When you bring your pet rabbit home, it is important to understand how to take care of them and in that comes your knowledge to handle your bunny.
While rabbits are adorable and fun pets that can bring joy to your home, they are also quite delicate, so it’s important to handle them with care. Before picking up your bunny, understand that not all rabbits like to be held. Their skeletal systems are very fragile and you may hurt them if not handled well. And most importantly, remember that you should never try to pick them up by their scruff, tail, legs, or ears as this is extremely painful and damaging to rabbits.
In this article, we will guide you through steps to ensure that your learning becomes smooth and also comfortable for your rabbit. Follow these steps to ensure that you hold your rabbit correctly:
- Firstly, make sure to not startle them with loud noises, and approach the rabbit slowly and calmly. It’s important to be gentle and patient when interacting with them. Allow your rabbit to become familiar with your scent by sniffing your hand, this will help reduce its fear of you.
- You need to be gentle with them but also firm. Pick up your bunny by placing one hand under its chest, just behind its front legs, and the other hand under its hind end. Gently lift them while ensuring that you support their weight with both hands. In this firm hold, your rabbit will feel secure and will not struggle or wriggle.
- Hold the rabbit close to your body but take care not to squeeze them as it can make them experience stress and discomfort. Your rabbit will feel unthreatened and calm if held gently with all four legs tucked in, but not squeezed.
- While your rabbit moves around in your arms, keep a close eye to avoid any dangers, such as stairs or sharp objects.
- If your rabbit shows signs of stress or struggle, put them down immediately.
Other tips to keep in mind:
- If you are allowing anyone to carry your rabbit, teach them the right way and also ensure supervision. Do not allow younger kids to be unsupervised around rabbits.
- Take note of the rabbit’s body language. Notice your rabbit’s ears, tail, and overall posture. If the rabbit’s ears are flat against its head, it may be feeling threatened or scared. A twitching tail may be a sign of anxiety or stress.
Note that you must never ‘hypnotize’ your rabbit- which is to freeze them on its back. This is part of the flight, fight, or freeze reaction, and causes a lot of suffering. It is simply not okay to ever subject your bunny to this treatment. Holding a rabbit correctly involves gentleness and firmness while reading its body language. With a little practice and patience, you can learn to hold your rabbit safely and comfortably.
