Training a bunny to tolerate being picked up involves building trust on the ground, using positive reinforcement (treats!), starting with brief lifts, and always supporting their hindquarters securely while holding them close to your body to build comfort, but accept that some rabbits may never enjoy being held, so focus on essential handling for vet visits instead.
Start working with your rabbit through any discomfort with being touched and handled. Only after they are comfortable with that should you practice picking them up. Start with sitting on the ground and just lifting them up into your lap, or against your chest in your lap—not picking them up in the air.
The 3-3-3 rule for rabbits (and other pets) is a guideline for adjusting to a new home: 3 Days for the rabbit to feel overwhelmed and hide, 3 Weeks to start settling in and showing personality, and 3 Months to feel truly at home and build a strong bond. It helps adopters manage expectations, understand that fear and skittishness are normal, and encourages patience as the bunny decompresses in its new environment, emphasizing providing a safe space and routine.
As you lift your bunny, make sure that you can support their hindquarters so that they feel secure in your arms. Hold them closely to your body without squeezing or applying force. Try to keep their head pointing straight or downwards (not up at your shoulder) as this may encourage them to start climbing upwards.
Rabbits don't get used to being handled, if they are `` only picked up when absolutely necessary ``. They can and do learn that they are safe to be picked up. Too many don't handle their rabbits and then can't do a basic health check or trim nails. When picking her up, hold her gently but firmly so she feel secure.
Why do so many rabbits hate being picked up? Being picked up is not a natural experience for a rabbit. Unlike many animal parents, such as cats and dogs, rabbit mothers don't pick up their kits and carry them around. The only time a rabbit would experience this type of movement is if a predator attacks them!
Signs of a stressed rabbit include body language like ears pinned back, a tense hunched posture, wide eyes, and stillness, combined with behavioral changes such as hiding excessively, aggression (biting, lunging), destructive bar biting, changes in eating/toileting, restlessness, rapid breathing, or unusual vocalizations like grunting. These signals, often a prey animal's reaction to feeling threatened or unhappy, need prompt attention as chronic stress can cause serious health issues.
Top 10 Bunny Dangers
The best way to gain your rabbits' trust is by simply spending lots of time being near them, while allowing your bunnies to approach you in their own time. By sitting quietly with them in a safe enclosure, you'll show your rabbits that you aren't to be feared and that you can be trusted.
🐰 If holding your rabbit like a baby means you are cradling them on their back, I recommend you find new ways to cuddle with your rabbit. While some rabbits may appear comfortable being held on their backs, this position can actually be quite stressful for them.
Rabbits are most active in the morning and evening, and sleep during the day and night. Rabbits need at minimum 3-5 hours of exercise daily outside the cage. They are naturally curious and enjoy opportunities to explore. Start off with a small area of your house, allowing only as much freedom as they can handle.
Rabbits need unlimited access to grass and hay, so they shouldn't ever be left without food. However, if it's an emergency and there's no other choice, then they can go up to 12 hours without eating.
Never pick rabbits up by their ears.
This is extremely stressful for them and is highly likely to injure them.
If your rabbits look tucked up and quiet with their chins tucked in and noses not twitching this can be a sure sign of them feeling unhappy or stressed, as this is not a normal position for a rabbit. Moving or running away. Your rabbits may turn and move away from you (or each other) if they're unhappy.
Once a rabbit feels safe with you, they will start to become very affectionate. However, it can take a while and you have to let your rabbit warm up to you slowly. They are different to cats and dogs and don't particularly like being cuddled.
Most of the time, rabbits like it best when all four feet are on the ground. Let your rabbit come to you for attention rather than going after them to force cuddling. Rabbits are prey animals and being lifted off the ground instinctively gives them the feeling of being captured by a predator.
Toy chase is a game that might interest some rabbits. Put a string on a toy and walk by your rabbit, dragging the toy slowly. A treat on top might encourage your rabbit to “chase” the toy. Some rabbits might enjoy batting at a toy you dangle in front of them, rather than chasing after something.
As a rule, a rabbit should be able to take at least three hops in a row from one end to the other. It can be difficult to buy purpose-built accommodation measuring these dimensions but there's no reason why you can't build your own! Rabbits are a prey species and need to be able to hide from things that scare them.
Rabbits aren't “starter pets”—they're high-maintenance, long-term commitments. While healthy adult rabbits will typically use a litterbox to do their business, they do a lot of business—and you will have to keep their box clean by changing it at least every other day.
In rabbits, weakness may be due to the effects of organ or metabolic disease, obesity, or to direct damage to the nerves. If the nerves are injured -- either within the brain or spinal column -- they will not communicate properly with each other and the rest of the body.
Understanding your rabbit's feelings
A good place to start is to look at your rabbit's ears. If they're close together, facing upwards and pointing outwards, your rabbit is likely to be relaxed and happy. If they're worried, their ears will be flattened against their back.
Rabbit circling your feet
When a bunny circles a person's feet or legs, this behavior usually indicates sexual or mating behavior (even when your rabbit is neutered). It basically means “I love you.”
Yawning: Rabbits will stretch out their front feet and pull their head back, opening their mouth to yawn when they wake up or before they go to sleep like other animals. Zooming: When rabbits are very happy and have a lot of energy, they may run around the room fast and binky up in the air.