Methods to Get a Rabbit to Like Being Held: 8 Easy Ideas & Tips

Once you first carry house your pet rabbit, you would possibly discover that they don’t take pleasure in being held as a lot as you hoped they might. However with persistence, a mild hand, and a dedication to bonding, it’s attainable to get your rabbit to take pleasure in hanging out in your arms. Nevertheless, needless to say all rabbits are totally different, they usually have their very own distinctive personalities and temperaments. Some will take higher to being held than others.

So, it may be straightforward in your rabbit to get used to being held, or it might be a tricky course of that you need to work at as time goes on. That mentioned, the one approach to get your rabbit to love being held is to take steps that may assist make it occur.

The 8 Ideas for Getting a Rabbit to Like Being Held

1. Work together Early and Usually

It’s best to begin to bodily work together together with your rabbit as quickly as you carry them house for the primary time and proceed doing so not less than as soon as a day. Early interplay and socialization will get your rabbit used to being round people and assist them discover ways to belief that you’ve their greatest pursuits in thoughts. In case your rabbit is immune to being picked up, simply pet them, and calmly rub the bottom of their physique till they get used to your contact. As time goes on, they need to begin feeling extra comfy once you decide them up.

2. At all times Be Mild

Be sure to all the time deal with your rabbit with mild arms in order to not startle them or make them really feel panicked because of the sudden dealing with. This can assist maintain your rabbit good and relaxed so they’re extra more likely to benefit from the expertise general. Mild dealing with may even assist maintain your rabbit from squirming, which may end up in you unintentionally dropping them to the bottom.

3. By no means Power Dealing with

In case your rabbit resists your dealing with, don’t power them to be held. Allow them to go, and begin once more slowly by softly chatting with your pet and gently petting them. In the event that they draw back, go do one thing else, and are available again later to strive once more. Optimistically, you’ll finally be capable of decide up your rabbit for not less than a fast cuddle. When you power your rabbit to be held or get petted, it may trigger them to develop into stressed each time it occurs, and the end result might be that they by no means need to be picked up.

4. Keep away from Selecting Up Your Rabbit within the Mistaken Approach

Selecting up your rabbit by the ears, tail, legs, or scruff is painful to rabbits, even when they don’t visually or auditorily show the ache. Doing so could cause them to mistrust you and concern you everytime you come close to to deal with them or decide them up. The right approach to decide up your rabbit is by inserting a hand beneath their torso and gently and slowly shifting them towards your physique the place you possibly can safe them with each arms. Assist their hindquarters to assist them really feel protected and safe. Be agency to make sure that you don’t drop them, however don’t squeeze.

5. Use Rabbit-Protected Treats

A good way to get your rabbit to point out curiosity in being held is to reward them with treats. Each time your rabbit permits you to decide them up, even only for a second, give them a tasty deal with. This can assist them affiliate the dealing with course of with a optimistic expertise. Rabbits take pleasure in varied meals as treats, and choices to contemplate embrace:

Once you’re utilizing treats as rewards, only a nibble is sufficient to assist correlate enjoyment with being picked up.

6. Be in a Quiet and Protected House

In case your rabbit is stressed because of loud noises taking place in the home or different animals operating round, likelihood is that they gained’t need to deal with getting picked up and interacting with you. So, once you’re educating your rabbit to love being picked up, it’s a good suggestion to take action in a quiet room of the home the place there are not any loud noises or distractions. Be certain no youngsters or different animals are within the room. You may even play stress-free music at low quantity to assist set the temper. Take your time whereas interacting together with your rabbit, and allow them to transfer at their very own tempo.

7. Encourage Your Rabbit to Come to You

A good way to get your rabbit to love being picked up is to show issues round and make it appear to be it’s all their thought. As a substitute of going to them and attempting to choose them up, encourage them to return to you so you possibly can decide them up. Maintain greens in your hand to entice them over. Whereas they’re nibbling on the greens, they’ll have a chance to smell you and get to know what you odor like. They may even get used to being near you on the whole. As soon as they’re comfy close to you, go forward and decide them up whereas permitting them to proceed nibbling on the greens in the event that they need to.

8. Don’t Give Up

If at first your rabbit doesn’t react positively to your efforts of choosing them up, follow persistence and don’t surrender. It may well take some time for them to get comfy sufficient round you to belief you with their our bodies in your arms. Don’t push the difficulty in case you are met with resistance, and as a substitute, strive once more the following day. Hold a form and understanding perspective even when it appears pointless, and also you’re certain to see outcomes finally.

Why Don’t Some Rabbits Like Being Held?

There are a number of totally different causes {that a} rabbit won’t take pleasure in being held, irrespective of how a lot dealing with and socialization they obtain. Some rabbits merely favor to be bodily impartial and work together much less intensely, like some cats.

Another excuse a rabbit won’t like being picked up is that they’ve had a traumatic expertise of their lifetime. When you undertake a rabbit from a shelter or purchase one from a retailer, you possible gained’t know what their previous was like. They might have been mistreated by individuals who owned them earlier than. In case your rabbit refuses to get used to being held, you might have to just accept that you simply’ll be interacting with them in numerous methods.

A Fast Recap

Rabbits are nice companions for folks of all ages. They’re enjoyable for youngsters and adults to interact with. As a brand new rabbit proprietor, you’re possible keen to carry your pet and make them really feel comfy whereas interacting with you. Nevertheless, should you’re too pushy, you possibly can find yourself slowing the method of getting your rabbit to love being held. So, begin slowly and keep affected person, and you need to see the outcomes that you simply’re on the lookout for.

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