Why won’t my bunny let me hold him?

[Casper]

Everytime we try to pick our bunny up he freaks out. We where told to stay low to the ground and hold him tight to us, supporting his back legs so he doesn’t kick. But everytime we try to he wiggles and fights until he is free. Is there something we are doing wrong?? Or something we can do to help?? 

Thanks!

[Gizmo_Fluffybutt]

It’s bunny’s natural instinct to resit being lifted. In the wild anything that would pick him up would be very bad! Some bunnies never get to the point where they’re completely comfortable being picked up and others eventually don’t mind it. Gizmo doesn’t necessarily like it, but we’ve gotten to the point now that he’s okay with it (once you can catch him that is). If you’re bunny likes to come to you and play with you, you can try sitting or lying down with him and see if he’ll hop into your lap or on your stomach. Then you can just put your arms around him and get up since he’ll be up against you. This is how we started with Gizmo. Also, you have to be really confident about picking him up, because if you hesitate for a moment he’ll be off and kicking and the more he manages to get away the more he’ll learn that kicking=freedom. I’ve also found that my bunny freaks out much less if I make sure I’m really supporting all his legs, so I scoop one arm under the front and one under the back legs rather than trying to get under his tummy. Also, try giving him a small treat and good petting after you pick him up so he learns that being picked up is good.

If he never gets used to it then you may just have a bunny that won’t allow picking up. In that case, if you have to pick him up for an emergency or vet visit or something you can toss a towel over him and scoop him up in the towel.

[Gizmo_Fluffybutt]

Oh, and my personal experience is that he’s most comfortable if his feet and tummy are against me and he’s facing me, rather than holding him feet down in my hands. So when I pick him up I rotate him so he’s completely up against my chest. That also keeps him from flailing his legs.

[Casper]

Thanks for the info we will try it and see what happens.

[Steve Parker]

Hey, My Buddy doesn’t like to be picked up either. It has taken a good bit of time, but he’s finally coming around if we cradle him in our arms like you would a baby and he will allow us to hold him for a few minutes.

Our next goal if for him to crawl in our laps. So far, he just stands with hind legs on the chair and front legs on one of ours. It takes a long time.

[Gravehearted]

hi Casper and welcome to binky bunny! how long have you had your bunny?

most bunnies are pretty fearful of being held. especially if he’s new to your family, it takes time to build trust.
i would keep it up, and try several times a week to hold him briefly. Maybe try giving him a treat afterward so he doesn’t have a negative association with being picked up

[Hannah]

I’d say the first thing you should do is see if there’s some pictures available online that show you the safest way to pick up a bunny (reading it is one thing, seeing it is another). Also, do be careful about the kicking not just because he’ll learn that kicking=escaping, but also because rabbits have delicate spines and they can break their backs kicking too hard/being flailed about. Humphrey’s pretty comfy being picked up as long as his feet are facing my chest and I have one hard under his bum and another arm around him, but Monty hates picking up more than anything (other than Humphrey) and tries to run up your shoulder and leap off your back when you have him. o___o;; If your bunny does something like that, *do not let him go!* He’ll go splat.

[babybunsmum]

hey there!  you’ve gotten some great advice here and i just wanted to add… my first 2 buns i was able to pick up and rotate them to rest against my chest  – i’m sure they felt secure against me like this because they stopped struggling.  but when i try to do that with baby bun she wriggles furiously, climbing up my chest & over my shoulder.  she struggles so much that i’m fearful pinning her harder will hurt her and sometimes i’m not able to regain my hold under her chest.  so i have to drop down on hands & knees & just let her jump off of me.  for this reason i rarely hold her against my chest.  just thought i’d caution you about this possibility… if your bun did this & tried to jump down from your shoulder while you are standing they could get hurt.  

[xXPanicXx]

Lol yeah, my bunny didnt let me pick her up for a while, she would hide (still do somtimes) but i can cradle her, but if i do it for too long, she’ll jump right side up. it does take alot of time

[Gravehearted]

o0Panic0o – your reply posted 4 times, so I deleted the spares.

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