Handling a Rabbit

How to Handle a Rabbit. Discover the proper method that experienced rabbit owners use when handling rabbits.

Handling Rabbits

If you’re a new bunny owner, you may find your pet a bit hard to handle at first. Don’t worry, with practice you will catch on quickly. Until you get the hang of it, don’t be ashamed to wear gloves and long sleeves. Bunnies aren’t able to velvet their claws!

Handling a Rabbit: “Catch me if you can!”

Sometimes the most challenging part of handling a rabbit is simply getting it out of its rabbit cage! A rule of thumb is to always pull the bunny out of the cage tail-first. While this doesn’t feel like the most natural way to go about handing rabbits, it is the safest. If your bunny gets used to jumping out of the cage into your arms, he may jump when you weren’t ready and suffer a fall. You should place one hand on your rabbits’ neck, lightly gripping his ears and the skin on the back of his shoulders. Do not pull him by the ears or skin; this hand is just there as a guide. Your other hand should go under his belly and do the lifting and pulling. Your bunny will find it harder to resist you if you draw him out tail-first. Be careful not to drag his toenails as they can break on the cage wire.

Make sure the Rabbit is Safe in Transit

Once you have the bunny out of the cage, the “football hold” is the best way to carry him from one place to another. If you removed the rabbit from the cage as described above, you already have your hands in the right position. Bring the rabbit under your arm so that his head is tucked between your arm and your side. The rabbit will be facing backwards and his weight will be resting on your arm. Make sure all four feet are supported; otherwise the rabbit may be frightened. This is the safest way to transport a rabbit; he is less likely to struggle if he can’t see where he is going. If the rabbit tries to jump, you can quickly drop to one knee and secure him.

Examining a Rabbit

Although not always fun, it’s important to take your bunny out and look him over regularly for signs of illness or injury. To do so, you will have to turn him upside-down. To accomplish this, place the rabbit on a table covered in carpet or another non-slip surface. Place one hand behind the ears and the other on his rump. Gently lift the rabbit by the base of the ears and the scruff of the neck, then scoop his rump with your other hand and turn him over. Again, the ears and skin behind the neck should only be held lightly as a guide; the real work is done by your hand on the bunny’s rear. If your rabbit starts to struggle in this position, release him immediately, and then turn him back over once he is relaxed.

Handling a Rabbit: It’s snuggle time!

When all you want is to have some one-on-one time with your bunny, there are a number of acceptable ways to handle him. Anything that works for you and the bun is probably okay, as long as you keep a few principles in mind:

-The rabbit’s weight must always be supported by something firm under its body. Never use the ears, hips, or limbs to control a rabbit.
-Rabbits may be come frightened unless all four feet are resting on something solid.
-When you are standing, always hold a rabbit firmly, so that it cannot jump out of your arms if suddenly frightened.
-Sitting on the floor or couch with the bunny on your lap is one of the best and safest ways to socialize.