Bunny Harnesses

[Moxiez]

My mom suggested that I get Moxie one of thosebunny harnesses and leashes they sell at PetSmart, the ones with themesh connecting the collar and "waist" so that I can safely take Moxieoutside.

Are these really safe for bunnies?

 

[iluvmybuns]

I've definately seen harnesses specifically madefor buns! I am just not sure how much they would really like thething. I'm sure they're probably safe as long as you aren'tpulling on it! I do know someone who has one and she takes her buns forwalks all the time...!

 

[undergunfire]

It is possible to take your bun outside on a leash, but there are safety measures beyond the harness.



If you do get the harness, be sure to put it on Moxie in the housefirst. Let him get used to it for a couple minutes, just don't allowhim to struggle....he could injure himself.

Once Moxie is comfy wearing the harness, after letting him wear it fora while (supervised) each day, then add the leash. Let him get used tothe leash trailing behind him. Once he is used to that for a few days(or more), then try walking him through an area in your house with theharness and leash on. This will get him used to being "walked".

Once you are ready to go outside, then I would first set up a pen andlet him wear his harness and leash in there for a little while eachday. If the bun isn't used to being outside, then I wouldn't want tojust walk out the door and let it down with it's harness on and theleash in your hand, the bun might get scared of a noise and panic. Bysetting up a pen and allowing him to get used to the outside noises andsmells, then he will be more comfortable being outside of the pen andon the leash.




- Amy (Mallory, Morgan, and Madilyn-Mae):hearts

 

[Mikoli]

undergunfire wrote:

It is possible to take your bun outside on a leash, butthere are safety measures beyond the harness.



If you do get the harness, be sure to put it on Moxie in the housefirst. Let him get used to it for a couple minutes, just don't allowhim to struggle....he could injure himself.

Once Moxie is comfy wearing the harness, after letting him wear it fora while (supervised) each day, then add the leash. Let him get used tothe leash trailing behind him. Once he is used to that for a few days(or more), then try walking him through an area in your house with theharness and leash on. This will get him used to being "walked".

Once you are ready to go outside, then I would first set up a pen andlet him wear his harness and leash in there for a little while eachday. If the bun isn't used to being outside, then I wouldn't want tojust walk out the door and let it down with it's harness on and theleash in your hand, the bun might get scared of a noise and panic. Bysetting up a pen and allowing him to get used to the outside noises andsmells, then he will be more comfortable being outside of the pen andon the leash.




- Amy (Mallory, Morgan, and Madilyn-Mae):hearts

:yeahthat

You got some good information from Amy. I don't have much experiencewith the "jacket" type harnesses, but I do have more experience withthe H harnesses and other types of harnesses. Make sure the harnessfits her before doing anything drastic with her. I know a rabbit thatalmost broke a leg because of a loose harness which it got it's legcaught in. For a rough guide, I say that there should be at least a twofinger widths between the bunny and the harness. Some people havedifferent methods, but that is what I use.

I've heard of people on the forum that use those harnesses, and theyhave said that they're really good and safe. A picture of the harnesswould be good though. Is this the one you're talking about? (I searchPetSmart Harness Mesh on Google)

If yes, anyone have any experience with these?

Rachel.

 

[mezeta]

Hi I have that exact same harness (shown in theabove pic). I also have a H harness but found it very difficult to puton Jess and take it off again as she would struggle, so I recentlypurchased the Jacket one and its really good. I can put it on andeasily take it off Jess, its really secure as it is fastened first withVelcro and then for extra safety a couple of clips, Jess seams to bereally comfortable in it and will run around on the backyard with it on.

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

I have tried the petsmart one and i find it hardto get on because the straps come together under the bun. I have akitten on (the H kind) and it is easier to fit and has buckles so i getthe same fit each time. Its also cheaper if you go to walmartand get aharness/leash set. its likethis one

http://www.hagen.com/canada/english/cats/product.cfm?CAT=5&SUBCAT=510&PROD_ID=05018510010101

 

[Henxy]

I have that harness in the pic too. I haven't tried it with my new rescue buns, but previous buns seemed happy enough, although I did get some disapproving looks about its style!

I familiarised my buns with it by putting the harness on without the lead, and letting them get accustomed to it.

 

[hunnybunny63]

Harnesses are great, there is so much you can do with your rabbit cne they are harness trained. I am going to start a new rabbit hoppign thread soon if the old one can not be found.

Just be careful to let and new rabbit get used to a harness before you take it outside for a walk, keep the first few walks short and positive. Also as an extra precaution make sure your garden is fully blocked off so if your rabbit does panic you can let go of them rather than pulling on the lead!

hope this helps and hasnt repeated what anyone else has said!

 

[jcottonl02]

I have the very same harness I bought for Benji- my dwarf lop rabbit.

Now- Benji is very good-natured and so lovely, but as you all probably know I adopted him after he was abandoned- so I didn't have him from a particularly young age. As a consequence I had to teach him that being picked up wasn't scary and all he'd be getting was cuddles and kisses- which took me a while but now he's absolutely fine.

However- he detests his harness. I think if I would have got him used to it as a baby he wouldn't mind- but obviously I couldnt- he just hates it.

When I eventually get it on him he struggles and kicks and I think manages to somehow dislocate all his bones or either teleport out of it becuase I cannot keep him in it. Either that or he lies down and I swear pretends to be dead so I take it off- which I do- in a cold sweat. And then he hops off like 'hehehehe'.

But I just don't use it on him anymore. It's too much stress for him- he will never like it. So don't be downhearted if your bun doesn't like it- some just don't.

Even when I think I've got the harness on him Benji manages to jerk out of it, so I'm not entirely sure how secure they are :S or maybe I just can't work it properly or he is the master of geting out of them lol!

 

[jcottonl02]

 

[tiabia0]

I have that harness that is seen in the picture above. Neither of my two rabbits let me put it on them but they enjoy playing with the leash part!

 

[golfdiva]

I too tried the harness in the above photo. I got it on with a little fussing. Then Hershey was fine with it. I took him outside, but he liked to run around so much I couldn't hang on to the leash and keep up with him! Plus, when I tried to get him to come out from under a bush, he wiggled right out of the harness! I tried a smaller harness, but that didn't fit.

I found it much easier to just let him run without a leash or harness, and I just follow behind. When he is tired, he flops down on the ground and I pick him up and bring him back inside!

 

[~Bracon~]

Ive got one for Bracon. She's still a bit too small for it yet and she dusn't seem to like it much :?. I feel really bad when she's looking through her run at the grass. I couldn't let her out freely because there are too many gaps in the fence etc. If you do get one i'd suggest leaving the harness on your bun for a while to get used to it.

 

[ellissian]

Milly has a T Bar harness and really freaks out everytime I putit on him. I always take it off him pretty much straight away.

 

[jcottonl02]

Yeah same. Well Benji has got a big run so gets lots of binkying time eating grass etc. but becuase I want him to have a big space to run around in and I can't put him on a lead and take him in the garden, he has lots of time running around the house (with me of course!!!!)