Need tips for picking up my bunny

[Angelica]

Hi everyone!

My bunny Jax just turned a year. When we got him he was 8 weeks and loved being held(most likely because he was scared and timid). The breeder I got him from did not appear to handle his bunnies as the remainder of the litter was also scared and nervous. Anyways fast forward to now… Jax loves running and jumping; he also loves coming over to nudge me when I’m not paying attention to him. He also loves to hop on my back when I’m laying down. My only concern is that I cannot pick him up, I have tried picking him up under the crook of my elbow but he kicks and poops when I try to do this. I need some more suggestions to handle my rabbit and get him use to the idea of being held.

Thanks everyone

[Wick & Fable]

Becoming more comfortable with the environment, it’s a bit natural to become less inclined to be held. Wick, who I pick up countless times a day for various safety and -please don’t pee there- reasons, definitely is less inclined to being picked up than when I first got him. This is something you’ll need to adjust to, and not force on him.

In times when you need to pick Jax up, I think you need to re-evaluate and make sure your approach is good. Being young, he may have tolerated whatever way you used to use, but being more independent and comfortable, that same approach may not work. Make sure the butt and hind legs are supported and try and get physical contact with the body itself, so he feels secure.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Bladesmith]

Coax him in with treats, until he gets used to eating them out of your hand, and recognizes your hand isn’t a threat or a trap. It means not trying to grab him, as tempting as it may be.

Dawn is like this. A total PITA to try and pick up, even after a year of being loose in the house. She’ll come close, chin and rub, nibble, boop and tug, sometimes even put both her front feet on me, but doesn’t want to be petted or picked up. If I do scoop her up, usually to clean her bunny bum, she growls and tooth grinds the whole time. She wants to do her own thing.

[CottonBall]

I know what you mean. CottonBall chattersher teeth like she’s cold everytime I pick her up; and I .MUST pick her up to groom her. I think the tooth thing means she’s mad, right? Just glad she hasn’t done more than nip once or twice.

[JumpinJax]

I’m having the same issue with my 7-8 week old bunny, Jax. I know I just got him and he has to get used to me but I also need to get him used to handling because he is a baby and I will have to clip his nails, check his bottom, brush him, and all that fun stuff. The breeder I purchased him from definitely handled them from birth. All of the pictures she sent me of him, she was holding him. He was so calm and docile when we picked him up but after getting him home, he just seems super skittish. I’ve spent 5 days just sitting on the floor with him and I think he is making progress. He will let me pet him a little and he will come over and sniff me when I walk in the room. He just runs if I try to pick him up. I just want to be able to pick him up when necessary. Should I keep trying to get him used to being handled or should I just keep trying to build trust until he allows me to pick him up? My concern is that I will not be able to see something like if his ears need to be cleaned (he’s a lop) or if his nails need clipping because I can’t even get that close. 

[joea64]

I think I’m going to have to get Panda and Fernando more used to handling. I’ve done my best to avoid picking them up at all for the first five weeks or so that they’ve been living with me, but they’re going to have to get used to being picked up every so often – for instance, I’m bringing them over to a bunnysitter from my local rabbit rescue (same folks from whom I adopted them) next weekend when I go out of town, and I’m going to likely have to pick them up at least briefly to herd them into the carrier.

Anyway, good general advice on keeping the bun’s butt and hind legs/feet firmly supported so he doesn’t feel like he’s floating (which bunnies particularly hate). Also hold them close but not excessively tight, and I recommend you stay as close to the ground (sitting or kneeling) while you’re holding him so that if he gets out of your grasp he doesn’t hurt himself when he drops back to the floor.

[DanaNM]

Picking them up “to get them more used to it” tends to back fire, I don’t recommend it. I’ve noticed some bunnies are just squirmy, others not so much, regardless of handling history. It’s best to only pick them up when you actually need to (for nail trims, etc), and then reward them heavily afterwards. Handling them unnecessarily just prevents them from trusting you and will likely make it harder and harder to handle them.

In terms of technique, you want to do it in such a way that they are very supported, and also very sure that they won’t be able to squirm away. Firmness is key (obviously not squeezing them too much though!).

I’m right handed, I’ll try to explain my strategy! My technique is to first place the back of my right hand on the ground in front of them (so I’m facing the bunny head-on), as though I’m going to pet them. Then I place my left hand on their bum, so my left forearm is along the left side of them. I simultaneously slide my right hand under their front end on the right side (like their arm pits). Lift the front and and scoop their bum towards me, so their bum is in my left hand, but back feet are not touching anything. So now they are lifted off the ground, with both front and hind end supported. I then immediately pull them close to my body, and usually will tuck their head under my left arm, so their right side is now pressed against my body. Doing this blocks their vision and makes them much less likely to struggle as they are held on all sides. I of course make sure their nose is exposed!

I’ve been able to hold squirmy buns briefly with just my left hand this way (head tucked under my arm, bum in left hand, left side against left forearm, right side against my body), leaving my right hand free to open carrier doors, etc.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[JumpinJax]

I’d love to be able to avoid picking Jax up but since he is a baby, I know I need to check his nails and his butt to make sure everything is good back there. I can’t get close enough to do so. I generally just lay on the floor and try to peek under as he hops around. I’m getting nervous about the nails growing too long though. They were clipped before we brought him home and he is in a tiled room so I’m sure him scratching the tile all the time helps. Still…eventually I’ll need to pick him up. I’ve actually tried the technique Dana suggested but he is so skittish that he scrambles away as soon as I try to touch his butt and my arm is to his side. Anytime he feels “trapped” he scrambles away. So I just try a few times each day and if he runs, I give up for the day. I’m hoping the more he becomes comfortable with me, the less he will run.

[DanaNM]

Awww, you might try luring him into a carrier with treats then. I know a lot of members have trained their bunnies to go to their carriers that way. It helps to leave it out and open all the time, so they think of it as a nice hidey-box, vs. a scary new object.

You can also work on de-sensitizing him to touch with food as well. Here’s another thread where they discuss ways to desensitize bunnies to touch using rewards as well as clicker training: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/127512/Default.aspx

The best tip I see on that thread is: “So what I would recommend is operating below or at the threshold of what upsets them-i.e. if they are afraid of being pet, give a pet, give a cookie back away, repeat 10x a day until they relax and move on. Your rabbits, I’m assuming are OK with petting but it’s more being picked up or restrained. So pick them up for 1 second, put them down, feed them. Repeat until that’s not stressful and build up to 2 seconds, three and so on. Progress to holding and petting, and holding and walking around, holding with a towel wrapped around them. Move slow, and practice often, reward more ”

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[JumpinJax]

Thanks Dana! He is getting a little better. He now runs up to me but sometimes he scurries away when I go to pet him. When I climb in the pen with him, he does run up to me and he will also put his paws up on me looking for treats. He also gives nose bumps and a few licks here and there. He will go in the carrier, no problem. He loves his treats! I know I’ll need to take him to the vet soon and I’m dreading it because I know he is going to freak out. Also neutering coming soon (probably December) so I’ve got that to look forward to as well. I’ll check out the link.

[DanaNM]

Awww what a cutie

Sounds like great progress! The fact that he’s getting used to the carrier now will make the vet less scary for him.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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