Ringo really hates being picked up…

[EveryPossibleWorld]

We have had Ringo just about a year now and I am still unable to pick him up! I understand him not wanting to be picked up and coddled but it would sure be nice to be able to check out his feet (he is prone to sore hocks) and clip  his nails without taking him to the vet everty month. We recently took him to the Red Door Animal Shelter in Chicago (the shelter we adopted him from — highly reccomend this place) and one of the girls was literally able to pick him up and walk around with him like he was a ragdoll! It was the cutest darn thing!

I understand his not wanting to be picked up but I think it is smart for me to be able to at least do it for health check up purposes. I got some new cream for his hocks (which are not currently bad but just to see if I can get ’em any less pink)and I can’t even rub it on his feet since I can’t pick him up!

Everytime I attempt to pick him up he scares the crap out of me wriggling around and I can’t seem to get him into a “trance” before he rips my arms and hands all up with his violent kicks and I would never forgive myself if I hurt him. 

Even worse………… he is currently holding a grudge because I tried picking him up 3x this week. Grudgy little rabbit!

Any tips???? 

[Monkeybun]

herd him into a carrier, and take him to an area of the house he doesn’t go into, a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, whatever. My Monkey does better on the bathroom counter than anywhere else in the apartment, I can check her teeth, nails, groom her, all that fun stuff on the counter, when she wont let me touch her anywhere else.

Thats why at the vet and shelter we was easier to deal with, he was in unfamiliar territory, and was more likely to behave.

[EveryPossibleWorld]

Your exactly right!!! The ONLY time I have successfully held him was when I absolutely had to at the vet. Thanks for the tip!!!

[Elrohwen]

I agree on the carrier thing! I herded Otto in his carrier for bonding sessions and he got very good about letting me pick him up from there. Now I can pick him up most of the time.

I have never ever picked Hannah up and she is even bad for the vet techs who are experienced, so I dunno. I should take my own advice and try the carrier thing!

I think it’s all about getting them used to it in a situation where they can’t get away. If they can run, they will, so you need to set it up so he can’t get away from you. Once you do it enough he’ll realize being picked up isn’t the end of the world (at least this is how it worked for Otto)

[EveryPossibleWorld]

Thanks for the help guys!

[Author]

Messages