Taming a wild one

[Battie]

I know very little about Quincy’s past, but it sounds like even though he’s a domestic breed he was born in the wild.  It makes sense, too, because he’s never let me handle him.

He’s a very friendly bun, but only on his own terms.  I’ve let him be because if I need to get him somewhere, into the condo or carrier, I can lure him with food.  However, his nails *must* be trimmed now and  I’m determined not to visit the vet’s to have it done.  If they can hold him still, can’t I?

I watched the bunny burrito video on YouTube, which is the same trick the vet showed me, but I just can’t do it!  I can keep him on the towel just a little longer if I put pellets on it, but as soon as he realizes what I’m up to he fights me with all his might.  I cover his eyes, stroke him, and speak softly, but it doesn’t help.  I finally have to let go because I’m afraid he’ll hurt himself fighting me.

It’s not like he’s scared, though.  I don’t even think he’s mad. He doesn’t run away from me afterward.  He’ll even return to the towel if I put more pellets on it!  As soon as I gave up and sat down to type this, he flopped on the floor with his big silly feet straight out behind him, the way that always makes me laugh.

How do I show this feisty little thing who’s boss?

[BinkyBunny]

Uh oh, you mean you actually want to try and tackle being the boss of a rabbit?  We may have to pull in the swat team on this one!

Seriously, though, I think on this success will come from not becoming the boss of him when you are trying to hold him (accept securng him for his own safety), but to look at him to feel as safe as possible.  Many rabbit’s instinctually feel caught when they are handled.  This is extremely frightening and for some their instincts are telling them their life is at risk and to break free.   So even “passive”  and/or calm bunnies who may see their human as the dominant may still fall back on their instincts to struggle free, bite and kick when being held.

So, getting him to tolerate being held WITHOUT anything unpleasant happening might help.   I also recommend being down closer to the ground when you are first doing this.   Offer him a treat, pet him – just staying calm.  Some bunnies won’t eat anything while being held if they are just freaked out, but keep trying over time.  Get him used to you petting him and handling his feet without doing anything. 

I am not one to tell people to hold a rabbit if a rabbit doesn’t like it, but that’s only for people who have a rabbit that doesn’t enjoy being held and they hold anyway just to cuddle on a regular basis. (Sometimes the occasional cuddle is irresistable)  But it is a good idea and safer in the long run if you are able to get your bunny at least to tolerate it long enough to get the nails clipped.

Also, you can try trancing – but you have to watch out as they “bolt” right out of it.  Trancing may look like they are relaxed, but basically it’s an “escape” technique when they feel caught.

 

[Battie]

Haha, I guess I used the wrong word when I said “boss,” though I do feel like in these situations he is playing games with me.

When I try to do this the towel is always on the floor and I try to make him feel safe and calm.  I have the clippers out in case it goes well, but I didn’t expect it to actually happen in one night.

Is trancing mean to do to a rabbit?  When I read why they do it it sounded really sad…

Thanks for the advice… I would NEVER try to cuddle Quincy because I can tell he hates it.  I just pet him when he asks and hope one day he’ll decide to snuggle.

[BinkyBunny]

I am not a fan of trancing as a cuddle technique, but I do it with Jack to trim his nails. He’s a big boy, with very powerful big back legs, so he’s a challenge and I’m very quick now with clipping nails. I can usually get all of his nails done in about a minute and half. So the trancing is not done for too long. With Rucy, I put on her back, but I don’t rub her head and get her to do her trance behavior. She is basically her normal self, just on her back – She has just gotten tolerant with having her nails clipped over the years.

Trancing is a stress response, and I don’t feel it is mean if you what you are trying to do in the meantime is something that will help your bunny. Long nails can lead to sore-hocks, broken nails and even pulled out nails or toe injuries if the long nail gets snagged. Bunnies that run on carpet (and most do) – their nails grow into the long pointy, almost hookish endings that can get caught. So for some people, the easiest and quickest way to prevent this and clip their bunnies nails is via trancing.

[Beka27]

in response to your comment about the vet… i do monthly nail trims at the vet with both my bunnies. my issue is that i cannot burrito (or trance)them, my husband refuses to help me trim nails (he does not want to be the “bad guy”) and i find that the ride to the vet helps stress them out just enough that once they’re there, it is easy to do. in familiar territory, they are going to act out more. can you re-enact this by taking him on a car ride to someone’s house five minutes away and trim his nails there? or even take him to a different area of the house where he never goes? i do believe you might need a second person to help you tho. one to hold the bunny upright and securely and another to quickly clip clip clip…

[Balefulregards]

Yes – The idea of being the boss of a rabbit?

HAHAHAHHA

Coco has never willingly been tranced – Once I got her almost – then a quick scratch kick to me and she was gone. I now simply bunny burrito her and she has to cope for the ten minutes I need to administer care/grooming. Then again – Coco is a little Dutch – no more than 4 and a half pounds, So I can firmly hold her while I wrap her. Its the same way I used to feel about babies who didn’t want their med’s….Not their favorite thing, BUT has to be done.

