@@DemureDarlingsbro fucking same Omg like hell hop on my Lap loves pets and cuddles but does not like to be held and I’ve had it since like 8 weeks old
That feet flicking, i always equated with flipping me off. My girl was very clear about this. I'd crossed a bunny boundary. Good thing I was trainable.
My rabbit used to love being cuddled. I used to pick her up the correct way and take her to my bed and sleep under the duvet with her. Her fur was soft and she had beautiful big eyes. I used to hand feed her and kiss her face. She once jumped up and licked all the tears off my face when I was sad! I remember the sweat smell of her and how docile she was. she was such a cutie and never bit me!
Thank you so much for clarifying that you don't NEED to pick up your rabbit to cuddle them/love them. I'm all for doing what's in the best intrest of the rabbit and it rubs me the wrong way when people insist on picking them up, for honesty selfish reasons
I was actually was feeling guilty and bad for not picking my bunny up for the longest I felt like I wasn’t loving them and bonding with them properly if I wasn’t picking them up
@@jenl1541 She has serious truama from her past carers improperly picking her up and handling her, I do work on making her feel secure and safe whenever I do pick her up for brushing, nail trimming, medical stuff, etc. But she's never going to be totally OK with being picked up, and I'm not about to disrespect her and stress her out by picking her up if I don't actually need to. She deserves peace and is a total love bug as long as she's left on the ground and trusts we won't pick her up unexpectedly like, we had to work with her for MONTHS before she even let us pet her because she thought that everytime someone approached her they were going to pick her up and she'd thump the ground and run away
Ironically here just to make sure I draw bunnies being held safely haha. This video is really interesting tho! Such a good thing to know for someone who isn't around bunnies often
@@TheBunniesBrigade My rabbit was BEAUTIFUL, so was my 2nd bunny 🐇. My sister had a Dutch English cross grey with a band of white around her neck, she too was quite tame and cute. Do I miss those bunnies 🥺. I will always remember the softness of their fur and their jewellery like eyes like nuggets of volcanic glass.
This is great! I remember seeing rabbits at the county fair and people would pick them up by the scruff. 😢 It never sat right with me, I’m glad you’re out here sending this positive message!
the scruff or the nape is what you do for breeding them it reduces the likelihood of getting attached to the rabbit if the next time you go to pick them up they try to bite you.
@@DebNKY I know I found this video because I got a pet rabbit kind of recently and wanted to know how to pick him up before I tried to actually do it , also grandpa and dad had rabbits on the farm they always picked up by the scruff.
I have 2 free roam Holland Lops. The loves of my life , but EVEN the vet has anxiety picking up bunnies ! I heard to give them a treat afterward, not beforehand so at least they know they get rewarded. Thanks for the tips !!! Your buns are lovely. And your accent reminds me of my niece who is 5 and lives in the UK . Happy everything
I'm rabbit sitting for my boss and his wife while they're out of town, and the wee booger got out today while I was cleaning his cage. I had to watch this video twice to catch him. Now it seems funny, but 45 minutes ago, I was not a happy camper 😂
Thank you so much! My niece just got a pet bunny and I was looking everywhere for a good video showing how to properly handle her new buddy. I shared your video with her mom.
Pepper is exactly that actually. Holding them close and firm is key. You gotta make sure you’ve got those back feet secure, before they have the chance to kick. What’s really needed for these guys though, is training to be more comfortable with it. It’s a very slow process that you have to take in baby steps to show them that nothing bad will happen when they’re picked up.
I just got my bunny yesterday I know he has been picked up a lot by his former owner, but I havent gptten it down yet, but its only barely day 1 so I will patiently wait for him to bw more comfortable!
This is great info. I'm glad to know I was doing things that could cause them stress so I can hold them in a better way that will cause less stress in the future
Hello um im kinda a first rabbit keeper my dad had some in the past but i was very young (i still am) but i came here to see if there are ways to get my mini lop confortable with being carried. So Um shes a baby still and I've seen people in these comments say that u should only pick them up for important stuff but the problem is i want to be able to pick her up and her to not be stressed. And when we do pick her up my dad puts her on my lap and i feel like im stressing her is there anyway to prevent stressing her? Oh my dad also does chase her which is the most painful part about it.
When they are very young and still open to learning, you can try picking them up for short periods. Every rabbit has different tolerance levels and it is easier to teach a baby to be more accustomed to it. However, you don't ever want to push them to do anything that elicits a fear response as it'll break trust and make handling more difficult in the future. Please encourage your dad to stop chasing her as it prevents you from building a bond with her. On your lap is fine, but make sure it's when you are sitting on the floor and she has the choice to leave if she chooses. The best thing to do is make sure she is in control and she has the option to remove herself from any situation she doesn't like being in. Please let your dad know that rabbit care advice has come on leaps and bounds over the last 10-15 years due to welfare research. How I look after Pepper and Wally is nothing like the way I looked after my first rabbit over 20 years ago so, although he may have had rabbits in the past, there may be a lot of changes he is not aware of. I made a short 2-part series about it that might get him thinking: ua-cam.com/play/PLQxkKXLfqF6BEypzOb7gQk4dzkFQYkrBa.html Also, thank you for looking out for your rabbit and taking the initiative to ask about these things, it shows you have a tremendous amount of love and empathy 😌❤️
Thanks for making this video. I am a first time rabbit caretaker. I have scars all over to prove that I had no idea on how to pick up my rabbit correctly when needed. I forgot step 2. To hold him close when picking him up. Also I forgot to hold him parallel to the floor. Instead I was hold him against my chest vertically. So this will really help us both during nail trimming and veterinarian visits!
When i hold my bunny close to my body because i'm scared she might fall or hurt herself (she's fidgeting all the time while being held) she just bites me. How can i make her stop? For my and hers safety. Also when i try to put her down to her cage she starts kicking really bad and most of the times just jumps out of my arms like she just can't wait any second longer, it's really dangerous for her but i didn't find any solution for this behavior and i want to fix it. Do you have any advices?
Is she quite young? Young rabbits can be very fidgety and are prone to nipping as they don't know any better. Make sure you always wear a thick sweater whenever you pick her up, so she is not able to bite skin. Whenever she does bite, even when it's your clothes, make a high-pitched squeal. Do NOT react by putting her down or loosening your grip. She needs to learn that biting will not get her put down. Also, as I say in my video, it's so important to keep them close and hold them tightly all the way to the floor, as you place them down. They very often do want to escape the situation prematurely and, if you watch closely in the video, Pepper tries to as well. I simply don't let her. Please also consider, whenever you pick your rabbit up, why you are picking them up. They much prefer not being restrained. So if you're trying to get them to go back to their enclosure, for example, it is often much better to place train. And much easier than you might think. Here's my video on it: ua-cam.com/video/ZN9JlKoGp-I/v-deo.html
@@TheBunniesBrigade Thank you so much! Yes, she's around 10 months, i already talked with our vet and she will be also spayed next month, maybe it will help as well because she's really dominant already (she also constantly pees on my bed when she gets the chance so after doing some research i understand know it's a territorial thing). When i started being more strict with her and not letting her go when she starts kicking and biting she acts scared afterwards. whenever she sees me walking in the room she curls up in the corner. It also worries me because i don't want her to be scared of me.
Those are cuties, my rabbit was a dwarf lop and she lived until she was nearly 9, she got cancer and it took her. But we cared for her until she died, even taking her to the vets 3 times to help her. She always got better, then worse again. I think she must have had cancer like I said, but she wasn't in pain. she was so loving! I remember her snuggling up to me in my bed and falling asleep with me when I was in my teens. Her fur was like silk, beautiful little bunny!!!!
We do not condone hutches on our channel, unless they are being used as a hidey house and they are able to come and go as they please. If this is the case, then my advice would be to wait to clean the hutch when they are not in it. You can also train them to come out of the hutch. We are a rabbit training channel that encourages positive reinforcement.
