Handling our new rabbit?

[buddytherabbit]

My gf loves to pick him up and snuggle him. He resist or squrims a bit when she picks up up, but once he is down on her chest he lays there and seems to love being rubbed and snuggled...She knows to let him sniff her hand then pet him and then pick him up. However, can we handle him too much? He seems to love being rubbed but hates being picked up and I dont want this to stress him out. We've only had him for 3 days, he doesnt come to us yet, but he seems love being rubbed and comfortable once he is on our chest or belly.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

I know, it's cute and all to pick them up and snuggle them. Most of them hate it or just get used to it. If you can be good, don't pick them up, they will gain way more trust with you if you don't. You will see how personable they are too!

Let them come to you. Have you read that from our Library? Let me get it for you!:

Here's one:


http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=33995&forum_id=17

 

[Pipp]

Yeah, prey instinct -- being grabbed and lifted in the air usually means dinner, and not for them!

(I don't think they like heights much, either).

On the plus side, both my dwarfs don't mind being picked up anymore because they know it means snuggles -- and they love their snuggles.

One important thing that may or may not be in that link (thanks Crystal!) is to only pick them up when you're sitting down and let them go as soon as they struggle. Once they realize they're not being held captive, they're a LOT more receptive.


sas :bunnydance:

 

[sbaxter]

be patient we have George 2 months and he hates being picked up i`d lay down and call him over and after a week he`d come running, over today i managed to lift him onto my lap for 1 minutes stroking !!

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Pipp wrote:

One important thing that may or may not be in that link (thanks Crystal!) is to only pick them up when you're sitting down and let them go as soon as they struggle. Once they realize they're not being held captive, they're a LOT more receptive.


sas :bunnydance:

You're welcome, Sas!

I've seen it enough. Even buns in my household for months, still hate it, so we don't pick them up!

Buns go through so much after leaving a house, then being in a shelter or something, they don't understand and do not like change at all. Best thing for buns is a safe, ongoing, no changes, home. Resist picking the cuties up, if you can. I can do it, you can do it, haha. Really, though, they come to trust you if you can do that.