HOW TO PICK UP YOUR RABBIT | So they don't hate you

In this video I show you how to pick up your rabbit. My rabbits will always hate being picked up but there is a safe way to do it, even when they hate it or try to struggle out of your arms. I only pick up my rabbits when necessary and I encourage you to do the same.

Sorry if the demonstration isn't clear, it does take a lot of practise and confidence to do it, but I didn't want to pick them up too much even just for this video lmao. I truly am just a simp for my rabbits ._.

Hope this helps if anyone has bunnies like mine who hate being picked up!

If you want a clearer demonstration of how to pick up and hold your rabbit, check out Lennon the bunny's video (be mindful that she has a strong bond with her rabbit and it doesn't mind being picked up and that's not the case for every rabbit.)

Disclaimer: please seek advice from your local vet for emergency questions.

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[katjweiss]

my rabbits absolutely hate being picked up too! I srsly marvel at ppl who's rabbit seemed to jump onto them, demanding cuddles. anyway, what helps me with picking my rabbits up is a) only doing it when i have to, eg for going to the vet and b) enclosing them in a smaller space (like your x-pen or a room) so they have less chances to hide and escape, which makes picking them up a lot faster and less stressful. i enjoyed your video !!!

[mochalatte]

When you said people roast you for not picking up your rabbit, as a rabbit owner I was very pleased that you respected your rabbits not wanting to be picked up. It upsets me when people do pick up their rabbits and their rabbit is visibly upset/scared. People without rabbits don’t know what they’re talking about lol.

[Zoe-yowo]

I used to think that I'm not a "good bunny owner" or "my bunny doesn't like me" because my bunny never let me picked her up but yep that's right they just don't like this :, ) thank you for the tips !

[harker]

Me: picks up my bunny for 1 second
Rabbit: KICK KICK KICKKKK

[deletedaccount]

Do I have a rabbit?: No
Is this on my recommendation page?: Yes
Hotel?: T R I V A G O

[STARBALLN]

We have a routine with our bunnies where we pick them up once a week, check the nails, eyes, ears and have a quick brush. They get carrots only when picked up because we noticed it was like crack for them 😅 They are lil drama queens at first but they quickly realise that it's just the routine and they focus only on the carrot pieces. It has made a huge difference

[rubina]

Whenever I hold my hold my rabbit he will do anything to escape 😂

[bunnylove]

I work at a vet clinic, picking up a bunny the wrong way won't only make them hate you, it can kill them. We have to be really careful with bunnies, and see too many who end up dead because a child or someone who didn't do any research tried picking them up. Very important video!

[gabrielletugano]

I kinda gave up on carrying my bun, so i just taught him how to come when i whistle and that’s how i get him into his carrier lmao

[anniewalker]

Thank you so much for this! My rabbits will literally sprint so fast to avoid being picked up. When I pick them up they always seem to wriggle or kick out of it.

[jintianyihou]

Yes, I searched 'how to pick up a bunny' and that's why I'm here. Thank you for your video! Now I have a general idea about how to pickup and then put down. I'll do some practice since Tomorrow, like always a Tomorrow.

[shazanakhan]

I clean my rabbit twice a day, she has hay in her hatch, she doesnt even sleep in there over night, she has the whole lounge to run a about still doesnt like being picked up scratches me. I give her hay, vegetables and little pallets, clean water every day, fresh flowers 1 head a day. What a lucky girl.

[nivyan]

Here's my method for teaching a very nervous and scared Bunny to be be picked up:
Sit with your bun for at least 30 minutes a day, until your bun will jump into your lap as soon as you sit down
- Now you've established you're not a threat
Next, when your bunny is in your lap, lean back and hold a treat around your neck area.
- Now you're established you're not going to do something if your bun is vulnerable
Next, lie all the way down and do the same thing - keep at it until your bun will lie down on top of you. This will take a long time, 2 months for me.
While you're doing this, keep an eye out for when your bun is thumping. If (s)he *ever* thumps for seemingly no reason, look at her/him and thump as a response about a second later. If your bun thumps again after a few seconds - you are now considered a fellow bunny. This is the ultimate sign of approval - and only then should you start trying to pick your bunny up, without going to the vet etc.
I'd like to reiterate: *Don't pick up your bunny before then* - this is *extremely* important. If you do pick your bunny up as anyway, you will destroy all the trust you're trying to build: And a bunny remembers, there's a good chance you will have to start over if you break your bun' trust.