I need help my rabbit won’t let me pick him up and nail cutting is horrible I stopped taking him to the vet for it because I’m so scared he is so stressed he will die he starts drooling there and it’s horrible. I also have been trying to clip a nail a day rubbing and massage him as he is relaxed I clip one it has been difficult the back are really bad and now I realized touching his butt I felt hard dried cecrotrops right at the area it comes out and I’m am freaking. I tried everything to get under there without picking him up and he takes off. He also has a nail broke in the back to the quick and I’m so overwhelmed. How do I do this how do I clean him I need so much help I’m having a nervous breakdown
My rabbit scrambles when I try to put her down and I'm trying to put her down hind legs first but she scrambles and lunges foreword and I'm afraid she's going to fall and then she thumps me
My rabbit runs when I put a hand under her chest and scratches with her hind legs. Any ideas? She knows that hand under chest means being picked up and she hates it
Lie right down on your stomach and approach with your face first. Gently pet him for a little in order to get him to relax and not anticipating being picked up. Try to be as non-threatening with your body as possible.
my bunny was sick and i just couldn’t give him his medicine because i couldn’t pick him up and in the end he was kinda scared of me (which was really sad, since i worked so hard for his trust). So now i just wanna prepare and get my bunnies to get used to be picked up, so if they get sick again, i don’t have to worry that i won’t be able to give them their medicine
Can you source this information? Most rabbits hate being picked up. They can be trained to be okay with it, but unless they are very young, this training is not quite as simple as picking them up every day, period. It requires "shaping", which means breaking the action down into small increments over many months, and rewarding as you go.
Is it okay for my rabbit to lay on her back in my arms cradled like a baby she lays like that and will fall asleep while I pet her and she she will honk and oink
Keep him as close to you as possible as you put him down. You can also pause putting him down until he stops kicking. Be patient, and find a moment where he is calm to let him down. This will decrease this behaviour over time.
@@TheBunniesBrigade good tips about setting him down. Lately I try to pick him up and it seems impossible he just freaks out and scrambles to get away. I have no idea how I will cut his nails. My only thoughts are to put him in his carrier then put it on top of a table then let him out and try to wrap him in a bunny burrito. I worry he might freak and jump off the table
Shouldn’t need the carrier. Just burrito from the floor. You can also see how he responds to having his front claws cut on the floor, without picking him up at all… Some rabbits are fine with that. And I recommend working with him daily being ok with having his nails touched. I have a nail trimming tips short and I also talk briefly about it in my newest video: ua-cam.com/video/JhTtLNI4n60/v-deo.html
@@TheBunniesBrigade thanks for the tips. Every time he lets me near him or I get to pick him up I try to touch his nails. The front ones he's not too bad but the back ones he hates.
Could you break down the shaping you need to train them to like being held, or at least not hate it? My girl has trauma from an almost coyote attack before we got her so she hates being picked up and is clearly terrified, I can pet her and she comes over to say hi so I think I’m trusted but I don’t know how to train the picking up
I'm only trying to pick mine up to put him to bed while I'm new he's just been with me for 2 days and needs training but he panicked and cut my hand open pretty deep when getting out my grip I didn't want to hold too tightly but his back feet got me in the process 😅 I don't want to pick him up but if I need to or want to trim his nails for future purposes.
I have position my hands as yours from being behind Willow and picking him up, for any other way he jumps away and is upset at me. So I am patient in leaving him alone. But Yes this is very trying. Is there any way for getting them not to jump away? Thank you So Much!
@@TheBunniesBrigade Your welcome Liana! And right back atcha! 😉 I watched your video right before I got my 2 Rabbits, 1 M. Thunder Bun and 1 grey blue looking F. BlueBerry / momma Bun .they are stoked because I treat them right , because I learned how from a awesome teacher! . . -Liana / Bunny Brigade! 😃🥳
How do you groom around the bum? I see a lot of people trancing them for that. Is it ok to have them sort of propped up? Not fully laying backward, but upright and slightly back to get to that spot? I’ve seen that as well.
I'm so envious of how chill and tolerant of handling your rabbits are 🥲 We've had our 2yo rescue for half a year now and we make progress with her every day, but she has apparently had some bad experiences (or just no experiences?) and does everything in her power to flee if she even suspects someone is about to pick her up. The only way we've ever gotten her nails trimmed is by tricking her with banana, but then she's mad at us for literally weeks. I'd like to think my technique and confidence is good, since I'm very used to handling puppy dogs, but I don't know. The internet's full of vids about how to pick up reluctant rabbits, but none of the rabbits in those vids have the kind of paranoia ours does 😔
What about rabbit tick medicine? My 2bunnies are new to home so I can’t see any ticks yet but do I need to put tick medicine every month just in case? Or do I have to wait? Thank you
but what if ur rabbit has really big claws? mine does and I'm afraid of bringing her to the groomer since there's a chance she could die from being too scared :( She's 2 years old and has already started getting some gray hairs! Any tips? Do I use gloves? do I build up the courage to take her to a groomer? Please let me know!
Has she been through some kind of extreme trauma to give you this concern about taking her to the groomers? If a groomer is experienced with rabbits they should offer home visits. If I get hired for grooming or nail trims, I will always offer a home visit. If she hasn't been through any trauma then please don't sacrifice her care and maintenance due to fear she could die if she leaves the house. She will be absolutely fine.
we got our Ash from a rescue. He is skittish, but loves being petted now. sometimes. :) however before we took him the rescue lady trimmed his nails for us and said we could bring him back to have it done every few months. She DID lay him on his back for this process. Is there a better way? can you show me how to trim his nails so I don't have to truck him to her to have it done, and apparently stress him out further by laying him on his back to do it? Is there a way? thanks in advance for any help on this!
Wrap him in a towel in trim his nails - what's referred to as a bunny burrito. This way you can keep him upright and he will be secure. Consider clipping one paw or even one nail at a time, rewarding him intermittently. No one should need to trance a rabbit to trim nails. Pepper is the wriggliest rabbit I've ever worked with and it takes time (especially as she has dark nails), but I've never needed to lay her on her back. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself look around for someone else who can do it who won't trance. Try another rescue, bunny boarders or an exotics vet.
My holland lop hates it…. if I pick her up I try to keep her safe and close to me but I have to be quick because if I’m too long about it she’ll give me a little nip so that I let go. 😅
I can't even get that far, as soon as I go on to pick her up she runs. I coax her on to a scratch pad with treats and pick her up with that and that's the only way she'll get transferred anywhere lol
That's fine. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. You are respecting her and what she is comfortable with. We don't have to pick them up. Have you tried putting what you do on command actually? It's called place training, I have a video on how to do it, if you're interested: ua-cam.com/video/ZN9JlKoGp-I/v-deo.html
I got a bunny named thunder and I felt like I was hurting it because my friend that got me the rabbit 🐇 used to have a rabbit a few years ago and I remembered her telling me there was a specific way to pick them up I just couldn’t remember how this helped a lot 😊
My bunny is really challenging… whenever he must does nails check, be combed, and even giving vitamins or medicine… 😭He hates to be picked up… 3:18 even when I do that pose… He’ll soon kick me up… 😖
Work with your rabbit every single day on being touched, especially on the parts of his body where you would touch in order to pick him up. Reward him for allowing you to touch him in those places, and if he allows you to lift him slightly. Don't push him too far though, be patient. At times you have no choice but to pick him up, make sure you have a firm grip. As long as you are holding him firmly and close to your body, supporting his back legs, he shouldn't be able to wriggle free. Always wear long sleeves, don't hold him for too long, and place him down in his favourite spot. Try to offer an extremely high value treat afterward - he may not take it from you, but you can leave it in front of him.
What if you have to pick them up from a cage standing up? Look it’s a HUGE cage they are all 3 happy VERY happy super nice always playful they have SOOOOO much room to play and they get attention EVERY DAY almost ALL DAY.
With no need to bend down, picking them up from standing is even easier as you can get your body super close from the get go. I do recommend giving them a means for making their own way out of the enclosure if you are able, so they can make their own choices.
Ok so how would you pick them up if they where in their cage? Because our bunny is in her cage but I can’t go all the way down to pick her up so I can be close to her, so how should I pick her up?
We don't recommend cages as they are too small. Instead we suggest pens as a much better alternative. Their enclosure should be big enough that you are able to comfortably sit or even lie down in yourself, they should also be able to exit the enclosure on their own, without any need to be picked up.
I have my rabbit cage on a high sturdy and safe spot and it's up to chest level for me so how do I pick up my rabbit from inside his cage without causing him anxiety and stress. The main reason why I'm having on a higher surface is I have dogs and he's still skittish of them.
