I want to photo with her and she’s so sweet but the minute I try to pick her up she loses her mind so I don’t do that anymore. I just love on her. But I really want to pick her up and I see so many people holding their buns and it makes me sad.
by HistorianPuzzled1284
26 Comments
bunnies are prey animals and most of them don’t like getting picked up or carried. nothing wrong with you or your bun. i understand that you want a picture, but it’s best to just leave her alone 😊 a tip would be that someone else holds the camera from a lower angle, you sit on your knees and have a treat in your hand, bun climbs in your lap while reaching for and eating treat and the photographer takes a photo 🐰
It is normal. It is very rare that they like being picked up. It is something you need to respect. Only for routine maintenance such as brushing or nail clipping, which they also hate, or going to vet
Do not pick your bun up. They hate that. Get down on the floor with her for a pic!
My sweet girl is the same way. I am a new bun owner… I actually recently had a friend with more bun experience come over and do her nails 😅 she will flop next to me, play games w me, even purrs when I pet her! She just says no to being held. Don’t take it personally, it’s instinctual.
Rabbits are prey animals with a prey instinct and even the most cudly rabbits will not want to be picked up some may tolerate it but most won’t.
They typically don’t like being picked up. My bun Sebastian tolerates it but once he wants to be put down, he’ll start squirming. My other bun Bach doesn’t like being picked up at all
Most bunnies don’t like being held. You can train them to tolerate it (which I recommend, how will you save them in an emergency if you can’t carry them) but that doesn’t mean they’ll enjoy it ever
Bunnies naturally dont enjoy being handled. Some tolerate it, like mine but the breeder has always been holding them and evidently had church kids hold them all the time.
Most rabbits hate being handled. They feel safe with their feet on the ground. Imagine how you’d feel if everything in the world wanted to eat you. The more you try to pick her up, the more she’s going to run from you. If you let her come to you for long enough she might eventually allow it, but you should really only pick her up if you need to, like if she’s gotten somewhere she shouldn’t or she needs to be put into a carrier.
My rabbit tolerates handling. He didn’t always, he made a game of running from anyone who tried to pick him up. Now, he doesn’t even flinch. But I know he doesn’t like it so I only do it if I need to. Sometimes he comes to me for attention and I pick him up but he makes it known quickly he doesn’t want to be held so I put him back, and he still trusts me and allows it because he knows I will honor his boundaries.
Animals are just like anyone else – they are owed agency over their own bodies and you should never do something they don’t want you to unless it’s necessary (e.g handling for carriers or nail trims, giving medication, etc). Consent is important in any relationship, and if you honor what your rabbit is and isn’t OK with, they will trust you.
I’ve had my rabbit 7 years, and he had another family for 3 before that. He only recently has decided to start seeking affection and really letting his guard down around me. It’s a long process, but you have to do things in their time. They are independent beings and we should cater to them rather than expect it the other way around.
My rabbit HATES being picked up. However my roomie has found the secret. When bunnyboy is very sleepy she scoops him up. He loses his mind if he’s awake, or it I try. She is the chosen one
I feel this. All I want to do is pet and cuddle my bunnies and all they want is treats and then they go poof! But they will climb all over me if I’m lying down on the floor.
Sometimes they just don’t like it unfortunately
If you wanna pick your bun up, the best way to do it so they don’t freak out is to put one hand underneath their front paws and belly and one under their back legs. You gotta scoop both hands in both places at the same time, do it smoothly. It’s very important to support their back legs and to hold their hind feet still if they kick. They can throw their legs out if they kick too hard. It all takes time. If they really don’t like it they’ll bite. If they’re not used to it and get stressed out, wait a few days before doing it again.
I remember my first bun… I was pretty clueless and didn’t understand that most rabbits don’t like being picked up, as I was used to dogs and cats. I thought he was just weird and fussy. His first vet visit, I warned the vet “he’s very friendly but he hates being held or restrained” and he told me “that’s all rabbits”.
She probably think she pregnant.
Lay on the floor on your stomach, she’ll probably come and sniff your face and jump on your back. Not as satisfying as holding and snuggling, but we take what we can get!
