Very stressed over handling difficulties

[Madison]

Ive had my Lion head rabbit for 3 months now. She is 5 months old. and id say she has warmed up to me fairly quickly. But she WILL NOT tolerate being held for any period of time. Even wrapping my hands around her chest is enough to freak her out. She will do ANYTHING  to escape my grasp. She has hurt me and drawn blood more times than I can count because I am continuously trying to get her off my bed. I’ve tried to barricade my bed several ways but she always finds her way back up. Today, she jumped on my bed and I tried to get her down but nothing worked! I tried bribing with treats, petting her and covering her eyes to pick her up, wrapping her in a blanket and ultimately failed. I got so stressed I sat there and cried because I feel like the worst bunny mom ever. If I cant do something as simple as getting her off my bed how am I supposed to trim her nails? Get her to the vet? Brush the knots under her chin and on her tummy? It also doesnt help that this is my first rabbit and I feel like i’m not doing anything right. There’s just so many thoughts going through my head right now… 

Please help if you have had similar experiences…. 

[Madison]

Update:she is still on my bed and is being very aggressive towards me and I have cried too many times lol please help

[Muchelle]

You are obviously very stressed by this situation, is there another room or area of your house where you can set up her enclosure (and a pen in case she can’t be free roaming in another room) while you sort things out?

Buns don’t generally like to be handled or picked up too much, it may take long lenghts of time to get them used to the fact that sometimes it’s necessary to pick them up (mine still hasn’t given up to that idea). When picking her up you have to be firm and grab her chest with one hand & support her bum with the other. Don’t be afraid to hurt her cause if you hesitate, she’ll wiggle right out.

Since she’s been with you so little and she’s evidently a very feisty one, I would push aside thoughts of grooming her most difficult areas and nail trimming to first build more trust and generally bond more with her to see if she loosens up a little, without trying to pick her or to touch her “no-go” areas (belly, feet, sometimes butt).

Has she already been to the vet for a checkup? The vet can show you first hand how to handle her correctly and I’m sure they’ll gladly teach you all about it. 

So, deep breath, get her off, lock her up in her pen for the night and relax a while!

[Harley&Thumper]

Have you tried throwing a towel on top of your rabbit and then picking her up? Rabbits tend to calm down a bit when their heads are covered.

[Rain]

You can also try the bunny taco thing. I’ve heard of this used on bunnies like mine and yours. You put a towel on the bed, put something she likes on top of the towel, let her sit on top of it, and then carefully wrap it around her and then carry her. It has to be a big towel though. So it can fully wrap around her to stop her from moving or scratching you. Or you could also try to lure her into a carrier if you have one. I never once picked up my bunny after bringing him home. I did hold him once when I met him at the pet store but after that no. Another time a pet store lady tried to hold him and then dropped him. You might have to wait until she’s really hungry and has to get off. Move her food and stuff to another area maybe so that she has absolutely no choice. Hope this helps!

[Deleted User]

When I need to get my boys back into their cages, I use a litter box. Works like a charm every time. As for grooming and nail trims, you can have a vet tech trim the nails, and you don’t need to be grooming the belly.

[Heaven]

Aw, I know it can be stressful and sorry it made you cry I’m sure you’re doing the very best you can – being a new rabbit owner is confusing. I worry all the time over stupid things and question whether I’m being a good bunny mummy but at the end of the day you’re trying your best with good intentions, can’t really ask for more

Ive had similar frustrations. My bun is really feisty too and if he doesn’t want to do something then good luck persuading him! I’ve found that putting my hand under his bum and giving him a big nudge usually manoeuvres him in the right direction. It also helps reminding myself that he’s never doing it to be malicious, just following his little bunny instincts.

[DaisyMae]

Don’t be hard on yourself. We’ve had our bun for almost 4 years, and although she loves us very much she won’t let us pick her up. She will climb on top of my husband if he is laying down, and she will kiss his whole face, but if he sits up or puts his hands around her like he is going to pick her up, she runs away. I still have not been able to cut her nails. I bribe her into a small dog carrier with a treat, and once she’s in there, I close the door, and take her to the vet to have her nails cut.

Grooming is also a problem … in fact, I just posted a question about ways to groom her. I’m going to be trying one of those grooming gloves. Up until now, I’ve had to bribe her into the crate, and then take her into the bathroom (where she is afraid to run away because of the tile floor), and I groomed her there, but it is an exhausting production because she gets so upset. And now, she’s gotten wise to the crate, and won’t go in to get the treat. Yes, our bun is quite the diva!

Is there a reason you don’t want her on the bed? Is she aggressive towards you even if you aren’t trying to handle her? Our bunny is free range, and we allow her on our bed. It’s her favorite place to relax, so we lay a sheet across the foot of the bed, and that’s where she lays. When we aren’t in bed, we just cover the whole bed with an old sheet, and let her lay there during the day if she wants.

As far as persuading the little diva to do something she doesn’t want to do, I came across something she doesn’t like …. the sticky roller. In my desperation to groom her, I tried a sticky roller, and she didn’t like it one bit, so now, when she’s doing something I don’t want her to do, I get the sticky roller out, and gently run it gently across her backside. That usually gets her to stop the behavior because she runs away. 2 birds with 1 stone!…. she stops doing what she wasn’t supposed to do, and I manage to get a few loose hairs off!

While it’s not easy having a bun who doesn’t like to be held, as time goes on, you will learn to be innovative when it comes to your bun. They can be feisty, but she will also learn to love and trust you, and though she may never let you pick her up, you will learn ways to bond with her. It’s such a great feeling when you walk into a room, and your bun binky’s when she hears your voice because she’s so happy to see you. Sit on the floor, and try to play with her, or feed her some carrot tops or dandelions by hand to start building the trust. Just be patient. You will figure it all out.

[Minty]

Don’t worry – just use a carrier for now. Make her get in the carrier with a treat or just push her bottom so she goes in. You can use it to easily move her from A to B. 

Also you can visit a good vet and they will teach you how to pick up your bun.

You are a good bunny mom.

[buttercup86]

Hello! I have cried many times about my bunny, deep breaths it is going to be ok! My bunny hates being picked up. I had a very similar situation to you where he always managed to escape my arms and then engaged in his favourite behaviour when he is mad – stomp at me. Like others have said having a vet give you some advice is helpful. For my bunny, getting him into his carrier or giving him medication I need another person to help. My boyfriend tends to take the role of covering his eyes with his hand and its like my bunny forgets I’m there and I can pick him up, wrap him in blankets, get him in a carrier, various things. You will figure out tricks with your bunny it takes practice and courage and use treats when you can to entice the little guy to where you need him to go. Spending time with them on the floor at their level, petting and playing with them is also helpful to gain trust.

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