My recommendation would be to keep the dogs away from him altogether. If he's frightened of them they will need to be in a completely separate room. You need to provide him with an environment where he can feel safe and confident and where he has the ability to move around as he chooses. Without this you won't be able to work through his anxiety. We also do not believe in housing rabbits in cages, I'm afraid. Cages are simply too small and are not conducive to building trust with your rabbit. X pens are a much better option.
I adopted my bunny when he was four. He loves me and comes to me all the time and wants to be snuggled and than falls asleep while I pet him. But he is terrified of being picked up. I do it in the correct way and he still freaks out every time. What am I doing wrong? Or is he just like that?
Pepper is exactly the same. She LOVES cuddles, she will cosy up with me for hours, but she still needs to be in control and does not like having her feet leave the ground. It's just natural instincts. If you do have to pick him up and he aggressively tries to wriggle free it just means you have to hold him closer and more firmly to your body. Don't pick him up just to cuddle, I can guarantee he will never appreciate that lol.
When I was a kid the neighbors had a rabbit (in a hutch in the back yard, we didn't know better...) and I think I remember them holding it vertically, that is, supporting the hind feet on the arm, and the forefeet and head on/against the shoulder. I assume rabbits prefer the horizontal approach but is holding them in that way dangerous for them like holding them upside down is?
Good question! To be honest with you, I actually do sometimes hold them how you’ve described. It can be easier to get a secure grip of them that way. However, I feel like there is a risk of accidental trancing and I wanted to teach a way that would avoid any chance of that. Especially for beginners. Also, as you say, they do prefer being in this horizontal position and we, of course, want to give them as positive experience as we can.
@@TheBunniesBrigade my experience is that they might try to climb you and try to escape over your shoulders. holding them vertically puts one in a very awkward position to try to pick down a rabbit climbing ones shoulders (especially if you're at the vet, like I was)
I'm sure you've already figured this out, but yes. They will scratch quite deeply. I rescued a baby rabbit about a month ago and now he's too big to fit into one hand. I tried to put gloves on, but it seems to have made him more stressed. Let me know if you've had any luck!
I can't catch my rabbit without having to chase her, she senses when I want to catch her and hides. She is already normally skittish and suspicious. Using snacks doesn't help much, as she refuses to eat if she feels something is wrong or if I pick her up. I've been working on gaining her trust for 3 years, I've already managed to evolve a lot, but there's still a long way to go. Unfortunately there are no miracles 😔, the way is to take one step at a time and hope that it takes as little time as possible
My little one is the same way! My older one loves treats and is easy to follow the treats wherever I place them. But my little one? Immediately suspicious. I can’t get near her at that moment without her taking off and thumping.
Rabbits should be housed in a space that is big enough for you to enter. Our channel does not advocate for the use of cages, instead we recommend pen-type enclosures. If you are unable to get close enough to pick them up as I have demonstrated, you're not in a position to wait for them to come to you, or you are not able to lure them toward you with a treat, then you will need to put both hands around their shoulders/mid-section and gently slide them toward you until they are in a better position for you to pick them up. Please bear in mind that reaching hands toward them can make them fearful and some rabbits can bite and lunge in defense. There is also an increased chance of this if you are reaching into their own territory. Doing this will build a negative association with being handled; it will be damaging to the bond you have with them and may lead to it becoming increasingly more difficult to pick them up. It is always better to use a lure if you can - use high value foods (eg. banana or raisins) if you struggle to get a response.
@@TheBunniesBrigade i wont have enough space for a pen with the room im working with but once i get my rabbit spayed im going to litter train her so i can free roam her. the cage is temporary and i will not be keeping it in the future.
It may be your approach. Faces and back of hands are less threatening than grabby, claw-like hands. Always approach within her field of vision and relax her by petting her before going straight on to trying to pick her up.
I’ve had my two little lionheads for two months now, and they love to take treats from my hand, and one will let me pet him gently from arm’s length. I don’t mind being patient, but they’re turning into little ragmops. I really need to brush them. But I can’t even catch them! It’s like trying to catch fish in a river with bare hands. Any advice? How do I even get close enough to pick them up?
Lay down on the ground with them. Approaching with your face is a lot less intimidating. If you haven't seen this video yet, it goes into more detail about building trust: ua-cam.com/video/uUiRn7maUDc/v-deo.html
Can you give me some advise on how I can bring my rabbit inside from his outdoor run without picking him up? I like to bring him inside during dinner time for his dinner and bonding with us
Thank you so much for such useful information. We have just recently welcomed a cheeky mini lop to our family & your practical suggestions have helped us heaps! Question...our bunny seems to be very comfortable around me personally however can't resist biting. Am I missing something? I don't pick him up. He'll come to me on his own accord, investigate then whammo...he'll bite. Can you please shed some light???
Are you making any sudden movements when he comes to you, or any movements directly in front of his face? How old is he as well? If you have a video you’re more than welcome to DM me it on Instagram - @thebunniesbrigade. It’ll be helpful for me to see his body language when he does this.
@@TheBunniesBrigade Thank you for your reply. No, no sudden movements. I'll just be sitting in front of his hutch, quietly waiting for him to come & approach me in his own time. He has an inquisitive sniff of my clothes & it seems as though he is investigating before he bites. The other day he came right up to my face & was sniffing around. He started icking my eyelids & then bit my eyelid! It wasn't a ferocious bite but a bite non the less. We love him & he's so adorable but not sure what I might be doing wrong. Dutch is 16 weeks.
Oh, he’s still so so young. He must be such a cutie!! If it’s just a little, non-aggressive nip then a lot of baby rabbits will do that. I think it’s either they don’t quite understand the difference between grooming and nipping yet, or they’re still working out what’s food. Also, when you’re right in front of his hutch, it could be that he doesn’t want you there, like you’re in his way. You can help him learn to be more of a gentleman by making a short, high-pitched “Eek!” when he does it. This is how they communicate pain so he’ll understand that it hurts you when he does that.
I feel like I can’t do much as my bunny is in a cage with the standing thing (the cage is not my choice btw so I can’t really stop it-) and it doesn’t even have an opening at the front for my rabbit to get out easier-
A pen is always a better option than a cage. The fact of the matter is, cages promote unwanted behaviour and prevent a strong trusting bond from being formed between you and your rabbit. A caged dog or cat wouldn't be very trusting of you either. Perhaps this information will help you make a case to switch to a pen instead? Also, have you seen my video 'The Misunderstood Pet: Part 1'? That video is intended to persuade others to understand why rabbits shouldn't be caged 😉
Help my rabbits are fairly new and three months old and I’ve had them for three weeks. I can stroke them but when I go to pick them up they wriggle and run away , I feel like I’m stressing them out but I’d love to be able to have a bond where they don’t have to like it but they tolerate it instead of being skittish what do I do. ( btw I love your channel!❤️)
Young rabbits do often wriggle as they just want to run around and explore all the time. As they are so young though, it will be easier to teach them to be okay with being picked up. It takes shaping (a technique used in clicker training), which is a very gradual process. In a nutshell, break down the whole motion of picking them up into stages and work a stage at a time. Reward them constantly. Don't move onto the next stage until they are comfortable with the current one. Sometimes you will have to go back. Have patience and keep building trust by other means as well. You will get there. If you ever do pick them up place them gently somewhere they love to be and shower them with treats. It's all about associating it with something positive for them.
Mine gives me the stink eye if I pick her-up for more then half a minute. Funnily enough, if it's less then half a minute, it's almost like nothing happened.
Good question. I think you would really benefit from clicker training. It is very easy to train a rabbit to go to a place, like a carrier. That way you can pick up the whole carrier and put it on a high surface for you to safely get to them. Also, if your rabbit likes to jump on to things, then you can also very easily put that on command and have them jump up to somewhere more easily accessible for you, like a bed or sofa. This is my clicker training video: ua-cam.com/video/IezMvnZJfKA/v-deo.html May I ask why she has a poopy butt? Is she not cleaning herself properly?
