Lottie Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Hi I need some help I know how to pick my rabbit up BUT how do you hold her wihout strugling Give me a reply fabc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 They can be really scrabbly until they get used to being cuddled. you can pick her up under the arms just like a human baby so long as you support her back end when you're holding her. Hold gently but firmly and talk quietly to her until she quietens down. wear thick clothing if she scrabbles as they have sharp claws. If you nee to dose her with anyhting and she's fighting it, then you can get them by the scruff of the neck like a cat and that way you're out of range of their claws. But this can leave them distressed, so don't do it unless you have to. Best to start feeding her some nice stuff and stroking her while she's in the hutch and progress on from there. Mine love nose-rubs and come runnning over for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Try putting her head under your arm with the body supported on the arm and the other hand behind the head when you carry her it is the if I can't see them they can't see me trick Hopefully she will eventually get used to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacedhopper Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Hi I need some help I know how to pick my rabbit up BUT how do you hold her wihout strugling Give me a reply fabc What kind of rabbit is it, when i try to pick Benji up its a nightmare, hes a giant french lop and if he dont want picking up you aint picking him up, the more you battle with him the more stressed he gets and then its just not worth it. Took a chunk out my lip with his claws once. But i love him to bits. He scratches your hand too when you go to put food in the rablu as if to say put it down then. Little monster. Recently weve had to put cream on his back because of a sore, we just gave him food and stroked him first, then he calmed down and you could apply it to his back. Just perservere and the rabbit gets used to it, dont not pick them up because they can nasty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lottie Posted June 9, 2006 Author Share Posted June 9, 2006 My rabbit cocoa is a dwarf mini lop so it is easyer to pick he up . thanks for the inforemation . KEEP SENDING MORE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Today I tried to pick up one of our rabbits and she started struggling and left me with 3 deep cuts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted June 10, 2006 Share Posted June 10, 2006 I think the clue is to persevere. Wear long sleeves at first! We had a rabbit when I was younger and he scratched me, so I gave up and we never ever picked him up, which was a shame, as what's the point of having animals if you can't hold and stroke them eh? Be firm, but gentle, and talk soothingly to him at all times, so he can feel you're not threatening him. You'll get there! Good luck! Don't forget to give him a treat at the end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clare* Posted June 10, 2006 Share Posted June 10, 2006 I am covered in scratches Fudge has decided he no longer wants to be friendly. He is no even happy to be stroked at the moment. I have moved them off of the grass to a shady area of my garden which has no grass. I have made a fruit cage area for them under Bens climbing frame so I can take them out and put them on grass when I want to. They don't like me now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 That's because they're getting to be teenagers Clare* - give them a couple of weeks after they have their op and they'll be fine again. Martin was very good at holding my rabbits while I clipped their claws - you'd make a good vet son! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lottie Posted July 21, 2006 Author Share Posted July 21, 2006 Thanks for replying I can pick her up easily now Though she is becomeing unfrendly and very angry . Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tess Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 Dont know if ther's any real truth in this but I heard that some rabbits are scared of heights!!!! My girl bunnies are only 5 months old but they will tolerate being held when im crouched ny the side of the eglu ...they will jump on to my lap for a cuddle and a treat but if you hold them and stand up it's all too much ...shreaded my blouse and left me with some nasty scartches on my stomach...took some explaining to my husband!!!! my last rabbit took her time but in the end she would be held and cuddled i guess they're all individuals like us and it will happen in their time and not ours good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 My girls are 16 months old now, and one loves being cuddled, you can turn her on her back and snuggle her like a cuddly toy. The toher one scrabbles around like mad and eats your clothes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lottie Posted August 21, 2006 Author Share Posted August 21, 2006 My rabbit cocoa nearly ran away about a week ago I was in the run and my friend was at the open door siting and strocking her and she just set off. We knew that if we quickly tryed to grabed her she would run away so fast. She set off hopping around a bit and then stoping to eat some grass but in the end after 3 laps around the garden (it's a big garden) then i grabed her food bowl and kept her still and my mum grabbed her and put her back in the hutch. i was woundering do you think that i should let her out again because she would have come back for food or would she. Give me a reply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hob Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Hi fabc I trained my first rabbit, Hob, to come back in for food. As soon as he heard the food rattling in his bowl, he would come in immediately. He was litter trained too - they are more clever than a lot of people give them credit for. He would be in his giant 3 tier hutch (he was a Dutch cross so didn't need all of the space necessarily) while we were at work and he would be out entirely free in the garden when we were at home. He chased off any cats and birds out of the garden (including our own - he was about the same size!). However, word of warning! We made sure that every little crevis and hole was covered up or he would have gone just because rabbits seem to test everything to distruction! So if you've got a very big garden, it may be a bit difficult. My garden is small and completely enclosed so very secure - I wouldn't have personally attempted it other wise. Hope some of this is of use to you. Good luck! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 I have to keep our bunnies under supervision when they are out of the run as the garden isn't secure. They are pretty good and I can catch both of them on my own. They are both litter trained too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lottie Posted September 4, 2006 Author Share Posted September 4, 2006 Thanks for all of your help. I have a very big garden ang it is not very secure. I only really let her out if i take her for a walk with the harness on in case she runs off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluff Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 hi, I find shutting my bunies in the eglu house and reacing in to get them from there easier.I cup them under their tummy, then support the bottom area with the other hand.I use a piece of vet bed and wrap this around them leaving their head poking out.This way they are held very tightly, and they feel secure.We usually bring them indoors for a couple of hours for a cuddle and a treat evryday.I don,t know if holding them tis way is wrong but they seem relaxed so I guess it works for them. Fluffx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
