Opinions on getting a rabbit used to being picked up?

[lovebunnyok]

I am still new with my bun, and have a question. From what I've read, most buns don't like being picked up, and mine has the same issue. But from time to time, it is necessary to pick him up.. i.e., nail trimmings, grooming. I am wondering if I should pick him up regularly to get him used to it, or should I just pick him up when absolutely necessary? I worry if I pick him up regularly, that he will not want to come near me ever, for fear of me picking him up. Your advice would be great!

Thank you!

 

[crystal]

This is a very good question... one which I don't know the answer to, and would also like to see what people's opinions are!

I've been wondering the same thing... and also with a new bunny is it best not to pick them up much to start with until they get used to you? or should I get him used to it by picking him up? not sure if that makes sense...

 

[Luvr of Wabbits and Polar Bears]

If the bunny will let you pick him/her up, I would do so they are use to being handled. If bun is still skidish around you just let bun get to know you better before you handle as you don't want bun to struggle and hurt him/her self.

 

[delusional]

Personally, if one of my buns does not like being picked up, then I won't do so unless necessary.

Bunny HATES being picked up. So we don't do it. Unless we have to medicate/trim nails etc, in which case we use a towel and bundle him while we do whatever.

If I were to try and pick him up a lot to get him used to it, I think it would just cause him unnecessary stress.

 

[hartleybun]

my rexes arent that keen on being picked up either! however once they had gotten used to me and would let me pet them etc then i did begin to pick them up. i figured that there would be times when they would have to be handled - nails, vet visits for example and i wanted them to be used to confident handling.

to begin with i would sit on the floor and lift the bunny onto my lap. ifyou're a newcomer to nail clipping - we all were once - i would recommend the post in the lagomorph library part of the forum by jadeicing - very helpful

bunnies are quick so i would get as close to the ground as possible until youhave gotten the hang of bunny handling. oh and i wouldnt wear short sleeves - claws

 

[DazyDaizee]

I started picking my rabbit up maybe once a week or so and rewarding her when I put her down. I figured that if I picked her up only for nail trims, ect, that she would always associate it with bad things.
I wanted her to tolerate being picked up and try to make it a more comfortable thing for her, but I also didn't want to pick her up all the time because I know she doesn't like it and I didn't want her to be afraid of me. Picking her up less often for brief periods and rewarding her with a treat when I put her down has helped a lot. She still doesn't like it but she doesn't kick or resist and she runs over to the treat area once I put her down.

 

[hartleybun]

DazyDaizee wrote:

and she runs over to the treat area once I put her down.

:rofl: it doesnt matter for what reason i pick mine up for they always hop off and give themselves a really good grooming. it's the look on their faces too:nerves1

 

[crystal]

well my boy seemed fine with being held when I first met him. my friend who had him didn't seem to have any trouble. the 6 year old held him too and he was fine. I held him for a while and he seemed quite happy. but since I got him home he has struggled a few times so I have been resisting the temptation to hold him. could it be that in the surroundings he was used to be was comfortable being held, but he is still settling in here (after a week) so being held as well as being in a new place is too much? although at first at home he didn't seem too bad, but maybe he was too scared to struggle then? I don't know if my rabbit logic is right... help?!?

 

[Bassetluv]

I make it a habit to pick up my two on a fairly regular basis. I only hold them for a couple of moments and then set them down, but I do want them to be reminded that the 'hooman' is entitled to do such things. It makes it a bit easier when picking them up is a necessity, such as carrying them outside so they can run around, or picking them up just to give them a once-over (look for long nails that need trimming, dirty bottoms, bald feetz (Yofi just recovered from a bad case of sore hocks), etc.).

When I first got Yofi I could carry him around the house easily, but as he got older he began balking at being held. Now he absolutely detests it - especially if I am walking and holding him - and he will chomp down hard on my shoulder. He's trained me to wear thick sweaters whenever I want to pick him up(!). And he's got a wild way of showing his protest when he wants down...a huge WHUMP with those hind feet on my chest. Anna hates being held as well, and she will struggle wildly after only a couple of moments in my arms. But I persevere with them, because they're not the boss of me! (Actually I persevere because I'm sure they'd get even worse if I stopped doing so...and it's also the only way I can inspect them.) I do keep the picking up/handling sessions short though, otherwise it just irritates them to no end.