If you've only just got her you'll need to build trust with her first. I speak on this in this video: ua-cam.com/video/uUiRn7maUDc/v-deo.html Just know that your rabbit may not ever like being picked up. Once she is trusting you, do your best to make being picked up as comfortable experience as possible for her. Follow how I have demonstrated and you can start by only lifting her off the ground a little way before placing her back down. Only hold her for very short periods and treat her during and/or immediately afterward.
@@TheBunniesBrigade What brush would you recommend when helping them get fur off during ther sheding phase? I was looking at getting one of the furminator brush.
@@Vivicloud01 I've found slicker brushes do a good job of gently removing the loose fur. Also, I haven't yet tried it myself, but the Small Pet Select Hair Buster comb comes highly recommended: amzn.to/383z7IN Regarding her digging - keep an eye out for my next video! 😉
I have a beautiful little bunny lop! Really love the little guy! Sadly enough, i'm in a wheelchair. So i can't really get close to the ground with him. The thing with him is that, sometimes, he likes to be picked up. And sometimes he flicks his back paws at me. I know it's kind of like giving me the finger, but it's very difficult for me to do it differently. Strangely enough is that he sometimes likes it though. He even asks for it! (Jumping on me or on my arm when i reached down to scratch his ears or head.) 😀 Also, when he is on my lap, he gives me a lot of kisses, on my belly or my legs. Sometimes he also jumps in my neck and gives little kisses to my chin/face. So i (think) he is fine with me having him on my lap but i'm not sure. My vet has seen it already and from what he said, he looks very relaxed when he is on my lab. Even to the point where one of his back paws is so relaxing that he just lets it "hang" and fall asleep. He also eats his little treats from my hand. Which i also think is a positive thing? Not every rabbit/bunny does that i think? But i might be wrong. My biggest concern actually is grooming him. I'm always afraid to hurt him but i know i have to do it because i don't want him "eating" his fur/hair. Because i know a bunny can't vomit. Anyway, i try to help him out as much as i can but i don't really like doing that because i don't want to hurt him. A bunny/rabbit is so fragile!
It sounds like you have a very loving bunny! Have you considered getting him some pet steps to help him hop up on your lap whenever he chooses? Don't be afraid to brush him, it's more important he gets groomed and as long as you do it gently you won't hurt him. They _can_ be drama queens when it comes to being brushed so introducing them to grooming tools in a gradual, positive way is best. Grooming mitts are the gentlest, although they're not the most efficient.
@@TheBunniesBrigade Thanks for your reply. At the moment he is doing much better, but last time i groomed him and put him back in his house he did pee. So i think he was very afraid. He is absolutely lovely though. But the grooming thing, even after 6yrs is really hard. He doesn't like being touch around his butt and hes back paws. Which is normal of course, since they are a prey animal. Sometimes i can do everything i want with him, but sometimes it just doesn't work and like i mentioned before, i really don't want to hurt him. Anyway, hes moulting is much better now! 😄
My bunny hates being touched, so there's just no solution, I won't ever be able to pick her up without her being super scared 🥲 I feel bad each time but there's nothing I can do, I can't even approach my hands of her 😭
It sounds like you she hasn't allowed you into her circle of trust yet. Please don't be discouraged. Rabbits are prey animals and it can take a lot of time for them to feel completely comfortable with being touched, or even approached. Please watch my Bunny Instincts video, that will help you get on your way to bonding with her: ua-cam.com/video/uUiRn7maUDc/v-deo.html Remember not to rush her, always allow her to go at her own pace.
@@TheBunniesBrigade Thank you I'll watch the video! I think that my bunny already trust me a little? But not fully, I adopted her 2 years ago, & now when she sees me she comes to me & follow me ( to have food ofc haha) , I hand feed her a lot, she sleeps even if I'm near her, she really often jump on my lap or my back when I lay down ... It's really just the physical touch, I can touch her head but she'll move her head away like she's more annoyed than scared or will simply run away...In the past two years she let me pet her head (she laid her head on the ground) only 2 or 3 times... I'm still trying to bond with her everyday, even though I kinda accepted that it was part of her personality, but I'm still hoping that she'll eventually trust me even more & maybe your videos will help!
You'll need to start by building trust first and showing them that good things happen when you approach them or when they approach you. We talk about trust building in the video: ua-cam.com/video/uUiRn7maUDc/v-deo.html
Many people mistake tonic immobility as something they enjoy, as they look calm and as if they're falling asleep. That is why it is referred to as "trancing". I always advocate fact checking, and you are more than welcome to do further research on the topic.
I'm so sorry to hear this! To give you more bespoke advice I would have to know the more about the bond you have with your rabbit, the living circumstances (past and present), and the exact situation when you attempted to pick him/her up. As I say, most rabbit don't like being held and some may even react defensively. It is a fear responsive, so remain calm if they do bite. You can always wear long sleeves and gardening gloves to prevent them from causing you harm.
I need desperately to clip my rabbit’s nails, and she reaaaaaally hates being picked up -____- I’m at my wit’s end, because she will leap out of my arms no matter how gently I try to pick her up.
I put myself in Jurgen Flopp's position, would I want to be picked up by this massive 25ft cave beast who stinks of Cheetos? No way. I leave him be and he comes up sniffing at me but any time I even try touching him, he doesn't like it. So if he's being naughty I go to pet him and he stops, he's a good boy.
First step: Try to approach the bunny without him running away 🤠 Good luck
hehe did you manage to do it?
My mini lop bunny son hates it😂
Um my cat brought it to my mom-
@@DemureDarlingsbro fucking same
Omg like hell hop on my
Lap loves pets and cuddles but does not like to be held and I’ve had it since like 8 weeks old
@@DemureDarlingsMy mini lop son too!
That feet flicking, i always equated with flipping me off. My girl was very clear about this. I'd crossed a bunny boundary. Good thing I was trainable.
My rabbit used to love being cuddled. I used to pick her up the correct way and take her to my bed and sleep under the duvet with her. Her fur was soft and she had beautiful big eyes. I used to hand feed her and kiss her face. She once jumped up and licked all the tears off my face when I was sad! I remember the sweat smell of her and how docile she was. she was such a cutie and never bit me!
Please kindly give me rabbit God will bless you amen
HOW DID SHE NOT PEE IN UR BED!?
Thank you so much for clarifying that you don't NEED to pick up your rabbit to cuddle them/love them. I'm all for doing what's in the best intrest of the rabbit and it rubs me the wrong way when people insist on picking them up, for honesty selfish reasons
Agreed.
I was actually was feeling guilty and bad for not picking my bunny up for the longest I felt like I wasn’t loving them and bonding with them properly if I wasn’t picking them up
I think it's better to get them used to it, if you need to check them, cut their nails, medical reasons etc
@@jenl1541 She has serious truama from her past carers improperly picking her up and handling her, I do work on making her feel secure and safe whenever I do pick her up for brushing, nail trimming, medical stuff, etc. But she's never going to be totally OK with being picked up, and I'm not about to disrespect her and stress her out by picking her up if I don't actually need to. She deserves peace and is a total love bug as long as she's left on the ground and trusts we won't pick her up unexpectedly
like, we had to work with her for MONTHS before she even let us pet her because she thought that everytime someone approached her they were going to pick her up and she'd thump the ground and run away
Finally! A video showing how to pick them up from the floor! Thank you 😊
Ironically here just to make sure I draw bunnies being held safely haha. This video is really interesting tho! Such a good thing to know for someone who isn't around bunnies often
I love that you’re taking the time to represent rabbits correctly in your art! 😌 Would love to see the completed drawing.
@@TheBunniesBrigade My rabbit was BEAUTIFUL, so was my 2nd bunny 🐇. My sister had a Dutch English cross grey with a band of white around her neck, she too was quite tame and cute. Do I miss those bunnies 🥺. I will always remember the softness of their fur and their jewellery like eyes like nuggets of volcanic glass.
This is great! I remember seeing rabbits at the county fair and people would pick them up by the scruff. 😢 It never sat right with me, I’m glad you’re out here sending this positive message!
Yeah. Perhaps something I should have included in the video - Don’t pick them up my the scruff! 😒
@@TheBunniesBrigadeThis one was really well done, though. A lot of people don't know they don't generally like being picked up, or how to do it right.
the scruff or the nape is what you do for breeding them it reduces the likelihood of getting attached to the rabbit if the next time you go to pick them up they try to bite you.
