Handling

[fenda_bender]

hey all, my dwarf lop is very hard to handle,everytime i try to pick him up he kicks struggles and scratches anddoes not stop until i put him down, is there any way around thisproblem.

 

[Snuggys Mom]

How old is he and how long have you had him?

 

[Mikoli]

Hey fenda_bender!

As Snuggys Mom said, how old is he and how old have the owned him for?

Some rabbits just generally do not like being picked up. It can bescary for them to be so high up, and they must have a lot of gentlehandling until they will accept this. Rabbits who do not trust someonewill not often let them pick them up. I know a few rabbits that arefine when their owner picks them up, and loving to everybody, includingstrangers, but when strangers try to pick them up they get very scaredand will begin to kick and struggle.

Also, are you sure that you are picking him up and holding him thecorrect way? Rabbits that have been handled incorrectly may not wish tobe picked up. Here is a link that you should read:

http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12066&forum_id=17

How is he on the ground? Does he trust you and let you pet him andtouch him? Or does he run away a lot and seem scared? Here is a usefullink on interprenting bunny body language:

http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12051&forum_id=17

Unfortunately, there is not nessesarily a way to make a rabbit enjoybeing picked up, or even tolerate it. Every rabbit is different, andthey each have their own personalities, likes, and dislikes. If youwork with your rabbit a lot with just handling, it may eventuallytolerate being picked up. But he may never let you pick him up ... younever know.

If your rabbit continously struggles when picked up, do not pick himup. Rabbits can injure themselves from all that struggling, or, ifyou accidentaly drop them (and that is likely if you get bitten orscratched, as it can be an instant reaction), they can hurt themselves.

Good luck with your bunny!
Rachel.

EDIT: A quote from this website: http://www.rabbitga.org/Communication.htm

'Violent kicking when being picked upor held means bunny does not feel secure in this position.Fundamental to survival in the wild, struggling for release is aninstictive reaction to being grabbed by a predator. Put himdown immediately. There are properways to handle rabbits.' [align=left] [/align]

 

[fenda_bender]

thankyou very much for your help. i have had himfor just over one month now, as i brought him from a pet store i amunsure of his age. even if i try te pet him whilst he isstill in his hutch he normally runs away, the only time i can pet himis when he is eating or drinking. the hutch is on a belcony, so is itpossible that me picking him up he gets very scared due to hight factor.

 

[naturestee]

I highly recommend finding a way to let yourrabbit get out of his cage on his own for playtime. Somepeople use those steps made for dogs to get up on beds, others buildramps, or if you need to you can train him to hop from his cage into apet carrier using treats. This often goes a long way inbuilding your rabbit's trust for you. When my rabbits were incages as opposed to their current huge pens, they did not like beingpicked up while in their cages at all. It's like an invasionof their safe space and it probably triggers some of their preyinstincts. The heights don't help either.

You haven't had him for very long and since he's from a pet store heprobably wasn't socialized at all. Take things slow and lethim approach you. It will increase his confidence alot. And do keep in mind that many rabbits will never enjoybeing picked up.

 

[bluebird]

Im sorry too hear your rabbit acts that way.yougot some great advice.i think most pet store buns must not get properearly handling as all my rabbits are used too being picked up on aregular basis.bluebird

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

My holland lop was hard to pick up when I firstgot him. He would struggle a little too. I findthat if I put one hand under his behind and one in front under histummy, he feels much more secure and really can'tand nowdoesn't struggle. That is what has worked for me.You definitely don't want your rabbit to struggle, like Mikoli said,and a violent struggle can fracture their backs. Try to lethim come to you when he's out. Maybetry to get aramp or steps like Naturestee said so he can come out on his own.

 

[fenda_bender]

i have made a larger fenced off area around hishutch and have built a ramp from his hutch out to the play area on hison accord, he seems to come out when i present him with treats, so ihope this is building his confidence around me.
thankyou all very much for your help.

 

[Mikoli]

No problem. We're glad to help

Keep us posted on your rabbit's progress. Try sitting with him whenhe goes out for playtime. Don't try to approach him, just take a bookout with you and read it while he's out playing. If he comes to you,pat him and give him a treat. If he doesn't, don't worry. It can take awhile for him to get used to you. Once he's more confident, you canstart to work with him on picking him up. If he still doesn't let you,just leave it and let him run around on the floor. As I mentionedbefore, some rabbits don't like getting picked up, and nothing canchange that.

Good Luck!
Rachel.