Hold rabbits gently but firmly - ensure one hand supports their back and hindquarters at all times. Help them feel secure by holding all four feet against your body. Never pick rabbits up by their ears - this would be extremely stressful and is highly likely to injure them.
Whilst you may like to give your bunny a nice big cuddle every time you see him, this really isn't advised at all. Rabbits are prey animals and can become easily spooked and scared. They don't really like to be picked up and handled too often, even by humans that they like!
Rabbits are stressed when on their backs
Studies have shown that rabbits flatten their ears, widen their eyes and tense their muscles when being placed in this position - which is them showing that they're worried and uncomfortable.
If you're a new rabbit owner, try to make the first few interactions with your rabbit as positive as possible which means lots of gentle petting, treats and quiet bonding time. This way they'll grow more comfortable with you - and you'll be able to pick them up and hold them with better success.
Many rabbits hate being held and will actually freeze with fear. Our advise would be that it is always better to get down to your bunnies level and have a cuddle. You can get just as much enjoyment out of cuddling your bunny by getting down to their level. Lay or sit next to them and interact with them that way.
What are rabbits afraid of? 'Rabbits are naturally fearful of anything coming from above, like their predators would. If we bend down to pick them up, that action is scary,' says Rosie. 'They also dislike being lifted up, as that's what happens when they're in a predator's mouth.
Your rabbit doesn't want to be held
Even though many people think of rabbits as cuddly animals, most rabbits absolutely hate being held. In fact, being carried is a scary situation for rabbits. Their first line of defense is to run as fast as they can and hide.
You should avoid leaving a rabbit alone for more than 24 hours. This is because rabbits can get sick suddenly and require immediate medical attention. Conditions such as GI Stasis are very common, so you should always have someone checking in on your rabbit daily even if you are only away for the weekend.
That said, they tend not to like being touched on the ears, neck, feet, stomach or tail. Usually, my bunnies are most receptive to petting when they're relaxing after a meal. So if your rabbit doesn't appear interested in affection, wait until just after feeding time.
Rabbits generally have a few sensitive spots where they dislike being touched - their dewlap (under the chin), whiskers and feet. Some rabbits are also extremely sensitive about their ears or tail.
Rabbits like to play and need plenty of exercise to stay healthy and happy. Ideally you want to provide them with up to 4 hours daily of supervised time out of their cage.
It's best to let your rabbit out of its cage or enclosure at least twice a day for exercise and socialization. If rabbits are regularly cooped up for more than 12 hours at a time, there is an increased risk that they will develop health problems (such as GI Stasis) or become depressed and lonely.
Rabbit ears that are pinned flat back with a tense body may indicate the rabbit is upset, angry, or scared. Rabbit ears that are flat back with a relaxed body just mean the rabbit is resting.
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.
We usually tell our adopters that we expect the average bonding is going to take about two and a half weeks.
It can take a few months for a rabbit to adjust to a new home and new people. Speak softly. Those big ears are good at conveying sound! Rabbits seem to enjoy listening to humans, as long as your voice is gentle and soft.
If they are sitting upright and their front paws are 'boxing' at you, they are likely very unhappy. Vocalising. Rabbits don't tend to make much noise and when they do it's a sign they're feeling very threatened. You may hear them grunting or growling and in extreme cases, they can scream.
For a rabbit to be comfortable with being picked up, they must learn through positive experiences that being lifted isn't something that causes harm. This should start when they are just as few weeks old as part of socialisation.
Move slowly and talk quietly around rabbits so as not to startle them. They're more likely to be relaxed in a quiet and calm handling environment. Picking rabbits up when you're close to ground level is less likely to scare them, and is also safer, as it helps prevent them from being dropped from a height by accident.
They may also be afraid of people and won't want to come out if there are any humans in the room. Your rabbit may have developed this fear from rough handling in the past. Or maybe they are afraid of being picked up if they come out of their safe place (most rabbits hate to be held).