@ethanbirling1115 it hurts a rabbit. They're not like kittens. Just don't do it.
@@DebNKY I know I found this video because I got a pet rabbit kind of recently and wanted to know how to pick him up before I tried to actually do it , also grandpa and dad had rabbits on the farm they always picked up by the scruff.
You are SO underrated, thank you for these tips! Now I know why my poor Hollands have been SO angry when I've tried to pick them up from above. 😅
Ahh thank you so much!! I’m so glad it’s helped!
Saaamme! I tried to like your comment but YT isn’t letting me
I have 2 free roam Holland Lops. The loves of my life , but EVEN the vet has anxiety picking up bunnies ! I heard to give them a treat afterward, not beforehand so at least they know they get rewarded. Thanks for the tips !!! Your buns are lovely. And your accent reminds me of my niece who is 5 and lives in the UK . Happy everything
I have noticed sometimes my bunnies swear at me too! Thank you for sharing how to pick them up!
I'm rabbit sitting for my boss and his wife while they're out of town, and the wee booger got out today while I was cleaning his cage. I had to watch this video twice to catch him. Now it seems funny, but 45 minutes ago, I was not a happy camper 😂
Pebbles lets me know she doesn't want to be picked up by backing away when I approach her, so I respect that. I don't pick her up often.
Thank you so much! My niece just got a pet bunny and I was looking everywhere for a good video showing how to properly handle her new buddy. I shared your video with her mom.
The bit where you went “ he is a perfect example of a rabbit that doesn’t like being picked up “ 🤣
"Keep em as close to you as possible"
Oh OK so you want my rabbit to give me stitches😂😂 jk but yea he's gonna tear me up 😂😂
Please kindly give me rabbit God will bless you
What if you have a SPICY bun who flails and kicks every single time they’re picked up, even if it’s necessary?
Pepper is exactly that actually. Holding them close and firm is key. You gotta make sure you’ve got those back feet secure, before they have the chance to kick. What’s really needed for these guys though, is training to be more comfortable with it. It’s a very slow process that you have to take in baby steps to show them that nothing bad will happen when they’re picked up.
Please kindly give me rabbit God will bless you
Please kindly give me rabbit God will bless you amen
I just got my bunny yesterday
I know he has been picked up a lot by his former owner, but I havent gptten it down yet, but its only barely day 1 so I will patiently wait for him to bw more comfortable!
This is great info. I'm glad to know I was doing things that could cause them stress so I can hold them in a better way that will cause less stress in the future
Nice job thank you this is so very helpful .😊
Hello um im kinda a first rabbit keeper my dad had some in the past but i was very young (i still am) but i came here to see if there are ways to get my mini lop confortable with being carried.
So Um shes a baby still and I've seen people in these comments say that u should only pick them up for important stuff but the problem is i want to be able to pick her up and her to not be stressed. And when we do pick her up my dad puts her on my lap and i feel like im stressing her is there anyway to prevent stressing her?
Oh my dad also does chase her which is the most painful part about it.
When they are very young and still open to learning, you can try picking them up for short periods. Every rabbit has different tolerance levels and it is easier to teach a baby to be more accustomed to it. However, you don't ever want to push them to do anything that elicits a fear response as it'll break trust and make handling more difficult in the future. Please encourage your dad to stop chasing her as it prevents you from building a bond with her. On your lap is fine, but make sure it's when you are sitting on the floor and she has the choice to leave if she chooses. The best thing to do is make sure she is in control and she has the option to remove herself from any situation she doesn't like being in.
Please let your dad know that rabbit care advice has come on leaps and bounds over the last 10-15 years due to welfare research. How I look after Pepper and Wally is nothing like the way I looked after my first rabbit over 20 years ago so, although he may have had rabbits in the past, there may be a lot of changes he is not aware of. I made a short 2-part series about it that might get him thinking: ua-cam.com/play/PLQxkKXLfqF6BEypzOb7gQk4dzkFQYkrBa.html
Also, thank you for looking out for your rabbit and taking the initiative to ask about these things, it shows you have a tremendous amount of love and empathy 😌❤️
Thanks for making this video. I am a first time rabbit caretaker. I have scars all over to prove that I had no idea on how to pick up my rabbit correctly when needed. I forgot step 2. To hold him close when picking him up. Also I forgot to hold him parallel to the floor. Instead I was hold him against my chest vertically. So this will really help us both during nail trimming and veterinarian visits!
When i hold my bunny close to my body because i'm scared she might fall or hurt herself (she's fidgeting all the time while being held) she just bites me. How can i make her stop? For my and hers safety. Also when i try to put her down to her cage she starts kicking really bad and most of the times just jumps out of my arms like she just can't wait any second longer, it's really dangerous for her but i didn't find any solution for this behavior and i want to fix it. Do you have any advices?
Going through the same thing
Is she quite young? Young rabbits can be very fidgety and are prone to nipping as they don't know any better. Make sure you always wear a thick sweater whenever you pick her up, so she is not able to bite skin. Whenever she does bite, even when it's your clothes, make a high-pitched squeal. Do NOT react by putting her down or loosening your grip. She needs to learn that biting will not get her put down. Also, as I say in my video, it's so important to keep them close and hold them tightly all the way to the floor, as you place them down. They very often do want to escape the situation prematurely and, if you watch closely in the video, Pepper tries to as well. I simply don't let her.
Please also consider, whenever you pick your rabbit up, why you are picking them up. They much prefer not being restrained. So if you're trying to get them to go back to their enclosure, for example, it is often much better to place train. And much easier than you might think. Here's my video on it: ua-cam.com/video/ZN9JlKoGp-I/v-deo.html
@@TheBunniesBrigade Thank you so much! Yes, she's around 10 months, i already talked with our vet and she will be also spayed next month, maybe it will help as well because she's really dominant already (she also constantly pees on my bed when she gets the chance so after doing some research i understand know it's a territorial thing). When i started being more strict with her and not letting her go when she starts kicking and biting she acts scared afterwards. whenever she sees me walking in the room she curls up in the corner. It also worries me because i don't want her to be scared of me.
Those are cuties, my rabbit was a dwarf lop and she lived until she was nearly 9, she got cancer and it took her. But we cared for her until she died, even taking her to the vets 3 times to help her. She always got better, then worse again. I think she must have had cancer like I said, but she wasn't in pain. she was so loving! I remember her snuggling up to me in my bed and falling asleep with me when I was in my teens. Her fur was like silk, beautiful little bunny!!!!
I always find it hard to pick my rabbits from the hutch as to groom them and clean the hutch.
We do not condone hutches on our channel, unless they are being used as a hidey house and they are able to come and go as they please. If this is the case, then my advice would be to wait to clean the hutch when they are not in it. You can also train them to come out of the hutch. We are a rabbit training channel that encourages positive reinforcement.
I’ve been successful so far in nail trimming, have you got a video on this topic
I need help my rabbit won’t let me pick him up and nail cutting is horrible I stopped taking him to the vet for it because I’m so scared he is so stressed he will die he starts drooling there and it’s horrible. I also have been trying to clip a nail a day rubbing and massage him as he is relaxed I clip one it has been difficult the back are really bad and now I realized touching his butt I felt hard dried cecrotrops right at the area it comes out and I’m am freaking. I tried everything to get under there without picking him up and he takes off. He also has a nail broke in the back to the quick and I’m so overwhelmed. How do I do this how do I clean him I need so much help I’m having a nervous breakdown
My rabbit scrambles when I try to put her down and I'm trying to put her down hind legs first but she scrambles and lunges foreword and I'm afraid she's going to fall and then she thumps me
Great video, learning it with a toy tomorrow. Then will learn with my bunny, wish me luck.
Thank you! Let us know how it's going!
My rabbit runs when I put a hand under her chest and scratches with her hind legs. Any ideas? She knows that hand under chest means being picked up and she hates it
Please help, I keep trying to pick him up but he always jumps out of my arms, I can’t get him into a secure posture on fast enough ):
Lie right down on your stomach and approach with your face first. Gently pet him for a little in order to get him to relax and not anticipating being picked up. Try to be as non-threatening with your body as possible.
