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bunny is too jumpy!!!!!

22 11:10:29

Question
Hi!
My female 2 month old rabbit is rather jumpy. i really want to hold her and make her stay on me for at least 5mins. whenever my sister carries her, she keeps scratching us and we have scars on our arms and legs. how can i carry her without gettin scratched? plz help. we really wanna carry her

Answer
Hi Dominique,

you are not aware that it is a general rule that rabbits do not like being picked up, and they don't like being held for long periods of time.

I would not suggest trying to do this as you want to, because it is obvious she does not like it.  If you care about her as a pet, you will not want to subject her to something that she is telling you (by her behavior) that she is not happy with.  If you continue to do this, she will not bond to you and will probably learn to not like being around you.

Rabbits need to be dealt with more on their terms.  Otherwise they will learn to avoid you because they will assume anytime you come near them, you are going to do something to them they do not like.  And I am sure that is not why you have her as a pet.

Please take some time to go to the House Rabbit Society web site (www.rabbit.org) and search their extensive archive of articles on all aspects of rabbit behavior.  

Lee