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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Good or bad idea?

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    • RetroJester
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        I split my time between my dad's house and my moms house, and so of course I take Nellie Belle with me. The two houses are next to each other, so it's like walking to a neighbor's house. As it is, I put Nellie in her carrier and transport her that way, but she absolutely HATES it. It doesn't scare her, but she just absolutely hates having to go into a carrier. I have a harness that I actually bought for my cat, (bad idea: an obese cat won't fit in a small harness) but it's made just like the harnesses made for rabbits. It fits Nellie absolutely perfectly, and she doesn't mind wearing it at all. She also doesn't mind me picking her up and holding her, and will often hop to me and put her paws on my shoulder for me to carry her. (She's a very strange rabbit.) I was wondering if it would be okay to put her in the harness and leash and just carry her next door, just so she won't have to go through the carrier, since it's such a short distance? 


      • tobyluv
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          It’s usually not recommended to use harnesses on rabbits since they can injure themselves if they are startled and take off fast. Of course, it’s safer with you holding the rabbit, and you are only going a short distance, but it could still happen that a loud car or motorcycle or other loud noise could occur and scare her, or that a loose dog or other predator could scare her, making it hard for you to hold onto her.

          Do you have any idea why she hates the carrier? Does she associate it with going to the vet? Is it comfortable for her, with a soft towel or blanket so that she doesn’t slide around? Maybe you could get her to like the carrier by giving her a small piece of fruit or whatever her favorite treat is, when you place her in it. Get her to see the carrier as a positive thing.


        • Rufus
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            I have one of the extremely rare bunnies who likes being picked up and carried too. My bun begs to be picked up and purrs a lot when I hold him. If he gets a startle he tends to snuggle closer, not try to get away. I would feel completely comfortable carrying my bun next door but I think it completely depends on the bunny.The harness sounds like a good precaution, but I still wouldn’t carry her if you think she’s likely to jump down.

            Another option is trying a cardboard box with a blanket over it or something to see if it’s the actual carrier she hates or if it’s being carried in a container.


          • RetroJester
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              I think she doesn't like the carrier because she's not used to confinement. She's free-roam all the time, so that's the only time she's ever "in a cage". I have tried to make it a positive thing with treats, but she is too smart for that- whenever she thinks I've got the carrier out, she won't come to get her treat. 

              She is not likely to jump down, and she's not very easily scared at all. I tripped and fell in my room the other day and made the loudest noise ever while she was just lounging. My cats ran and hid in fear but she hopped over to me and licked my nose. There are no dogs in our neighborhood either, and we own the whole block, so there are never cars passing.


            • Elrohwen
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                I wouldn’t feel comfortable carrying a bunny around outdoors and would always use a carrier for safety. With that said, only you know your bun and how far the walk is, so it’s up to you if it’s an acceptable level of risk.


              • Irina
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                  Hello! I have a bun that hates his carrier- especially since he went to the vet, was neutered and had complications requiring a second stressful visit. I know he may need to go to the vet again (or elsewhere in the carrier), so I have set it up in his pen (you can put yours in his living area), with a fleece blanket, hay and special treats. The door is takien off, so he can go in an out as hen pleases. At first, he avoided it, but now he will actually lie down in it., and eat or just relax. I think rabbits like to be covered, under things where they think they cannot be seen. It has worked well for me. Worth a try!


                • skunklionshow
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                    I’m a bunny & cat person & I would NEVER carry my pet outside w/o use of a carrier.  I’m not even comfortable w/ using a harness on my cats.  Any small noise, even the wind in a tree can startle a pet.  When pets get startled they run!  I would prefer making my pet comfy w/ their carrier.  The only time I ever did not use the carrier, was b/c my pet was on their way to be euthanized or they were too ill that I wasn’t sure they would make it to the vet office.  My feeling is that it’s not worth risking.


                  • Stickerbunny
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                      Some things to make a carrier less scary to a bun –

                      Put in something that smells like them. Don’t use a new towel to line the bottom, use one that has been in their area so has their smell.
                      Put some treats in it so they associate carrier = treat. I like craisins.
                      Leave the carrier in their area during non-travel times. If it’s part of home, they won’t be as upset being in it.

                      Use something to stabilize the carrier – if I walk the carrier sways with my movement. Buns don’t like that. A stroller, cart, etc can let the carrier sit on it and be a lot less rocky on them for moving around.

                      You could also try getting a stroller with a top for pets, since it’s such a short trip. 


                    • RetroJester
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                        She has her own favorite blanket in her carrier, as well as hay. She LOVES the carrier when it’s not time to go somewhere. The door is left off and she often just lounges in it. But as soon as it’s Friday night and time to leave, it’s a huge struggle to lure her into it. 


                      • Tigi
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                          I would definitely recommend the carrier. Lure her in with her fav vege/ fruits. Better to have her uncomfortable for 5 minutes and also for her to be cranky for the next half an hour, rather than taking a chance (albeit small) of being startled/jumped and then hurt/lost/hit by a car.

                          You’re lucky Nellie likes being picked up – you’ve got a special bun there

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                      Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Good or bad idea?