Rabbit bites and digs when I pick him up

[TheAngora]

Hi,
I have had my rabbit for four years, and he has always bit, and dug on my shirt when I pick him up. I try to pick him up as seldom as possible, but when I pick him up to brush him or put his leash on he bites and digs. He is neutered, and I always picked him up on his back, but just read that that’s not good for rabbits. What should I do?

[joea64]

You’re correct – you’re not picking him up the right way. You need to be supporting his hind feet and bottom with one hand/arm, while holding him close to your body with your other hand. This will provide more support than the way you’ve been doing it, because bunnies need to have something under their feet. He instinctively associates the way you’re doing it with being seized by a predator, I don’t doubt, and that’s why he’s resisting so fiercely.

Is there a particular reason you’re picking him up for brushing and attaching his leash? Can those be done without needing to pick him up? I try to pick up my own buns as seldom as I can, the last time was when I put them into their carrier to take them for bunny-sitting while I was on vacation.

[Wick & Fable]

As stated, do not pick your rabbit up from it’s back, or flip your rabbit over. Both trigger very intense panic, associated with being eaten or captured by prey. Since you’ve been doing it for a while, it’s natural your rabbit does this every time you attempt to pick him up. He’s desperately trying to escape. Any feelings of affection and trust go out the window the moment a rabbit feels endangered.

The feeling of support against your body both during and while picked up is important. Picking up your rabbit by putting your hand under his stomach from the side, while pushing your body against the other side, provides good security. You also need to pair this with using your other hand to catch and support his feet and bottom. With the association he’s made, he may try and hop away immediately. You can do small practices sparingly by just lifting him up a centimeter or two, then placing him back down slowly so he understands it isn’t dangerous and will end well.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Picking him up while supporting his back legs is also very important for his spine. Rabbits have extremely strong leg muscles and light bones, and they can actually snap their own spine when they kick out their legs in a blind panic. It’s horrible, but it’s the truth
That’s the reason why I refuse to bun-sit anymore: my neighbour has an escapee-bunny and it’s too difficult for me to get him back into his cage safely. I have a tiny dwarf bun who’s easy to pick up, but he’s a big strong lad and I have limited function in my left arm. The last time I watched him for the weekend he jumped out of his cage suddenly, and it was really difficult to pick him up properly. He started to kick like mad, and seemed a bit out of sorts when I put him back in his cage. Luckily he hadn’t injured himself, but I’d never have forgiven myself if he’d had an accident.

Practice safe picking up with him, and as said before: make it fun. Healthy treats are an excellent way of rewarding him for his patience. The exercises will strengthen the trust between you and the bond between you as well.

[TheAngora]

Thank you for replieing, but I don’t think I explained what I meant well enough. When I pick him up and hold him on my chest, supporting his hind feet and with a hand on his back, he bites and scratches. So I started holding him on his back so he couldn’t bite me. I don’t know how to hold him so he won’t bite me, or teach him not to bite. Thank you though!

[DanaNM]

If you are needing to pick him up for grooming or other necessary reasons, you might try training him to go into a carrier or box with treats, then you can lift him to a table that way.

In terms of technique, you want to do it in such a way that they are very supported, and also very sure that they won’t be able to squirm away (and in your case, not be able to attack you). Firmness is key (obviously not squeezing them too much though!).

I’m right handed, I’ll try to explain my strategy! My technique is to first place the back of my right hand on the ground in front of them (so I’m facing the bunny head-on), as though I’m going to pet them. Then I place my left hand on their bum, so my left forearm is along the left side of them. I simultaneously slide my right hand under their front end on the right side (like their arm pits). Lift the front and and scoop their bum towards me, so their bum is in my left hand, but back feet are not touching anything. So now they are lifted off the ground, with both front and hind end supported. I then immediately pull them close to my body, and usually will tuck their head under my left arm, so their right side is now pressed against my body. Doing this blocks their vision and makes them much less likely to struggle as they are held on all sides. I’ve never gotten a bite, kick, scratch this way, even with large and squirmy bunnies. I of course make sure their nose is exposed!

I’ve even been able to hold squirmy buns briefly with just my left hand this way (head tucked under my arm, bum in left hand, left side against left forearm, right side against my body), leaving my right hand free to open carrier doors, etc.

I always give a big food reward after I’ve done whatever needed to be done (in my case I have to give medication injections every other day!), and I’m quickly forgiven.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Eve]

My bunny does the same thing and I read that it’s when they are bored or trying to make a nest? Another thing said to buy chew toys so they chew on them instead of you. Hope this helps a bit.

[Bladesmith]

This sounds like what Clover does to me every morning.  When I walk out into the living room, she runs around my legs in circles, and then periscopes up and begs me to pick her up.  After a minute of cuddles and lots of licks, I then put her down and sit on the floor, whereupon she jumps onto my chest and digs at my chest and grabs my shirt in her mouth and tugs and slobbers on it.  It’s all love.

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