@@TheBunniesBrigade thank you so much for the reply. I will try that.
my bunny was sick and i just couldn’t give him his medicine because i couldn’t pick him up and in the end he was kinda scared of me (which was really sad, since i worked so hard for his trust). So now i just wanna prepare and get my bunnies to get used to be picked up, so if they get sick again, i don’t have to worry that i won’t be able to give them their medicine
online says i should pick them up once a day so they get used to it, am i supposed to do that? she hates being picked up
Can you source this information? Most rabbits hate being picked up. They can be trained to be okay with it, but unless they are very young, this training is not quite as simple as picking them up every day, period. It requires "shaping", which means breaking the action down into small increments over many months, and rewarding as you go.
Is it okay for my rabbit to lay on her back in my arms cradled like a baby she lays like that and will fall asleep while I pet her and she she will honk and oink
Great video, our bunny always scrambles and kicks his feet up when I put him down
Keep him as close to you as possible as you put him down. You can also pause putting him down until he stops kicking. Be patient, and find a moment where he is calm to let him down. This will decrease this behaviour over time.
@@TheBunniesBrigade good tips about setting him down. Lately I try to pick him up and it seems impossible he just freaks out and scrambles to get away. I have no idea how I will cut his nails. My only thoughts are to put him in his carrier then put it on top of a table then let him out and try to wrap him in a bunny burrito. I worry he might freak and jump off the table
Shouldn’t need the carrier. Just burrito from the floor. You can also see how he responds to having his front claws cut on the floor, without picking him up at all… Some rabbits are fine with that. And I recommend working with him daily being ok with having his nails touched. I have a nail trimming tips short and I also talk briefly about it in my newest video: ua-cam.com/video/JhTtLNI4n60/v-deo.html
@@TheBunniesBrigade thanks for the tips. Every time he lets me near him or I get to pick him up I try to touch his nails. The front ones he's not too bad but the back ones he hates.
Could you break down the shaping you need to train them to like being held, or at least not hate it? My girl has trauma from an almost coyote attack before we got her so she hates being picked up and is clearly terrified, I can pet her and she comes over to say hi so I think I’m trusted but I don’t know how to train the picking up
I'm only trying to pick mine up to put him to bed while I'm new he's just been with me for 2 days and needs training but he panicked and cut my hand open pretty deep when getting out my grip I didn't want to hold too tightly but his back feet got me in the process 😅 I don't want to pick him up but if I need to or want to trim his nails for future purposes.
I have position my hands as yours from being behind Willow and picking him up, for any other way he jumps away and is upset at me. So I am patient in leaving him alone. But Yes this is very trying. Is there any way for getting them not to jump away? Thank you So Much!
Thanx you Liana! your a awesome Rabbit behaviorist! Thank you for doing your video very educational, and I look forward to seeing ur other videos.
Thank you so much! 🙂
@@TheBunniesBrigade Your welcome Liana! And right back atcha! 😉 I watched your video right before I got my 2 Rabbits, 1 M. Thunder Bun and 1 grey blue looking F. BlueBerry / momma Bun .they are stoked because I treat them right , because I learned how from a awesome teacher! . . -Liana / Bunny Brigade! 😃🥳
How would one pick up a rabbit to trim their nails?
How do you groom around the bum? I see a lot of people trancing them for that. Is it ok to have them sort of propped up? Not fully laying backward, but upright and slightly back to get to that spot? I’ve seen that as well.
I'm so envious of how chill and tolerant of handling your rabbits are 🥲 We've had our 2yo rescue for half a year now and we make progress with her every day, but she has apparently had some bad experiences (or just no experiences?) and does everything in her power to flee if she even suspects someone is about to pick her up. The only way we've ever gotten her nails trimmed is by tricking her with banana, but then she's mad at us for literally weeks. I'd like to think my technique and confidence is good, since I'm very used to handling puppy dogs, but I don't know. The internet's full of vids about how to pick up reluctant rabbits, but none of the rabbits in those vids have the kind of paranoia ours does 😔
Thank you so much for the lesson.
You're very welcome!
What about rabbit tick medicine? My 2bunnies are new to home so I can’t see any ticks yet but do I need to put tick medicine every month just in case? Or do I have to wait? Thank you
Rabbits should never have to be preventatively/routinely treated for ticks. If housed indoors it is highly highly unlikely for them to pick up ticks.
@@TheBunniesBrigade thank you😊
Thank you so much i just have one today and your three step is going to help me , thanks and God bless you,
please do 1 on clicker training to get them to like being picked up.
This was very helpful!
but what if ur rabbit has really big claws? mine does and I'm afraid of bringing her to the groomer since there's a chance she could die from being too scared :( She's 2 years old and has already started getting some gray hairs! Any tips? Do I use gloves? do I build up the courage to take her to a groomer? Please let me know!
I took my bunny to the vet for nail clipping. his first time was a little scary but he behaved well because he thought they may hurt him.
Has she been through some kind of extreme trauma to give you this concern about taking her to the groomers? If a groomer is experienced with rabbits they should offer home visits. If I get hired for grooming or nail trims, I will always offer a home visit. If she hasn't been through any trauma then please don't sacrifice her care and maintenance due to fear she could die if she leaves the house. She will be absolutely fine.
we got our Ash from a rescue. He is skittish, but loves being petted now. sometimes. :) however before we took him the rescue lady trimmed his nails for us and said we could bring him back to have it done every few months. She DID lay him on his back for this process. Is there a better way? can you show me how to trim his nails so I don't have to truck him to her to have it done, and apparently stress him out further by laying him on his back to do it? Is there a way? thanks in advance for any help on this!
Wrap him in a towel in trim his nails - what's referred to as a bunny burrito. This way you can keep him upright and he will be secure. Consider clipping one paw or even one nail at a time, rewarding him intermittently. No one should need to trance a rabbit to trim nails. Pepper is the wriggliest rabbit I've ever worked with and it takes time (especially as she has dark nails), but I've never needed to lay her on her back. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself look around for someone else who can do it who won't trance. Try another rescue, bunny boarders or an exotics vet.
It's very difficult for me , I have arthritis in both my legs and cannot bend down to the floor 😣
Have you considered place training? We have a video on it: ua-cam.com/video/ZN9JlKoGp-I/v-deo.html
My holland lop hates it…. if I pick her up I try to keep her safe and close to me but I have to be quick because if I’m too long about it she’ll give me a little nip so that I let go. 😅
I can't even get that far, as soon as I go on to pick her up she runs. I coax her on to a scratch pad with treats and pick her up with that and that's the only way she'll get transferred anywhere lol
That's fine. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. You are respecting her and what she is comfortable with. We don't have to pick them up. Have you tried putting what you do on command actually? It's called place training, I have a video on how to do it, if you're interested: ua-cam.com/video/ZN9JlKoGp-I/v-deo.html
What breed is pepper? Looks just like my kora
Thank you so much for this helpful video! 💜🐰
Of course! Thanks for requesting it 🙂
Hi, please how best to pick up to help wipe/clean his bottom on your own please xx
You may need to "burrito" them in a towel, if your rabbit is feisty.
I got a bunny named thunder and I felt like I was hurting it because my friend that got me the rabbit 🐇 used to have a rabbit a few years ago and I remembered her telling me there was a specific way to pick them up I just couldn’t remember how this helped a lot 😊
My bunny is really challenging… whenever he must does nails check, be combed, and even giving vitamins or medicine… 😭He hates to be picked up…
3:18 even when I do that pose… He’ll soon kick me up… 😖
Work with your rabbit every single day on being touched, especially on the parts of his body where you would touch in order to pick him up. Reward him for allowing you to touch him in those places, and if he allows you to lift him slightly. Don't push him too far though, be patient.
At times you have no choice but to pick him up, make sure you have a firm grip. As long as you are holding him firmly and close to your body, supporting his back legs, he shouldn't be able to wriggle free. Always wear long sleeves, don't hold him for too long, and place him down in his favourite spot. Try to offer an extremely high value treat afterward - he may not take it from you, but you can leave it in front of him.
What if you have to pick them up from a cage standing up? Look it’s a HUGE cage they are all 3 happy VERY happy super nice always playful they have SOOOOO much room to play and they get attention EVERY DAY almost ALL DAY.
With no need to bend down, picking them up from standing is even easier as you can get your body super close from the get go. I do recommend giving them a means for making their own way out of the enclosure if you are able, so they can make their own choices.
