Some things that helped me with brushing!

[Ella]

These are all probably pretty amateur since Eli is my first bunny but these are some things that helped us. He really DOES NOT like to be groomed and it is so hard to keep him still. I am always amazed when I see bunnies sitting so still in someones lap getting brushed away!

I’ve had Eli for almost a year now and the hardest part for me is grooming him. I read a lot of what others had to say and these are the things that worked best for us.

Eli is a lionhead mixed with something else so he has sort of short hair except around his head. 

Brushes that have worked really well for us:

– The zoomgroom is really great for loosening hair. It has big rubber bristles that really draw up his hair. It’s pretty cheap and Eli doesn’t seem to mind it. 

– After the zoom groom I brush over him with the hairbuster. I noticed that I get a lot more hair when I use both of these together! The hairbuster gets a lot of the undercoat but I noticed that it tends to tug a bit and Eli doesn’t like this so I am careful with it. I really think that the hairbuster picks up everything that the zoomgroom loosened. 

– I just got the glove brush that a lot of people have been talking about and it really gets a lot of hair! Eli was a little frightened of it at first but after petting him with the glove laying next to him he got used to it and then I was able to pet him with the glove on for a little bit. I think that the glove brush has gotten the most hair and I think after time he will get the most used to it as opposed to the other brushes.

ZOOM GROOM: https://www.chewy.com/kong-dog-zoomgroom-multi-use-brush/dp/45799?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=KONG&utm_term=&gclid=CjwKEAjwvYPKBRCYr5GLgNCJ_jsSJABqwfw70HkMh9sw-slL0GCwgA65E4T2TtewTQcyEcxMvZDbJRoCrWXw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

HAIR BUSTER: https://store.binkybunny.com/hairbuster-imperfect-p295.aspx?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase&gclid=CjwKEAjwvYPKBRCYr5GLgNCJ_jsSJABqwfw7V5eLnxT32CW-90SVhAz01oPvtK-dmsfONVLjWcKZIBoCclfw_wcB

GLOVE BRUSH (2 for $12): https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Grooming-Glove-Deshedding-Efficient/dp/B01N9KSITZ/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_199_bs_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZY0534VVTTAJ07F8YBV8

How I have started to brush him:

– With Eli, it’s best to do a little at a time. I brush him on the ground next to me and gently brush for a little and then pet him normally when he starts to squirm and then brush again. 

– If I brush to hard with Eli, it startles him and he will run away, feet flicking. It takes longer this way but if I try to just go for it he will run away and hide. 

– Sometimes it helps him to stay longer if I lightly place my hand over his head/eyes. Firm enough to make him feel like he needs to stay but light enough that he can easily get away. I never force him to stay put. 

– I have also tried to brush him when he is eating his favorites, like pellets or his dried willow wreath. He tends to stay put longer but I do stop when I can tell he is getting annoyed. The other day he growled a little bit so I stopped. 

– I see people brushing their rabbits quickly and firmly. Eli does not like this which is why I am so gentle. I know that I probably could be firmer but we are working towards that! 

– I brush him a little at a time when I have time to do so, everyday. It takes patience and time but I have seen more success this way rather than stressing him out trying to make him sit still to really brush him. I get more fur off of him when I take my time and keep him comfortable then I do when I try to make him stay.

– I don’t think it’s necessary to brush him everyday but since we are both getting used to it I will brush him everyday for now. It doesn’t take any more time away from my day because I do during the time I would be spending with him each day anyway. 

Like I said, I’m sure this is an amateur way of brushing but I have found that it is the best place to start for us. I don’t think Eli was handled much in the year before I got him and he is my only rabbit handling experience so we are still learning a lot together! 

If you’re new to rabbits like me, or maybe your bunny REALLY doesn’t like grooming like mine – be patient, do a little at a time, and don’t get discouraged! I can see Eli getting more and more used to it each day so I am hoping we can be like the experts in no time!

Does anyone else have hints for the newbies or for someone with a difficult bunny?

[Vincent]

Well, I have a rabbit with really long thick hair, everywhere, she’s basic fine with everything else but she panics when I try brushing her feet

But recently (thanks to someone on this forum yay!) I found out she doesn’t mind if she is burrito wrapped with her face covered as well and just pull one foot out at a time to brush the bottoms (also works really well for nail trimming with her)

[Author]

Messages