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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A any advice on picking up rabbit?

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    • AnniLop
      19 posts Send Private Message

         Alright, I’m about to really wonder how people online that i’ve seen on youtube so easily pick up their bunny.  She’s a 10lbs french lop and every night i try and practice picking her up.  Obviously i don’t think she was handled much as a baby, but i’ve gotten to the point where she’ll let me lift her front legs no problem but the minute I try to lift her whole back legs and butt she starts kicking which i just end up letting her go.  Mind you I’m sitting on the ground while doing this.  I went to the vet to get her spayed and she’s easy to get into the carrier cause I just put food in there and she’ll happily follow her nose.  But I’m scared for moments when i have to rescue her from evil things and if she’d just relax I can scoop her up.  At the vet, the doctor showed me how, said I have to be calm, showed me with a towel, told me to be close to her and he was able to pick her up with no problem at all.  But when it’s me… just not working.  I used to sit on the ground and she’d be so distracted before she was spayed humping my leg that i’d just scoop her up.  But since she’s been spayed she’s stopped that behaviour cold turkey but i can’t handle her at all…  if I keep trying slowly will she get used to it and stop kicking so much?


      • Sam and Lady's Human
        Participant
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          Why do you need to pick her up?


        • AnniLop
          19 posts Send Private Message

            to move her


          • Sam and Lady's Human
            Participant
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              …?
              I know this seems redundant, but if she goes in her cage and carrier on her own when you need her to, I don’t understand needing to pick her up. I verrry rarely pick up Samson, and she’ll hate me for a week afterwords. Its too stressful for her. Lady I grab under the arms kinda, then scoop up her bum and hold her firmly to myself. But she’s ok with it, she doesn’t freak out like Sam does.


            • AnniLop
              19 posts Send Private Message

                Sometimes I want to take her into my room, the carrier is stored away I don’t like just leaving it around the house, kinda an eyesore. Plus what about nail clippings? How am i suppose to clip her nails if I can’t handle her?


              • Stickerbunny
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                  Trick to picking up a rabbit is not to do it often, honestly. You should only do it when you NEED to, they never “get used” to being picked up and it is stressful. The more I pick up my two, the harder it is to get them picked up. They are a prey species, so every instinct in their bodies is saying “DANGER DANGER” when they get picked up.

                  Now, that being said, my two are quite easy to pick up if I do it only for needed purposes – grooming, etc. I just bend down and pick them right up, no fuss. You want to try not to make really fast movements when you do it, I act like I am going to pet them, or I give them a little treat first so they come to me, then scoop them up (supporting the back legs / spine) and bring them to my chest for securing.

                  When Stickers was taking medicine, I had to pick her up twice a day and she knew it was coming, so RAN from me and was so upset with me for a whole month I couldn’t even touch her. I pick her up once or twice a month for grooming and she is fine with that.

                  If you need to transport her and don’t want to use the carrier find another trick to use. If I need to lift up one of my buns without the carrier, I have them hop into the litterbox and pick that up, with my hand supporting them so they can’t jump out, they don’t mind that. Or I shake the craisin bag and they follow me to another room, then I give them a craisin. etc etc Or you could get a soft sided carrier just for transporting around the house, that way you could just fold it up (since it’s cloth, they fold up nicely) near her cage and bring it out when you need it. They aren’t good to use for car rides etc but just carrying her around the house they are fine.


                • bunnnnnnie!
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                    My advice on picking up a rabbit?  Unless you have no other option.. don’t. .

                    Become an expert “rabbit herder/tempter”.  I can pretty much get Zeus to go anywhere I need him to by tempting him with a goodie or “herding” him by walking behind him and shoo-ing him in the direction he needs to go.  He knows it’s either being herded or being picked up, so he usually begrudgingly obliges. .

                    West hasn’t figured out herding or being tempted yet.. so getting her anywhere is an.. adventure?


                  • Sarita
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                      I have difficulty picking up the very large rabbits, it’s not comfortable for the rabbit or the person holding the rabbit. I had a 13 pound NZW that I had to medicate and she was disabled. Normally I would carry a rabbit to the bathroom to medicate them but I would just sit on the ground to hold and medicate her. I think if you can scoot her to where she wants to be that is best. If she goes easily in the carrier, that is very lucky.


                    • RabbitPam
                      Moderator
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                        Sometimes you have to pick them up. The best way I’ve learned is to get down low, squatting near her, scoop her up to your chest with your hand firmly supporting her butt and your other arm holding her against your body. Very supported. Or, you do the football hold, which is to scoop her onto your arm lengthwise with the hand of that arm supporting the butt and bring your arm that she’s laying on in to your body tightly. So you have her supported by a whole arm underneath, a hand around her butt, her nose tucked into the crook of your elbow, and your body bracing one side of her like a wall, with the other hand holding her outside.

                        More Advice on picking up a rabbit: buy her dinner, not just cocktails.