 

[Maureen Las]

This is a really good topic....
I was a firm believer in NOT picking them up because they naturally do not like it but over the course of years I have made my buns worse by not picking them up at all ; the ones who hated being picked now hate it more and the ones who may have benefited by picking them up occasionally don't want any part of it.

I am going to start the once or twice a week pick up with them all with a treat afterwards(Good idea)

the only one that I handle constantly is Beau because of his eye meds. he hates it but does not fear it .

I think that they should be picked up now and then...thoughtfully

 

[Lolpigs]

crystal wrote:

well my boy seemed fine with being held when I first met him. my friend who had him didn't seem to have any trouble. the 6 year old held him too and he was fine. I held him for a while and he seemed quite happy. but since I got him home he has struggled a few times so I have been resisting the temptation to hold him. could it be that in the surroundings he was used to be was comfortable being held, but he is still settling in here (after a week) so being held as well as being in a new place is too much? although at first at home he didn't seem too bad, but maybe he was too scared to struggle then? I don't know if my rabbit logic is right... help?!?

I had the same issue when I first brought cuddles home. It is overwhelming to come into a new place and I've found routine is everything. I pick him up when I get home, and pat him in the mornings.

I find Cuddles loves being patted while in my lap, but hates the actual picking up, I think he dislikes the ground falling away, so I use a towel and that works perfectly. It also means I have a little more control so he doesn't leap out of my arms which is dangerous.

Once he gets used to you, and develops the trust you aren't going to let him be hurt I have found him to be far easier to pick up. Treats afterwards are great as well. I give Cuddles a carrot at bed time to encourage him back into his cage so no chase and grab.

I also make sure while holding him I touch face, ears feet etc Not to excess but to encourage him to accept me touching these areas, much for the same reasons as previous posters, it makes vet or injury treatments that much less stressful. I've used this technique for many years with guinea pigs with great success.

Some buns I think dislike it always too, it would depend alot on the personality of the bun.

 

[MikeScone]

lovebunnyok wrote:

I am wondering if I should pick him up regularly to get him used to it

I am in the get-the-bunny-used-to-it school. If you only pick the bunny up when it's absolutely necessary (i.e. something unpleasant like nail trimming or trips to the vet), then he's going to associate being picked up with something he's not going to like.

I started holding Scone relatively early, and try to pick him up once a day. While I can't say he really loves being held, he does tolerate it. He likes it if I walk him around the house and point things out to him. Often I'll pick him up when I'm ready to go to bed - I'll hold him while I walk around turning lights out, then I put him down on the bed.

I can usually hold him for a few minutes, petting him continuously and making sure that his feet are supported, before he decides that's enough. Normally, his signal that he's ready to be put down is to kiss my nose.

One thing that helps is to tell him what I'm going to do - if I just grab for him, he thinks it's a game and jumps away. I walk up to him and say, "Scone, I'm going to pick you up". Then I put one hand under his chest, and scoop his backside up and cradle him against my chest. Sometimes he'll squirm a bit, but he calms down when I say, "no, no".

 

[Bassetluv]

I don't know if noting this will help or not, but one thing I've noticed with both Yofi and Anna (moreso with Yofi, tho) is that the biggest struggle comes when I am attempting to put them down. It must be a strange feeling to be suddenly headed downward even if you are being held snugly, so I try as much as possible to do so very gently...to alleviate the disorientation that probably comes with suddenly headed downward. I try to crouch slowly with (whoever I'm holding) close to my body, no leaning forward, no rushing to put them down.

LOL...I had to warn the staff at the vet clinic when I took Yofi in to be neutered that he will suddenly struggle violently when being set down, because he would lie quietly in one's arms at the time, but as soon as it came time to put him down he exploded...and this was before he really hated being held. I guess that's another thing to note...if your bunny has to go to the vet for anything and is a struggler/biter/whatever whenever held, let the staff know so they will know how to handle him/her, and an accidental drop might be averted.

 

[LuvaBun]

I pick both of mine up on a daily basis. Jester actually seems to prefer to be petted when I hold him, and chills out and would probably stay there all day :rollseyes. Shadow has got used to it, and will stay happily for a few minutes. I always know when they don't want to be held anymore (Shadow either gives me a nip or tugs at my sleeve) so I put them down.

I find it does make check-ups, nail trimming etc less stressful, and they usually get a treat afterwards

Jan

 

[slavetoabunny]

Bassetluv wrote:

I don't know if noting this will help or not, but one thing I've noticed with both Yofi and Anna (moreso with Yofi, tho) is that the biggest struggle comes when I am attempting to put them down.

