Rabbits can be summed up in a single word: adorable.Therefore, it’s not hard to understand why so many people yearn to pet a rabbit. However, most people lack knowledge about how to pet a rabbit properly.Among other things, you should know how to pick a bunny up. The correct way to pick up a rabbit is by placing one palm of your hand underneath the pet’s chest and the other under its hind legs. The goal here is to make the rabbit feel like it’s grounded and has control over its movement. You must understand that these animals have evolved in the wild as prey animals. They are constantly searched for and preyed upon by bigger carnivores. Therefore, they’re very alert and can easily get scared. If they perceive your act of picking them up as a threat, they may scratch or kick your hand and try to run away. Continue reading to learn how to care for domestic rabbits and handle them properly.How do you pick up a rabbit that hates it?Pet rabbits aren’t like dogs or cats; they behave differently and expect to be handled differently. First, understand that rabbits were not domesticated until as early as the fifth century. Dogs, on the other hand, were first domesticated 14,000 to 30,000 years ago! Cats started living with humans around 12,000 years ago.Today, there are two types of rabbits: wild and domesticated. Wild rabbits are very afraid of humans and other animals. They never like to be picked up by humans. If a bunny doesn’t have floppy ears and has light brown fur, then it’s a wild rabbit. You should set it free at the earliest possible moment. Among domesticated rabbits, some like being in the arms of their owner, while others outrightly hate it. So, how do you cuddle a bunny that doesn’t appreciate handling?The best way to pick up a rabbit that hates it is to give it enough time to get used to being handled. Rabbits are social creatures and love being around other rabbits and animals that they’re familiar with. If a rabbit doesn’t know you well enough, it likely won’t want to make contact with you. In other words, a pet-owner bond is lacking. Therefore, you will have to socialize more with your pet bunny before you handle it. With time and effort, rabbits can become great companions. To socialize, it’s important to spend a lot of time with them outside of their cage. Most rabbits prefer being stroked on their forehead, back, and cheeks. Litter training and clicker training are other good ways to socialize and enhance your bond. Rabbits respond well to such training sessions. Offer them their favorite food or treats like banana, apple, carrot, and broccoli. After a few weeks, the rabbit shouldn’t hate being picked up by familiar faces.There are other reasons why a rabbit hates being taken off of the ground. One reason is that it hasn’t acclimatized well. If you’ve recently bought a rabbit home or have changed its surroundings, it will take some time to adjust to the new look. As already mentioned, rabbits are prey animals. They are insecure in the wild, with threats looming above them. Most of the time, rabbits stay inside underground burrows. That’s where they feel safe. A change in environment is likely to stress out rabbits. Slippery surfaces, a new table or object, or a new shade can all trigger stress. A panicked and insecure rabbit will never like to be held up in anyone’s arms.How do you pick up a rabbit properly?Those who own a rabbit know that it takes more than gentle touch to pick up a rabbit. You need to follow ‘bunny etiquette’ to pick up a rabbit safely and properly. Improper handling will frighten the rabbit and may even damage its body.Before you pick a rabbit up, you need to get a few things right. The first is to establish that you’re not a threat. Owners who have spent significant time with a rabbit automatically tick this box. To earn the rabbit’s trust, you can gently pat it on the back. Offer smooth and steady strokes until the rabbit looks comfortable. Do not put pressure on sensitive areas like eyes or joints.The next thing is a tricky part that requires some skill and practice. To pick up your rabbit properly, slowly place one palm under the rabbit’s chest and slightly more towards the front feet. Then, follow it up by placing the other palm under its back legs. Wait until the rabbit hops onto your second palm. It should confirm that it feels comfortable in that position. Now, pick up the rabbit gently from the ground and towards your body. When standing up, don’t get up too soon, or it will scare your bunny. During the entire time that it’s in your arms, keep stroking or petting it. This creates a calming effect on bunnies. Also, hold it securely when it’s off the ground. Rabbits are fragile animals, and a fall from even a few feet may cause injuries. It will also traumatize the rabbit, and it may never want to be picked up again. When you’re done, get down slowly and release the rabbit close to the ground. Release the hind legs first and then the front legs.There are a few things you need to take care of when you hold a rabbit. No matter what, never pick a rabbit up by its feet, legs, ears, scruff, or tail. These areas have connective tissues that are fragile. They can’t handle the rabbit’s body weight. So, they will try to free themselves. That’s also a reason why children shouldn’t hold a rabbit without an adult’s supervision. They may look at a rabbit’s feet or ears and pull it like a doll. A rabbit facing such treatment will be reluctant to be handled by a human again.How do you pick up a rabbit that runs away?Rabbits are timid animals and are easily frightened. Walk at a faster pace towards them and see bunnies hop in the opposite direction. If you’re thinking of picking up such rabbits, you’ve got work to do. Some rabbits can reach 30 mph (48 kph), so they’re not easy to catch at all.If a rabbit runs away when you approach it, then you know what’s the problem: you. Perhaps there’s something wrong with your body language or appearance that’s frightening the poor soul. Are you wearing a new hat? A new pair of sunglasses? Are your shoes making too much noise? All these irrelevant things can actually alarm a house rabbit. Rabbits will perceive anything as dangerous and predatory that they aren’t familiar with. So, check that you look clean in front of them.To pick up a bunny that runs away, you can use the trick that humans use on almost all animals. Lure it by offering it food. Domesticated rabbits are more docile than wild rabbits. They also happen to be more social. This means they’re ready to be handled by anyone as long as they’re not a predator. That’s why wild rabbits will run away as soon as they spot someone, while a domesticated rabbit will stay for a little longer. Assuming that you’re trying to hold a rabbit that’s not wild, you can offer treats to it. Slices of apple, banana, or carrot are the best luring food for rabbits. They attract the animals, which is why hunters use them as bait. If the rabbit runs away, offer the slices and wait patiently. It will take its own time and come steadily towards you. Once it starts eating, gently pat its back as you’d do to any animal. Gain its trust and then use the technique described above to pick the bunny off the ground. Don’t hold the rabbit too firmly, or you’ll have to repeat the process.How do you pick up a rabbit out of a cage?At home, owners prefer to keep rabbits in a cage. They offer a safe and secure area where other pets cannot disturb or harm the bunny. You can keep the cage on the ground in the corner. When taking your rabbit in and out of the cage, there are a few things you should remember.If you have a cage that opens from the top, then you’ll have to use your hands and handling skills to get the bunny out. Therefore, there are cages with doors on the side. You can open the doors and set the rabbit free. Let’s say that you have a cage that only opens from the top. To pick up a rabbit directly from a cage, you’ll have to use the techniques already mentioned. Assure the rabbit that you’re not a predator, soothe it, gain its trust, hold its hind legs and chest, and carefully take it out. Make sure you don’t create noises or shake the cage excessively when opening the door. This can scare the rabbit, and it may refuse to get out. Also, make sure that there are no dogs or cats around that it isn’t familiar with. When placing the rabbit back into the cage, use the same technique. The more you practice, the better you get at handling rabbits.
Rabbits can be summed up in a single word: adorable.
