’re worried, there is always plan B (have the mean ol’ vet do it).
- 09/26/2015 at 12:33 AM
  longhairmike
  Participant
  1069 posts
  sit on a chair facing the tv,, with a pillow on your lap and a bathtowel over it,,,
- 09/26/2015 at 12:41 AM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17242 posts
  LHM – I do that with Wooly. I sit him in my lap on the couch in front of the TV.
- 09/26/2015 at 1:34 PM
  Jilly
  Participant
  4 posts
  Thank you all for your responses
  
  Is it ok for me to reach inside of his cage and lift him out? That was one thing that I kept reading over and over again is not to pull him out because I need to respect his “space”.
- 09/26/2015 at 3:32 PM
  MoxieMeadows
  Participant
  5375 posts
  You definitely want to groom him before is gets bad, I have an angora so I should know.
  
  What breed is he? I have a french named Moxie. =)
- 09/26/2015 at 5:33 PM
  Jilly
  Participant
  4 posts
  He’s a French angora too I think his name will be Harry (I’m a big Harry Potter fan) – and he is very hairy!
- 09/26/2015 at 6:04 PM
  MoxieMeadows
  Participant
  5375 posts
  Aww, he sounds cute! What color is he? (Moxie is black, and you can see her in my signature and profile pic)
- 09/27/2015 at 7:26 PM
  Jilly
  Participant
  4 posts
  Moxie has a beautiful coat! So shiny!
  
  Harry is grey. The breeder said it was some fancy grey type or something…I don’t know. He is just cute and fluffy to me hehe
- 09/27/2015 at 7:32 PM
  MoxieMeadows
  Participant
  5375 posts
  Thanks!
  
  Aww I see him in your photo, so cute!
  
  Moxie is more of a “pet quality” angora lol! She has horrible sheds. She only sheds once in a great while, and when she does she turns bald!
  
  I think it’s her genes, because a friend of mine adopted Moxie’s relatives and others too, and she said she had some french angoras she had to rehome because they weren’t producing good fiber. But Moxie’s more of a pet to me, so it doesn’t really matter, although I think it’d be easier to have normal sheds!
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