I feel this deeply OP. I want to smooch up my little guy but he freaks out when I try to pick him up. So I guess I’ll try training him to tolerate stuff when I’m sitting or laying by him
Well I feel better.
Some buns don’t like it. One of mine really doesn’t like me holding her but will let me pet.
Edit: I get how you feel about wanting to hold them because you love them so much. I’m the same way. I hope some day she’ll let me hold her with no issues.
Check on google for steps of picking up your bun. I found out how important this is, as they will be handled during vet appointments, or any time you need to check them out for any issues. Being used to being picked up can make these things less stressful. Like when my blgiant bun screamed at the vets, it was horrible for her and me 😕.
Leave your worn socks with her. Always be super gentle. Let her just smell you. Lay down on the floor with her. Let her say hello to you. Eventually she will get used to you but there is no guarantee that you can pick her up. If you do, always support the back feet.
Most rabbits don’t really like being held, but there’s a trick you might work for your bun that will let you hold her, but no guarantee. However, I did this trick on two rabbits previously who were nervous about being held, one started to throw literal tantrums if I didn’t pick him up and hold him like a baby every 24/7, the other was more tolerant and accepting of it, but wasn’t too fond— she stopped nipping when I picked her up though, and often times gave me some bunny kisses too.
Here’s the trick, just sit by your bun and pet them then gently place a large blanket or towel over them as you’re still petting them.
Swaddle them gently, and make sure it’s a blanket they’re accustomed to, and they know the scent of it. Just keep petting him/her as you’re picking them up by their sides with the towel bundled around them, and hold them in your arms with a lot of the towel bundled underneath them, and just continue petting them.
They often prefer head and cheek rubs so go for those areas primarily as you’re holding them and comforting them. If they start fidgeting, don’t try to hold onto them because this is their way of telling you they’re ready to be put down. Just put them down gently and safely, and still pet them.
Make sure to reward them for being held with greens, pellets or fruit, something he/she likes (unless they bit you, then you can skip treat and wait for awhile before trying this again). Just keep doing this for about a week or two, longer if needed. Don’t try to pick them up constantly, give your bunny space after first attempt, even if it doesn’t go right.
This worked on a bun who was afraid of being held/scared of heights, but after the blanket method he really came out of his shell. The other one was more of a bun I babysat, and she came to tolerate it a bit more after the babysitting. Still didn’t like it but she didn’t mind it if needed..so long as I was the one doing it. xD
I have 1 rabbit that absolutely hates being picked up, but she will jump into the carrier immediately if we need to go somewhere because she knows the alternative. The other one hates it but he submits because we’ve practiced so many times. He hates the carrier, so he knows he has to get picked up.
I wouldn’t be worried about yours! you will find other ways to love them ❤️
She’s doing you a favor and telling you that only photos of her being comfy on the ground are allowed. Seriously though, as others said, rabbits generally do not like being picked up or held because it’s unnatural for them. They don’t carry their young this way and being picked up would like being captured by some large predator like a hawk or bird of prey. Best thing to do is learn about rabbits and change yourself rather than trying to get them to do something you want. I’m sure eventually she may get more comfy with being held but if it doesn’t happen then no big deal. You still have a sweetie that is entrusting her well-being with you. Learn about her and understand her needs. Bunnies aren’t photo opportunities for likes.
They are animals of prey and in the wild predators pick them up and take them somewhere to eat them so it’s an instinct to not want to be picked up. Mine is the same way! And it’s really stresses her out so I try not to unless I have to for nail trimming, cleaning, etc. some bunnies are fine with it but most are not.
My first rabbit only let me carry her for brief moments. To get to A to B. Otherwise she sat on my lap and or snuggled next to me.
My current rabbit is a complete weirdo. She enjoys being picked up (when she’s in the mood) and laying against my shoulder while I do the mom-bop (gently bounce or rock side-to-side). Now she’ll only do this for about 10 minutes (longer if I’m in front of a mirror).
I’m the only one she’ll do this with. I can hand her off to my SO and she’ll let him cradle her but won’t go up on his shoulder so she is finicky about how we do it.