Tips and Tricks for Picking Up and Handling Your Rabbit
Most people realize that the average rabbit hates to be picked up. They are prey animals and much more comfortable with their paws on the ground. Even though we don’t encourage people to hold their rabbits for snuggle sessions, it’s important that your bunny be used to being handled. You still need to trim nails, take them to the vet, etc., and having a well-behaved cooperative rabbit is helpful and better for his/her well-being. Most people know the standard “one hand under the chest, the other under the bum” for picking up their buns, but that does not always lead to a cooperative bunny. Here are some tips and tricks to help you.
First and above all, be confident. I cannot stress how important this is. If you have any hesitation, a bunny will sense this and you are toast. You need to be confident. Think “I am picking you up and you will cooperate.” Repeat that in your head. Believe in it. Make it clear you will not settle for anything less. You are the boss.
Since they do not like to be picked up, most buns turn into what I call “squirmy wormies.” They wriggle, squirm, nip, and do other things to try and get down. Never put them them down like this. What they will learn is that if they squirm, they get put down. Instead you want them to learn they need to be calm to be put down. When they wriggle and squirm I pull them into my chest, wrap my arms around them tightly and in a soothing voice I say “calm.” Often I even elongate it, “caaaaallllllm.” When they chill out, then I try once again to place them down. If they squirm, I pull them right back into my chest with my arms, wait for them to calm down and try again. When I first start working with a bun, we can sometimes go through this ten times before he is finally calmed down so I can put him/her down. Be persistent.
Another tip I have for you – when you are putting your bun down, put him down facing you. Head towards your body, butt out. It seems more natural to put a rabbit down with his butt towards you and head out. What happens then the bun wants to start running before the paws even hit the floor. If you place your bunny down facing you, he will run into you. This will make them less likely to run. It’s also helpful to bend and get low to the ground. As a note, once your bun behaves well, I do prefer to put him down facing out if he is being placed into a carrier or a cage.
Next step is to practice. The key to practice is to try to do this at least once a day and also to make it quick. Scoop up your bunny, hold him for 20-30 seconds, then put him down. You may want to give him a treat when you place him down. If you make it quick, your bunny will learn that if he behaves, it’s over with quickly and he can go back to his routine. Don’t pick him up and hold him for 10-20 minutes. If you hold him for a while, he will associate you with those torture sessions he must endure and he may fight harder. If things are going well after a month you can start increasing the time. However, if he does not enjoy it, I would not push it. The main goal is to have him behave when you need to pick him up.
When you are first working with rabbits, unfortunately you can sometimes get scratches. You might benefit from wearing a sweatshirt while practicing or working with a new bunny. This will help protect your arms and chest from scratches.
Just remember, be confident, make sure your bunny is calm and have him face you. Pretty soon you will master picking up your rabbit.
— Suzanne Trayhan