Thank you for your video! Have watched all the way, I thought my bunny doesn't like but it isn't the case.
Cheers!
Ok so how would you pick them up if they where in their cage? Because our bunny is in her cage but I can’t go all the way down to pick her up so I can be close to her, so how should I pick her up?
We don't recommend cages as they are too small. Instead we suggest pens as a much better alternative. Their enclosure should be big enough that you are able to comfortably sit or even lie down in yourself, they should also be able to exit the enclosure on their own, without any need to be picked up.
@@TheBunniesBrigade Thanks we got her a play pen like a month ago
Oh yay! Great news ☺️
I have my rabbit cage on a high sturdy and safe spot and it's up to chest level for me so how do I pick up my rabbit from inside his cage without causing him anxiety and stress. The main reason why I'm having on a higher surface is I have dogs and he's still skittish of them.
My recommendation would be to keep the dogs away from him altogether. If he's frightened of them they will need to be in a completely separate room. You need to provide him with an environment where he can feel safe and confident and where he has the ability to move around as he chooses. Without this you won't be able to work through his anxiety. We also do not believe in housing rabbits in cages, I'm afraid. Cages are simply too small and are not conducive to building trust with your rabbit. X pens are a much better option.
I adopted my bunny when he was four. He loves me and comes to me all the time and wants to be snuggled and than falls asleep while I pet him. But he is terrified of being picked up. I do it in the correct way and he still freaks out every time. What am I doing wrong? Or is he just like that?
Pepper is exactly the same. She LOVES cuddles, she will cosy up with me for hours, but she still needs to be in control and does not like having her feet leave the ground. It's just natural instincts. If you do have to pick him up and he aggressively tries to wriggle free it just means you have to hold him closer and more firmly to your body. Don't pick him up just to cuddle, I can guarantee he will never appreciate that lol.
When I was a kid the neighbors had a rabbit (in a hutch in the back yard, we didn't know better...) and I think I remember them holding it vertically, that is, supporting the hind feet on the arm, and the forefeet and head on/against the shoulder. I assume rabbits prefer the horizontal approach but is holding them in that way dangerous for them like holding them upside down is?
Good question! To be honest with you, I actually do sometimes hold them how you’ve described. It can be easier to get a secure grip of them that way. However, I feel like there is a risk of accidental trancing and I wanted to teach a way that would avoid any chance of that. Especially for beginners.
Also, as you say, they do prefer being in this horizontal position and we, of course, want to give them as positive experience as we can.
@@TheBunniesBrigade That makes sense! Thank you.
@@TheBunniesBrigade my experience is that they might try to climb you and try to escape over your shoulders. holding them vertically puts one in a very awkward position to try to pick down a rabbit climbing ones shoulders (especially if you're at the vet, like I was)
Good point 👍🏼
How about the nails it will scratch your hands?
I'm sure you've already figured this out, but yes. They will scratch quite deeply. I rescued a baby rabbit about a month ago and now he's too big to fit into one hand. I tried to put gloves on, but it seems to have made him more stressed. Let me know if you've had any luck!
I can't catch my rabbit without having to chase her, she senses when I want to catch her and hides.
She is already normally skittish and suspicious.
Using snacks doesn't help much, as she refuses to eat if she feels something is wrong or if I pick her up.
I've been working on gaining her trust for 3 years, I've already managed to evolve a lot, but there's still a long way to go.
Unfortunately there are no miracles 😔, the way is to take one step at a time and hope that it takes as little time as possible
My little one is the same way! My older one loves treats and is easy to follow the treats wherever I place them. But my little one? Immediately suspicious. I can’t get near her at that moment without her taking off and thumping.
Thank you so much but how would i take my rabbit out of her cage that isnt big enough for me to get in?
Rabbits should be housed in a space that is big enough for you to enter. Our channel does not advocate for the use of cages, instead we recommend pen-type enclosures.
If you are unable to get close enough to pick them up as I have demonstrated, you're not in a position to wait for them to come to you, or you are not able to lure them toward you with a treat, then you will need to put both hands around their shoulders/mid-section and gently slide them toward you until they are in a better position for you to pick them up. Please bear in mind that reaching hands toward them can make them fearful and some rabbits can bite and lunge in defense. There is also an increased chance of this if you are reaching into their own territory. Doing this will build a negative association with being handled; it will be damaging to the bond you have with them and may lead to it becoming increasingly more difficult to pick them up. It is always better to use a lure if you can - use high value foods (eg. banana or raisins) if you struggle to get a response.
@@TheBunniesBrigade i wont have enough space for a pen with the room im working with but once i get my rabbit spayed im going to litter train her so i can free roam her. the cage is temporary and i will not be keeping it in the future.
MY bunny- Like, bites me when we try to pick her up. I honestly don't know how to get her to stop.
It may be your approach. Faces and back of hands are less threatening than grabby, claw-like hands. Always approach within her field of vision and relax her by petting her before going straight on to trying to pick her up.
I never picked up my rabbit before because I thought you're not supposed to unless necessary. He just likes to cuddle with my dog all day
I’ve had my two little lionheads for two months now, and they love to take treats from my hand, and one will let me pet him gently from arm’s length. I don’t mind being patient, but they’re turning into little ragmops. I really need to brush them. But I can’t even catch them! It’s like trying to catch fish in a river with bare hands. Any advice? How do I even get close enough to pick them up?
Lay down on the ground with them. Approaching with your face is a lot less intimidating. If you haven't seen this video yet, it goes into more detail about building trust: ua-cam.com/video/uUiRn7maUDc/v-deo.html
@@TheBunniesBrigade Thank you!
Great video as usual
Thank you!!
Can you give me some advise on how I can bring my rabbit inside from his outdoor run without picking him up? I like to bring him inside during dinner time for his dinner and bonding with us
I will make a note to make a video on training recall.
Thank you for your help, I will try!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for such useful information. We have just recently welcomed a cheeky mini lop to our family & your practical suggestions have helped us heaps! Question...our bunny seems to be very comfortable around me personally however can't resist biting. Am I missing something? I don't pick him up. He'll come to me on his own accord, investigate then whammo...he'll bite. Can you please shed some light???
Are you making any sudden movements when he comes to you, or any movements directly in front of his face? How old is he as well? If you have a video you’re more than welcome to DM me it on Instagram - @thebunniesbrigade. It’ll be helpful for me to see his body language when he does this.
@@TheBunniesBrigade
Thank you for your reply. No, no sudden movements. I'll just be sitting in front of his hutch, quietly waiting for him to come & approach me in his own time. He has an inquisitive sniff of my clothes & it seems as though he is investigating before he bites. The other day he came right up to my face & was sniffing around. He started icking my eyelids & then bit my eyelid! It wasn't a ferocious bite but a bite non the less. We love him & he's so adorable but not sure what I might be doing wrong. Dutch is 16 weeks.
Oh, he’s still so so young. He must be such a cutie!! If it’s just a little, non-aggressive nip then a lot of baby rabbits will do that. I think it’s either they don’t quite understand the difference between grooming and nipping yet, or they’re still working out what’s food. Also, when you’re right in front of his hutch, it could be that he doesn’t want you there, like you’re in his way.
You can help him learn to be more of a gentleman by making a short, high-pitched “Eek!” when he does it. This is how they communicate pain so he’ll understand that it hurts you when he does that.
Thank you so much I got a 10 week old rabbit called Milo and she is very fast but this helped alot
Yay! So glad it helped! 🙂
I feel like I can’t do much as my bunny is in a cage with the standing thing (the cage is not my choice btw so I can’t really stop it-) and it doesn’t even have an opening at the front for my rabbit to get out easier-
A pen is always a better option than a cage. The fact of the matter is, cages promote unwanted behaviour and prevent a strong trusting bond from being formed between you and your rabbit. A caged dog or cat wouldn't be very trusting of you either. Perhaps this information will help you make a case to switch to a pen instead? Also, have you seen my video 'The Misunderstood Pet: Part 1'? That video is intended to persuade others to understand why rabbits shouldn't be caged 😉
I love your sweatshirt!
Can you please do a video on why it's not a good idea to get children rabbits, especially as 'gifts'. ?