I have found that the best way to put them down is to hold them in an upright position with one hand under the back feet and the other under the front legs. Lower them onto the back feet and then lean them over onto the front. When you lower them in an upright position they can't see what you're doing.

 

[Luvr of Wabbits and Polar Bears]

slavetoabunny wrote:

I have found that the best way to put them down is to hold them in an upright position with one hand under the back feet and the other under the front legs. Lower them onto the back feet and then lean them over onto the front. When you lower them in an upright position they can't see what you're doing.

This works great!!!!!!!!!!!!! I figures this out on my own with Fluffy 'cause he's a head-tilt boy it's not easy putting him to bed. When I do have to cage him I always hold his front feet so he struggles less.

 

[Maureen Las]

Bassetluv wrote:

I don't know if noting this will help or not, but one thing I've noticed with both Yofi and Anna (moreso with Yofi, tho) is that the biggest struggle comes when I am attempting to put them down. It must be a strange feeling to be suddenly headed downward even if you are being held snugly, so I try as much as possible to do so very gently...to alleviate the disorientation that probably comes with suddenly headed downward. I try to crouch slowly with (whoever I'm holding) close to my body, no leaning forward, no rushing to put them down.

LOL...I had to warn the staff at the vet clinic when I took Yofi in to be neutered that he will suddenly struggle violently when being set down, because he would lie quietly in one's arms at the time, but as soon as it came time to put him down he exploded...and this was before he really hated being held. I guess that's another thing to note...if your bunny has to go to the vet for anything and is a struggler/biter/whatever whenever held, let the staff know so they will know how to handle him/her, and an accidental drop might be averted.

I will actually lower my entire body ...sometimes sitting on the floor and letting my bun jump off me often just gettinginto a stooping position and letting the bun jump off me

the "putting down" is a time I am really afraid of a bun getting injured because of the struggle
I shudder to think what happens to some buns with kids handling them or also unknowing adults.

 

[Amy27]

I do like angieluv does and try to lower my whole body to the floor.

I don't pick up my buns unless I have to. Even with giving them meds I leave them on the floor put them between my legs with their head facing out so I can give them their meds. The Little Bunny isn't hard to pick up. But with Chase it really worries me because she throws her body everywhere. She is overweight and my hands are small so when I put my hand on her bottom and one under her chest I don't think she feels like she is getting enough support. I rarely pick her up because I am really afriad of her getting an injury.

After reading this thread I may start to try and pick them up more. When you guys say you do pick them up a few times a week do you pick them up and just hold them for a few minutes and put them back down? Does anyone have any tips for picking up a larger rabbit when there butt barely fits in your hand? I may try to pick Chase up with a towel a few times a week. That seems to give her more support.

Great thread. Hearing the other replies made me change my thoughts on this.

 

[BethM]

After reading all these replies, I may try to start picking mine up more regularly, to get them used to it. It's always a nightmare around my house. None of my bunnies tolerate being held. The girls will eventually calm down, but I'm always terrified of Nick injuring himself, he squirms so much.

 

[Lolpigs]

Amy27 wrote:

I do like angieluv does and try to lower my whole body to the floor.

I don't pick up my buns unless I have to. Even with giving them meds I leave them on the floor put them between my legs with their head facing out so I can give them their meds. The Little Bunny isn't hard to pick up. But with Chase it really worries me because she throws her body everywhere. She is overweight and my hands are small so when I put my hand on her bottom and one under her chest I don't think she feels like she is getting enough support. I rarely pick her up because I am really afriad of her getting an injury.

After reading this thread I may start to try and pick them up more. When you guys say you do pick them up a few times a week do you pick them up and just hold them for a few minutes and put them back down? Does anyone have any tips for picking up a larger rabbit when there butt barely fits in your hand? I may try to pick Chase up with a towel a few times a week. That seems to give her more support.

Great thread. Hearing the other replies made me change my thoughts on this.

Yeah I've found a towel really helps, it gives you greater control and I found the sooner bun realises he can't get away, but isnt getting hurt either the faster progress I made. I don't even need to have him wrapped up in the towel while hes on my lap, and I can grip it less now becuase he stuggles less to get down when I'm putting him down.

Using a towel really is a great if you have a bun that is hard to put down safely becuase they can't go anywere untill you release the towel.

I have small hands too so this helped me alot