                      • CocoVermont802
                        Participant
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                          At first i had this same problem! My bun hated to be picked up… so i told myself that everynight i would hold her for about 20 mins or so. She didnt like it but now a month later she doesnt mind!

                          Just keep at it! Mine doesnt like being held upwards only sideways like you would hold a baby. I usually put on a sweat shirt so the claws dont bother me. 

                          Now A month later i hold her for an hour a day and she likes it !


                        • Lazee
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                            I tried to do it the way I saw on Utube and bunny sites but it seemed to be far more stressful for my girls than just quickly getting them to my chest when they least expect it. If I’m quick enough it’s like they don’t even realize it. Trying it slow and gently seems to just warn them of something they don’t want done.
                            When I’m setting with them and they are climbing me for treats I maneuver a holding position and release at their will. It’s kind of a game with the release they get a treat but have to be held a few seconds to be released. And that is a lot of fun. But that’s different from being picked up.


                          • Rei
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                            375 posts Send Private Message

                              Molly HATES being picked up. Most rabbits dislike it. They are a prey animal, and you feel like a hawk scooping them off the ground when you pick them up. If they are off of the ground, they can’t run away! I only pick her up if I absolutely have to. If she is out running around the room, she doesn’t even like it if I pet her. That’s “her” time, and I respect that. When she stops to lay down, then she loves when I pet her, and then I can pick her up, but I stopped even trying once I understood she just didn’t like it and it stressed her out. Now she goes back in her cage on her own when I put her dinner in there. Just use the food trick. No sense causing any discomfort if its not necessary. We have to learn to respect what makes our buns feel most safe and secure


                            • AnniLop
                              19 posts Send Private Message

                                Thanks for the advice guys. I have read so much online that rabbits are anti picking up. But sometimes you really do have to handle them and for my rabbit her personality is pretty much happy-go-lucky and she really doesn’t stress easily. I was afraid she’d hate me after going to the vet and getting spayed, but I’ve realized as long as you have parsley she’s a happy camper. She will come back right after I try to scoop her up and want more pets or more treats. She’s super nosey and always wants to hop around you. When I first got her she didn’t let me touch her front paws at all but now after a couple of weeks she lets me pick up her front paws and place them on my knee and she snuggles and lets me pet her. When i spoke to my vet about being able to pick her up or touch her (to clip nails, check poop butts, brush…etc) He had explained to me for sure they are stressed in the beginning when they aren’t used to something but he was able to maneuver her with no problem. He also told me that as long as you aren’t violent with her there shouldn’t be a spot on their body that you can’t touch or look at. I understand that rabbits are prey animals, and picking them up can cause them anxiety. But so are hamsters, guinea pigs and birds and I’ve owned them all which with proper care and training don’t mind being handled. I’m not saying start rag-dolling your bunny around the house here… but sometimes if you can turn something as “handling” into something not so stressful, gentle practicing might work no?


                              • Elrohwen
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                                  I don’t bother picking up my girl who hates to be picked up. She always goes in her carrier and cage when I need her to. To clip her nails I get her in the carrier, then let her out onto the kitchen counter and clip the nails while someone holds her still (with all four feet on the counter). I don’t see the need to stress her out so much by picking her up.

                                  The bunnies on YouTube are always super calm buns who don’t really mind it – not really an apples to apples comparison for those of us with buns who really hate it.

                                  In case of an emergency, the rabbits will be so freaked out that previous picking up training won’t matter much. If Hannah is that scared she’ll either be impossible to pick up or easy to pick up – I don’t think working with her on it would change that.


                                • RabbitPam
                                  Moderator
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                                    I also can’t believe how much it varies from one rabbit to another. Some hate it, like my Samantha, and continue to for life.
                                    But I was very spoiled by Spockie who apparently was a little angel in a bunny suit. I picked him up daily, cradled him for a minute at least twice a day, and he never minded. He’d then ride looking over my shoulder as long as I wanted to carry him around.

                                    It was a shock to have so much trouble when I got Samantha. It really is a personality thing, too. Those docile bunnies on the videos don’t remind me of either of mine.


                                  • BinkyBunny
                                    Moderator
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                                      Jack hated being picked up and if you didn’t let him down after about 20 seconds, he give you a nasty bite. Jack was a bigger bunny (not huge) but around 8 – 9lbs. It’s much harder when you have to pick up a bunny from a cage set–up, but regardless my technique is about the same. I learned it from volunteering at rabbit rescue for several years. But I first pet the bunny, then with my right hand (I am right handed) I gently pin down shoulders while with the hand, I scoop up the bunny’s back end, then I bring the bunny to my body sort of like a football. Then I can arrange more securely depending on the size. Jack was bigger so I had to just bring him to my chest, but I always had a thick towel covering my arm or shoulder (whereever he could try and bite). Many years ago, I was planning on doing a instructional “pick-up”video for Saveabunny.org and I filmed the founder, Marcy, picking up all different sizes of bunnies — from tiny little squirmies to monster French Lops. I need to find that video.

