Pet sling carrier for tame bunny?

[mokelembembe666]

Has anybody here ever tried putting their bunny in a pet sling carrier like this one on Etsy? I would like to know how it went and if your bunny tried to escape? Would a tame bunny wearing a harness that has been trained to be picked up off the ground be okay with this?

Luxury Small Pet Sling With Plush Faux Fur Bunny Sling Pet - Etsy

Here’s a video of a similar carrier:

 

[Preitler]

Some thoughts:
Might work if you're just sitting on the ground or couch, if this works for you and your bun, fine. But I wouldn't call any of it a rabbit "carrier". A t least the scarf thing doesn't cost anything.

How would you keep the rabbit from falling when it decides it had enough? I can carry my rabbits ok, but often, from a second to the next, I have to really hold them with all tricks and strenght or let them go by easing them to the ground - and that's without a scare.

Those are generic pet products and seem more suited for small dogs. A cat can fall out of the 6th floor and quite likely it will run away, grumpy as hell. Drop a rabbit from tabletop hight and things can end badly - they are much more fragile. And imho it's easier to hold a dog than a rabbit 1/3 the weight, an 11 week old bunny isn't the real benchmark there, I'm used to not too cuddly 10lbs rabbits

In my opinion, rabbits just generally aren't the right pets to be toted around, although it might work for some and some youtube videos make it look as if it were the norm. But of course, I've never tried such a device.

 

[Blue eyes]

I agree that that does not seem suitable or safe for rabbits. Unfortunately there are alot of things shown on youtube that give false impressions that something is good, or normal when in fact it isn't (or it may happen to work with a rare few particular individual pets).

The safest way to transport a rabbit is in a hard-sided carrier-- even if just taking a rabbit from indoors to out or from one room to another. Baby rabbits tend to tolerate handling but that usually changes once they become adults (around 6 months of age). Then they can squirm or scratch and the accidents happen. As @Preitler mentioned, that can end badly for a rabbit.

Even harnessing a rabbit comes with a host of possible issues. Some rabbits do fine with a harness, but only those that are 1., using the correct style harness, 2., fitted properly by someone who truly knows how to fit it (like an experienced rabbit agility trainer), 3., able to tolerate the harness (a very individual thing for a rabbit), and 4., confident enough of a rabbit to not be petrified of going to unfamiliar places.

For the average house rabbit owner, there is no reason to harness a rabbit. With RHVD2 around, there are even more reasons to not be taking a rabbit outside. Check the following for other considerations regarding taking a rabbit outside and/or harnessing.

Bringing Outside?

 

[mokelembembe666]

Baby rabbits tend to tolerate handling but that usually changes once they become adults (around 6 months of age). Then they can squirm or scratch and the accidents happen. As @Preitler mentioned, that can end badly for a rabbit.

Is that really true for all rabbits? What if a person raised a baby rabbit since they were four weeks old? Do all adult rabbits dislike being held because they haven’t been neutered or spayed yet?

 

[samoth]

Do all adult rabbits dislike being held because they haven’t been neutered or spayed yet?

I think it's more because the only reason rabbits are picked up in the wild is to be carried away by a predator and eaten alive.

There are always exceptions (e.g., lap buns or rabbits that like being picked up), but they're not typical.

 

[Preitler]

I don't think that has to do with predators, not directly in that way. Imo it's very important for rabbits to be able to move, to know where they are and to know where to go at any moment. They have their paths they bolt along when needed, they always know where those are and how to get to safety. Picking them up, holding them, carrying them to and fro restricts their mobility and orientation, which is the same as safety for them, they don't like that. And some just don't like being held, or even touched (like my 8yo spayed Red)

Domestication worked on that issue partially, some rabbits cope better than others, that's a personality thing, and it can be trained within that frame, at least that they calmly accept it (patience, small steps, and treats). The true personality shows when they grow up, I would say around 6 months, but I can see tendencies in younger kits already, who is skittish or a daredevil.
Has nothing to do with spaying or neutering, it's just not a rabbit thing. it's like it's not a cat thing to learn tricks, can sometimes be done but isn't the rule.

 

[Blue eyes]

Is that really true for all rabbits? What if a person raised a baby rabbit since they were four weeks old? Do all adult rabbits dislike being held because they haven’t been neutered or spayed yet?

Unlike other species, rabbits are not going to change personality based on early handling. Whether or not they will tolerate handling as an adult (fixed or not) is going to depend mostly on their innate temperament -- not by what we do. The best we can do is try to be patient and build their trust in hopes of bringing out whatever level of tameness that individual rabbit happens to have inherently.

That said, some have observed that an excess of early handling has caused some rabbits to become more wary of and disliking of being held-- just the opposite of what one had hoped.

Founder of Bunny Bunch rescue, Caroline Charland, states, "People often think a rabbit must be held a lot as a baby in order to like being held as an adult. I don't find this true at all. Over the years, the Bunny Bunch rescue I founded has saved many mother and baby rabbits from shelters. All the babies were treated the same. When they became adults their personalities varied-- some liked to be held, some hated to be held and some tolerated being held."

Of course if someone happens to end up with a rabbit that, as an adult, likes to be held, they often like to take credit for that temperament and claim it was because of their early handling, when in actuality it was merely luck of the draw.

 

[Jumilli]

I once saw a parakeet being carried in a 'bird friendly rucsac ' and didn't feel that was right.A rabbit in a sling brings the same feelings for all of those reasons mentioned here. Apart from anything else the pressure on its lower back if an adult rabbit can't be a good thing. Looks OK but for whom?

 

[craftymelli7]

Picking up your bunny when not needed for a reason besides wanting to hold them isn't a great idea. I am a first time rabbit caretaker and found out the hard way. I have six scars across my torso from my rabbits back feet. They were very painful and deep scratches and bled too. So now I only pick him up if I absolutely have to for a vet visit or a nail trim.
I have to think of what is best for him not what I want. This is part of being a responsible caregiver. Putting your rabbit's needs before your wants.

 

[Jumilli]

Picking up your bunny when not needed for a reason besides wanting to hold them isn't a great idea. I am a first time rabbit caretaker and found out the hard way. I have six scars across my torso from my rabbits back feet. They were very painful and deep scratches and bled too. So now I only pick him up if I absolutely have to for a vet visit or a nail trim.
I have to think of what is best for him not what I want. This is part of being a responsible caregiver. Putting your rabbit's needs before your wants.

I too suffered these type of injuries from a flemish giant not pretty! So I know where you are coming from.The nurse at my vets has now shown me a way to pick up and hold them where I don't put myself at risk.
When you need to lift them place one hand under and just behind the front legs if you can and then put your other hand just above his tail and scoop him up.Bring him to your body so his back is against you and you are not supporting his rump but just above.That way they can't get a purchase to kick back. Also ideal for a confident friend to pop in and clip their nails.x