I'll make a note. Perhaps we can discuss it in a live video... 😏
Help my rabbits are fairly new and three months old and I’ve had them for three weeks. I can stroke them but when I go to pick them up they wriggle and run away , I feel like I’m stressing them out but I’d love to be able to have a bond where they don’t have to like it but they tolerate it instead of being skittish what do I do. ( btw I love your channel!❤️)
Young rabbits do often wriggle as they just want to run around and explore all the time. As they are so young though, it will be easier to teach them to be okay with being picked up. It takes shaping (a technique used in clicker training), which is a very gradual process. In a nutshell, break down the whole motion of picking them up into stages and work a stage at a time. Reward them constantly. Don't move onto the next stage until they are comfortable with the current one. Sometimes you will have to go back. Have patience and keep building trust by other means as well. You will get there. If you ever do pick them up place them gently somewhere they love to be and shower them with treats. It's all about associating it with something positive for them.
Thanks this helps a lot!
What breed is your bun? ❤
Mine gives me the stink eye if I pick her-up for more then half a minute. Funnily enough, if it's less then half a minute, it's almost like nothing happened.
Yeah, Pepper doesn't mind if it's very very brief.
I'm 75, not real agile, I need to pick my bunny up to groom her poop butt. Any suggestions on if you can't get down?
Good question. I think you would really benefit from clicker training. It is very easy to train a rabbit to go to a place, like a carrier. That way you can pick up the whole carrier and put it on a high surface for you to safely get to them. Also, if your rabbit likes to jump on to things, then you can also very easily put that on command and have them jump up to somewhere more easily accessible for you, like a bed or sofa. This is my clicker training video: ua-cam.com/video/IezMvnZJfKA/v-deo.html
May I ask why she has a poopy butt? Is she not cleaning herself properly?
Thank you!
Who else has a sore neck from years of having to crouch on the floor to cuddle your bunny?
I am in my "Renaissance Years"..lol and I can say stock up on Menthol Gel!
My rabbit jumps and climbs on me and its 4 months old, winning!
Instructive mssge and with respect for the rabbit...
I just got my bunny and she does not like to be picked up.
If you've only just got her you'll need to build trust with her first. I speak on this in this video: ua-cam.com/video/uUiRn7maUDc/v-deo.html
Just know that your rabbit may not ever like being picked up. Once she is trusting you, do your best to make being picked up as comfortable experience as possible for her. Follow how I have demonstrated and you can start by only lifting her off the ground a little way before placing her back down. Only hold her for very short periods and treat her during and/or immediately afterward.
@@TheBunniesBrigade Ok, I'll work on doing that.
@@TheBunniesBrigade What brush would you recommend when helping them get fur off during ther sheding phase? I was looking at getting one of the furminator brush.
What suggestions for helping her with her digging?
@@Vivicloud01 I've found slicker brushes do a good job of gently removing the loose fur. Also, I haven't yet tried it myself, but the Small Pet Select Hair Buster comb comes highly recommended: amzn.to/383z7IN
Regarding her digging - keep an eye out for my next video! 😉
I have a beautiful little bunny lop! Really love the little guy! Sadly enough, i'm in a wheelchair. So i can't really get close to the ground with him. The thing with him is that, sometimes, he likes to be picked up. And sometimes he flicks his back paws at me. I know it's kind of like giving me the finger, but it's very difficult for me to do it differently. Strangely enough is that he sometimes likes it though. He even asks for it! (Jumping on me or on my arm when i reached down to scratch his ears or head.) 😀 Also, when he is on my lap, he gives me a lot of kisses, on my belly or my legs. Sometimes he also jumps in my neck and gives little kisses to my chin/face. So i (think) he is fine with me having him on my lap but i'm not sure. My vet has seen it already and from what he said, he looks very relaxed when he is on my lab. Even to the point where one of his back paws is so relaxing that he just lets it "hang" and fall asleep. He also eats his little treats from my hand. Which i also think is a positive thing? Not every rabbit/bunny does that i think? But i might be wrong. My biggest concern actually is grooming him. I'm always afraid to hurt him but i know i have to do it because i don't want him "eating" his fur/hair. Because i know a bunny can't vomit. Anyway, i try to help him out as much as i can but i don't really like doing that because i don't want to hurt him. A bunny/rabbit is so fragile!
It sounds like you have a very loving bunny! Have you considered getting him some pet steps to help him hop up on your lap whenever he chooses? Don't be afraid to brush him, it's more important he gets groomed and as long as you do it gently you won't hurt him. They _can_ be drama queens when it comes to being brushed so introducing them to grooming tools in a gradual, positive way is best. Grooming mitts are the gentlest, although they're not the most efficient.
@@TheBunniesBrigade Thanks for your reply. At the moment he is doing much better, but last time i groomed him and put him back in his house he did pee. So i think he was very afraid. He is absolutely lovely though. But the grooming thing, even after 6yrs is really hard. He doesn't like being touch around his butt and hes back paws. Which is normal of course, since they are a prey animal. Sometimes i can do everything i want with him, but sometimes it just doesn't work and like i mentioned before, i really don't want to hurt him. Anyway, hes moulting is much better now! 😄
My bunny hates being touched, so there's just no solution, I won't ever be able to pick her up without her being super scared 🥲 I feel bad each time but there's nothing I can do, I can't even approach my hands of her 😭
It sounds like you she hasn't allowed you into her circle of trust yet. Please don't be discouraged. Rabbits are prey animals and it can take a lot of time for them to feel completely comfortable with being touched, or even approached. Please watch my Bunny Instincts video, that will help you get on your way to bonding with her: ua-cam.com/video/uUiRn7maUDc/v-deo.html Remember not to rush her, always allow her to go at her own pace.
@@TheBunniesBrigade Thank you I'll watch the video! I think that my bunny already trust me a little? But not fully, I adopted her 2 years ago, & now when she sees me she comes to me & follow me ( to have food ofc haha) , I hand feed her a lot, she sleeps even if I'm near her, she really often jump on my lap or my back when I lay down ... It's really just the physical touch, I can touch her head but she'll move her head away like she's more annoyed than scared or will simply run away...In the past two years she let me pet her head (she laid her head on the ground) only 2 or 3 times... I'm still trying to bond with her everyday, even though I kinda accepted that it was part of her personality, but I'm still hoping that she'll eventually trust me even more & maybe your videos will help!
They don't hate it if they're not running away from you. How do you catch them to be able to "safely pick up your rabbit"?
You'll need to start by building trust first and showing them that good things happen when you approach them or when they approach you. We talk about trust building in the video: ua-cam.com/video/uUiRn7maUDc/v-deo.html
My bunny used to love getting put on her back, she loved cuddled that way and lived over 9 years
Many people mistake tonic immobility as something they enjoy, as they look calm and as if they're falling asleep. That is why it is referred to as "trancing". I always advocate fact checking, and you are more than welcome to do further research on the topic.
If they really don’t want to be picked up get on the floor with them to interact they love you more for it.
Your rabbit looks like my new rabbit
I’ve got exactly same looking bunny we named him rocky ❤
Black & white Holland Lop, like Wally?
He is SO BIG
As I tried the pick up method my Bun bit me. Ugh
I'm so sorry to hear this! To give you more bespoke advice I would have to know the more about the bond you have with your rabbit, the living circumstances (past and present), and the exact situation when you attempted to pick him/her up. As I say, most rabbit don't like being held and some may even react defensively. It is a fear responsive, so remain calm if they do bite. You can always wear long sleeves and gardening gloves to prevent them from causing you harm.
i love my Buuny she , so cute❤❤❤
I need desperately to clip my rabbit’s nails, and she reaaaaaally hates being picked up -____-
I’m at my wit’s end, because she will leap out of my arms no matter how gently I try to pick her up.
I put myself in Jurgen Flopp's position, would I want to be picked up by this massive 25ft cave beast who stinks of Cheetos? No way. I leave him be and he comes up sniffing at me but any time I even try touching him, he doesn't like it. So if he's being naughty I go to pet him and he stops, he's a good boy.
Amazing video I just got a new rabbit 🐇
Thank you! I hope you find all our videos useful as you get to know your new bunny!
@@TheBunniesBrigade you are welcome ❤️
Nice socks
What animal likes to be picked up? Cats don't. Dogs don't. Humans don't .... Only babies do ..