how do i hold my bunny w/out it jumping away?

Question

every time i hold it it wants to jump away and its a baby

Answer 1

tightly

Answer 2

some rabbits never like to be held.

Rabbit personalities (like people) vary, some bunnies enjoy handling more than others. Some are carriers some are lap sitters and some are cuddlers.

Whatever their natural inclination, they need to feel safe.

Ask for a demonstration when you buy your bunny and then practice a lot. The more you handle it the easier it will become for both you and the bunny!

The photos (to follow) show different ways to pick up and carry but their is no substitute for practice. Some rabbits are easier to pick up by the loose skin over the middle of it's back and others prefer a hand under the belly gently lifting up.

Many show breeders never pick their rabbits up by the scruff fearing injury to the animal or crushing of the pelt but for a new handler, there is less likelihood of dropping a disorderly rabbit. But only pick them up in the MIDDLE of the back balancing the weight on both sides of your hand so they don't kick and injure themselves. Then quickly bring the rabbit to your body, supporting the buttocks. It should be a fairly swift movement and not intended to carry them like a sack of groceries.

Don't be timid! Hold on firmly. He'll feel safer. Bear in mind that a rabbit was born to have all four feet on the ground. When you pick him up and his feet aren't touching something, they feel insecure.

Keep all four feet resting on your chest, lap or forearm and cover his ears with your free hand. If their ears wobble, they loose their equilibrium. When ears are covered, they feel more secure and you have more control.

One hand under the buttocks and one on the ears is easiest. The head nestled under your arm with your hand holding the buttocks is another safe feeling for the bunny.

The important thing is to start handling the bunny early so he trusts that you won't drop him.

Have children start out sitting down and picking the bunny up from the floor. Walking around with the bunny is asking for trouble. The child might fall, the bunny might scramble from an insecure grip and can fall to the ground causing serious injury to both the child and rabbit. Wrapping the bunny in a towel or baby blanket at first also increases the feeling of safety for both rabbit and human.

In short order, the bunny will feel safe and won't care how it gets picked up if it trusts you or your child.

NEVER, EVER, PICK A RABBIT UP BY THE EARS!!!!

Answer 3

Here's how I teach people to hold them for showing:

Place one hand under the rabbit's chest and the other on the rabbit's rump. Lift the rabbit up by the chest and rump and tuck its head into your armpit. This gives the rabbit a place to hide. Tucking the head into your armpit is very important. If the rabbit tries biting your side, hold the rabbit's head tighter against you with your arm. You don't want to hold the rabbit's head tightly under your armpit unless it starts to bite. You want to make it feel comfortable.

You normally want to place your hand under the rabbit's chest instead of grabbing it by the back of the neck. Grabbing it by the back of the neck will tend to stretch its fur, which isn't recommended for showing rabbits. For larger breeds though, it may be required to grab it by the back of the neck and place the other hand on the rump. It can give you a little more control that is sometimes needed on a larger rabbit. I also suggest wearing a thick long sleeve coat when you are first attempting it so you don't get all scratched up. With time, you will get better and the rabbit will get more accustomed to you holding it.

Have been raising and showing rabbits professionally for 24 years.

Answer 4

either pick it up by the scruff (skin at the back of the neck) or pick it up under the chest with one hand and with the other scoop up its bum so the feet aren't touching anything. it won't try to jump if it has nothing to kick against. but make sure you are supporting the whole body cause if you don't and it kicks it can break its back.... bunnies are fragile :)

Answer 5

1.You pick it up.
2. You gently put it over your shoulderso the back is facing you!
3. Hold the back 1/2 way between!
4. Cup it's hind legs!

P.s. this works and it dosen't scartch me!

Answer 6

Never ever hold a bunny by its ears, this is abuse!

Answer 7

hold it like a baby so it wont fall or get away

Answer 8

Rabbits naturally do not want to be held because they are prey animals. They think that they are going to be harmed when they are lifted off the ground. http://www.rabbit.org

Answer 9

hold the ears

Answer 10

from the ears. it doesn't hurt it (i hope cause that's how i used to hold rabbits)