I am aware that rabbit’s are prey animals, and being off the ground is unnatural and often resembles them being caught by a predator. I’ve actually researched on rabbits 3 and 1/2 years before I got my rabbit! Because my parent’s wouldn’t let me get one until earlier this year (January 16) anyyyyway, so before i actually adopted Milo i went to a BUNCH of petco’s for weeks to find the rabbit for me (i adopted from a rescue; so yes my rabbit and all the rabbit’s i’ve encountered have been spayed/ neutered)
At the petco’s i would ask to hold the rabbit’s i was interested in, most of them were very willing to be picked up and held, which at first i thought was normal BUT some of the rabbits did put up a little struggle and i associated that struggle with aloofness and unfriendliness – which i NOW know is NOT the case. but anyway, so since MOST of the rabbits had no struggle and were able to be picked up within oh the first 3 grabs and i was able to hold them with no trouble, i was very “disappointed” when i got my rabbit. before i got milo, i met up with his foster mom (because he had not gotten neutered yet as he was only 5-6 months old) and i held him and he seemed very willing to be held/ picked up. MAYBE because he was in an unfamiliar place? but the other rabbit’s (at petco) probably were there for a couple of weeks and they didnt put up much of a fight and they weren’t really “scared”? or didn’t seem it anyway cause they werent stiff/ rigid
so i do clip milo’s nails but i have to lure him into his carrier and take him to this table in the dining room and he’s kinda scared so he will let me kind of herd him on to the towel so i can put him in a burrito and clip his nails but if he manages to flip over onto his feet he will try to escape and if he doesn’t flip over and i am able to clip his nails then i will put him on the table but he will run away? even though he was scared like 5 minutes before when i first put him on the table? and there is NO way i could ever pick him up if he’s in his cage/ in my room. if i attempt to pick him up (which i ever rarely do) he will try to run away. he is EXTREMELY sweet and friendly and is in no way scared of me or my dog (he doesnt care about my rabbit) is this normal? are all rabbits like this? i feel like if there is an emergency (fire, burglar, tornado etc) then i wouldn’t be able to get my rabbit in time? he will NOT allow let me even TRY to pick him up, he will run away as soon as my hands go around his body and its obvious im not trying to pet him