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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Can I hold my rabbit like this?

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    • Bunny and a Border
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        I’ve seen people hold rabbits vertically with the rabbit head on their shoulder and supporting their body against their chest, like how you burp a baby. I know rabbits are very fragile, so I was wondering if it is safe to hold a rabbit like this.


      • Muchelle
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        1141 posts Send Private Message

          It is safe as long as they’re being firmly held against your chest. It’s a good position to move them from place A to place B when needed.
          Rabbits don’t like to be held, so the holding has to be limited to necessity


        • Bunny and a Border
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            I don’t know if it’s only my bun, but when I walk up to his Xpen, he hops over to where I am and stand on his back legs so I pick him up, then he clicks and licks me. He’s still pretty young though, so maybe that’s it. I’m glad I can hold him up. I’ve seen people do it, but I also know people hold rabbits by their ears or back legs and that’s bad for them so I thought I’d check. Thanks for the reply.


          • Azerane
            Moderator
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              Yes it’s safe, but not appropriate for all rabbits, but the same goes for any method of carrying. Some rabbits are good at slipping through hands and climbing up over the shoulder. Bandit used to do that in the first few months I had him.


            • Muchelle
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                Posted By Azerane on 7/06/2017 7:32 PM

                Some rabbits are good at slipping through hands and climbing up over the shoulder. Bandit used to do that in the first few months I had him.

                K is like that too, that’s why I baby-hold him only at the vet (when he’s too scared to do anything) and to move him for short distances!


              • jerseygirl
                Moderator
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                  I often hold my rabbits like that. It means they have all 4 feet on something solid which they seem to like. As mentioned though, be careful they don’t scoot up and over your shoulder. ; )

                  Whenever I feel like the rabbit is going to break out of a hold, I try crouch down to the floor as quick as possible so that if they do get free, there isn’t too great a distance for them to go. 


                • Meesh
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                    I think my rabbits like this best, and it is the most secure (my body against the whole bottom of the rabbit, while my arms/hands on the bum/back). Sometimes when I am sitting on the couch, my one rabbit will jump up onto me and climb up to my shoulder/chest for pats. My other rabbit will do this when she is scared (as I said, it feels secure, and she is able to hide a bit in my hair–especially if I am lounging).

                    Another way is to “scoop” them up (this is the only way my one rabbit will let me pick her up), by petting both sides of the bun, and making it feel comfortable, and then squishing both arms together under its body. This will work for some, not for others. This way the bun can jump out any time (and it knows this), so your bun has to be okay with it.

                    The way I pick up my other bun is more natural to me because it allows me to position her any way, and it also is easy to learn how to get the bun to trust you to do it. (There are videos on YouTube) You place one hand under the front legs from one side, and one hand under the bum from the back. If your bun doesn’t like this, you will know way before you have the chance to pick it up. To get it more comfortable you start by petting your bun lots, to make it ok with your hands. Then you put your hands under its front legs and take them out. Touch it’s sides, put your hand on its bum… Etc. Let it run away if it wants, you want the bun to be comfortable with you. When it is ok with you touching it in all these places, then you can try lifting the buns front arms an inch or 2 off the ground and putting it back down. If that is ok Then do the same with the bum (with its front legs on the ground still). If that is ok then you can try both at the same time — just a few inches. Keep at it until the bun is ok to be picked up. This can be immediately, or it can be a long time (or never!) It really depends on what your bun is ok with.

                    Remember to gain trust, your bun needs to know it can leave at any time!

                    Cheers!

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                Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Can I hold my rabbit like this?