Coco is also NOT a snuggle bunny. Never has been. I don’t know her long term past ( other than I rescued her from the basement where the upstairs neighbors had left her) but she didn’t seem to have a ton of human socialization. I am, in fact, surprised she was so friendly at all, given her lack of interaction. She will lay near me. She will groom me – but she HATES to be picked up. If she actually sat on my lap and fell asleep, I would die of shock.

[MarkBun]

Trancing isn’t something that you should do to a bun just because he looks cute like it.  But I always feel it is more ‘mean’ to a bun to try and clip their nails and they’re stuggling, scared and so on.  It is a case of which way is less stressful on the bun.  For most, a trance so you can get the nails done and over with instead of struggling for 30 minutes is a much better way.

 

I can trance Dono to get at the hard to reach nails (Such as the dewclaw) but mostly I just sit on a chair, pin them down on my lap against my belly and take it one paw at a time.  Maryann has come to more or less accept it and I can keep Dono distracted with treats.  I think that boy would have no issue with a snake eating him as long as there were raisins to be had!

 

 

[Battie]

Thanks for the advice. Sorry I haven’t responded till now, but the seasonal sickness finally caught up with me. 🙁

I feel better about trancing when you describe its purpose. I’ll probably have to take him to the vet this time around because the nails are just too long, but hopefully if I keep working at the burrito I’ll get it down.

[MarkBun]

You could ask the vet to show you the burrito method.

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Oh that’s what i was going to say; If they need to be done-get the vet to do them, and start working on holding/securing/burritoing/trancing for the next few weeks until you can do it when it’s not a ‘manicure emergency’

[KatnipCrzy]

Sometimes pets behave differently at the vet clinic than they do at home- if the bun is a little nervous after the car ride they are more likely to accept strangers picking them up and trimming nails as opposed to having their bunny slave pick them up in an area that is “theirs” and trim their nails.  Sometimes at work we easily trim a pets nails without fuss and the owner is amazed because at home the pet throws a tantrum and the owner is not able to trim the nails at all.

Plus at least where I work- 99% of the time there is 2 of us to trim the nails- one to hold and one to trim.   Only exception is under anesthesia or sedation and a pet that does not struggle- but even then if the pet is awake there is usually someone holding, cuddling and distracting the pet.

So don’t feel bad if you can not do it at home- it is not the same at all!  Sometimes I think pets are like us and fear the worst when nervous- so they are probably relieved when all we do it trim their nails.

I make my husband help me do the cats, dogs and bunnies nails at home.  He refuses to help with the birds so I take them into the vet clinic for wings and nails.

[Battie]

Posted By KatnipCrzy on 12/25/2008 3:05 PM

Sometimes pets behave differently at the vet clinic than they do at home- if the bun is a little nervous after the car ride they are more likely to accept strangers picking them up and trimming nails as opposed to having their bunny slave pick them up in an area that is “theirs” and trim their nails.  Sometimes at work we easily trim a pets nails without fuss and the owner is amazed because at home the pet throws a tantrum and the owner is not able to trim the nails at all.

Plus at least where I work- 99% of the time there is 2 of us to trim the nails- one to hold and one to trim.   Only exception is under anesthesia or sedation and a pet that does not struggle- but even then if the pet is awake there is usually someone holding, cuddling and distracting the pet.

So don’t feel bad if you can not do it at home- it is not the same at all!  Sometimes I think pets are like us and fear the worst when nervous- so they are probably relieved when all we do it trim their nails.

I make my husband help me do the cats, dogs and bunnies nails at home.  He refuses to help with the birds so I take them into the vet clinic for wings and nails.

We went to the vet today to get his manicure.  They also used the hold and trim method.  Quincy was giving me his most intense stink-eye ever the entire time (well, all two minutes of it).  When we were alone in the car again I explained that we could avoid all this unpleasantness next time if he could just settle down for me, now that he sees how easy it is.

I took him to the pet store with me to buy hay and a new toy with my gift card, but I think it was too late to make up.  I am definitely in trouble with him tonight!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

LOL That’s too funny He’ll forgive you eventually (more treats! )

[Battie]

Yeah, he seemed better by bedtime.  And last night while I was trying to understand his grooming customs (he will sometimes present for pets, but never offer licks in return), he flopped against my arm with his butt in my face!  Usually he chooses a spot against a wall. He only stayed for a few minutes but it made me feel special. 🙂

[jerseygirl]

Posted By Battie on 12/30/2008 8:56 PM

Yeah, he seemed better by bedtime.  And last night while I was trying to understand his grooming customs (he will sometimes present for pets, but never offer licks in return), he flopped against my arm with his butt in my face!  Usually he chooses a spot against a wall. He only stayed for a few minutes but it made me feel special. 🙂

That happened to me too once!  I hear you, bunny butt in face IS special! ~lol !

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