Here's how I taught Bento how to be picked up:
- While lying down and your bun is on laying on top of you, offer cuddles, if your bun accepts, start cuddling your bun. Do full body strokes - when your bun accepts you doing it with both hands simultaneously, you can now start trying to pick your bun up:
As you're cuddling, stop one hand around their backside and the other around their neck/head. The one in the back is for support, the other is to hold, and show you're in charge at the same time. Put pressure down, and when you feel you got a good grip of the bun - sit upright. Then stand.
This is *key*: When you're lifting your bunny, you're breaking your bunny' trust; what's important is 2 things:

1) *You* are in charge in this instance, no exceptions. If your bun is trying to fight it, ignore it. If (s)he starts biting, hold them away from your body and then back in - you must *under absolutely no circumstances* let him/her go. You will need to communicate that when you're lifting him/her - that you are in charge.
2) *Being lifted should be a good thing* - give treats, talk very softly. If they fight, don't raise your voice loudly. You will need to hold your bunny until they are *not* fighting it. This is the *only time* where you should hold your bun despite their teeth clattering; the two of you are *not* going to be friends after you set him/her down - but you will need to communicate that you're friendly and still in charge. If your bun' teeth are clattering *as you are stroking him/her* - consider your Bunny' personality and whether they will ever be more calm. Do keep in mind, that you might risk teeth-clattering becoming a sign of wanting to get down; this is a horrible association to make: *Do not* make your bun associate clattering teeth (feeling trapped) with being picked up.

After you have successfully held your (calmer) bun for about a full minute - very carefully sit him/her down. If (s)he is fighting it or is acting scared about being put down unto the floor - lift him/her back up immediately. Hold for about 2-3 seconds, then slowly set down again. Keep repeating until they're completely calm when their backlegs touch the ground and you can calmly sit them down.

Your bun will be *pissed* - most likely sprint away as if you're a predator and thump loudly, possibly multiple times without ever losing track of you. Sit with your bunny again, if they are still looking scared after ~5-10 minutes, leave the room.
There's a good chance your bun will be mad for more than the day, approach and offer cuddles and treats a few times a day until (s)he accepts. When your bun isn't furious anymore, pick him/her up again slowly. *This is the hardest part* - you are going to have to repeatedly severely offend your bun, but still show you're not a threat and that being picked up as okay.

Keep at it, until your bun is only mad for about an hour or so - then you *might* be able to pick him/her up more often. Keep at it and they will eventually accept; not enjoy. If you keep lifting him/her about weekly, you will eventually get a content bunny.

This entire ordeal took me 2½-3 years. But in the end he's jumping unto my lap if I sit at my desk, into my bed and is actually a functioning guard: He will thump if he hears anyone walking up the outside stairs, which I can't hear. After I made the connection, I gave him a treat and he's been doing it since. Buns are *a lot* smarter than you think - it just takes a *very* long time to get 'into their circle' so to speak.

I wish you the best of luck - *be extremely patient*

Techniques
The way I pick up Bento today, is I signal that I want to pick him up by having my two open hands about 20-30 cm away from each side of him, then slowly move in. If he lays down as I touch his stomach area, he accepts - otherwise he will move away. The key is the rejection isn't mad; just a "no thanks". He might also just do a slight growl if he's being lazy - or telling me to leave him the frick alone, he's trying to sleep.

The way I sit down Bento is by having one hand on his behind, and the other under his front-feet. I sit him down very slowly - the back feet touching ground first. It should look like he is standing, before setting down his front side.

[TLC]

My rabbit doesn't like to be picked up at all. Lately she has been jumping into my lap when I am sitting in a chair which has been surprising. I got her during Covid and I am so glad I did, she is a wonderful pet!

[Sunny-tklg]

My bunnies love being on my arm and even fall asleep :) i‘ve had them since they were 9 weeks old and they follow me everywhere! They travel with me and are kind and open to every new person they meet! I guess I‘m very lucky 😍

[pniccia]

Im glad you said that majority of rabbits doesn’t like to be picked up.
I though that they hated me

[goaway]

my bun just HATES being picked up. he thumps and gives me the stink eye every time lmao we’ve bonded nicely and he likes to groom my hands but the second my hand goes near his chest he’s like haha bond where idk you 🤷‍♂️

[vwsfong]

I totally resonate with you when you said people roast you about not being able to pick up your rabbit. I have yet to properly pick up my rabbit and I've had her for 8 months. But then again, I have no reason to pick her up. I'm going to give your technique a go!

[Anna-eiwi]

I always call and pat a place in front of me so my bunny comes over and I'll pet her like what you do. Then I pick her up like how you showed but I never thought about how to put her back down so thank you 😊. She always tries to jump out and sometimes ends scratching my arm (not on purpose).

[mandys]

One of my bunnies try to escape from me but the other one likes being picked up and fall asleep in your arms and cuddle