                                      Oh and while you are practicing picking up, stay close to the ground (knees on the ground or kneeling), until you get comfortable with how you handle.  You need to have a firm secure grip (but obviously, not so tight you’d hurt the bunny), but being firm and secure will help your bunny feel secure as well.   My husband is terrible about picking up bunnies. He’s just not allowed to do it because he’s much to shy about worrying if he’s too tight and he doesn’t watch for “leaps” out of the arms, which is how a bunny can really get hurt.    Not to tell on my poor hubby!!  But just to let you know it’s not uncommon to feel tentative about it. 

                                       


                                    • longhairmike
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                                        i scoop them up and then straddle them over my arm, but until they get used to it, you’ll find yourself with constantly scratched up forearms

                                        rabbit pick-up lines: hey baby… ya know, until a minute ago i could’ve sworn i was a lop


                                      • Monkeybun
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                                          I’m kind of opposite from many others on this subject. In my mind, they NEED to be able to be picked up when needed. In emergencies, if they get injured or scared, if they have a vet appointment and there’s no time to herd them around. I can now pick up all my rabbits easily, even Miss Monkey, who is the grumpiest little thing ever. it just takes practice. Every day, i scoop them up. They don’t get stressed about it now,well, Moose sometimes does if I move around with him too far. He’s my wussy man. Scared of everything. Paper bags are evil creatures in his eyes.

                                          So. yes, pick up your bunny. It will be necessary at some point, for regular nail trims and grooming, for vet visits, and for emergencies when you need to get them fast. That’s my opinion anyway


                                        • BinkyBunny
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                                            I need to make a correction…. i failed to say with my left hand, I scoop them up. So the sentence should have read, “I first pet the bunny, then with my right hand (I am right handed) I gently pin down shoulders while with the LEFT hand, I scoop up the bunny’s back end, then I bring the bunny to my body sort of like a football.”

                                            One thing I forgot to mention is when I do the scoop action, I do that prety quickly….no lingering on that.


                                          • AnniLop
                                            19 posts Send Private Message

                                              So it’s now been a week or so since I’ve been slowly getting her used to being handled. I’ve read all you guys’ advice on how you guys scoop them up and so far i do the hand on the chest and i pick up her butt. My hands aren’t big enough to hold her back legs so they just kinda dangle when she’s calm enough. It started out slow. I would pick up her front paws and give her treats. Then I started handling her butt area and giving her treats. I would take her front paws and place them on my knees and now she comes and places her front paws on my knees on her own and will crotch down to be petted. I do this all very low to the ground. She’s extremely food oriented so I’ll give her her feed and while she eats some I’ll pick her up for a couple of seconds then put her back down… up…. down … up .. down. The first couple of nights it was a bit of a chase where she’d hop out of my arms, but tonight was a good night! It took less time to get her to settle down to be picked up. So with positive reinforcement and being careful and gentle so far its’ going good. *thumbs up*


                                            • Joyfull_music
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                                                I agree with Money, I think you need to be able to pick up your bun. But that you should not need to do it too often. Same goes for my lizards. They do not like being handled, but will tolerate it for when I have to remove them from their cages. Even my Tokay gecko, when I had him, was handle-able, but I still wore gloves with him. He could give a nastier bite than any rabbit could. Tokay geckos are one of the most aggressive lizards you could own and usually top the biter list. Momo is not pleasant to get a hold of, but in case of an emergency, I will grab her by any means necessary. I hate to admit to it, but if there was say a fire, tornado, or haz-mat incident, I am not going to nicey nice around with my pets to get them to safety. It is grab and go.


                                              • BinkyBunny
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                                                  Posted By AnniLop on 02/05/2012 09:58 PM
                                                  So it’s now been a week or so since I’ve been slowly getting her used to being handled. I’ve read all you guys’ advice on how you guys scoop them up and so far i do the hand on the chest and i pick up her butt. My hands aren’t big enough to hold her back legs so they just kinda dangle when she’s calm enough. It started out slow. I would pick up her front paws and give her treats. Then I started handling her butt area and giving her treats. I would take her front paws and place them on my knees and now she comes and places her front paws on my knees on her own and will crotch down to be petted. I do this all very low to the ground. She’s extremely food oriented so I’ll give her her feed and while she eats some I’ll pick her up for a couple of seconds then put her back down… up…. down … up .. down. The first couple of nights it was a bit of a chase where she’d hop out of my arms, but tonight was a good night! It took less time to get her to settle down to be picked up. So with positive reinforcement and being careful and gentle so far its’ going good. *thumbs up*

                                                  This sounds very good!  You might actually be able to train her to be fine with being picked up!  This is similar to clicker training without the clicker.   Good job. 

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                                              Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A any advice on picking up rabbit?