Rabbit Handling - They HATE it

I rescued two Holland lops a few months ago and were both fairly scared/shy rabbits. I don’t know their past at all, but what I do know is they HATE being handled. I’ve tried covering the eyes, blankets, holding them tightly so they don’t feel scared. You name it, but they will wiggle out no matter what I do.

Now I don’t pick them up for fun, this is so I can trim their nails and groom them, but it’s impossible to get them to sit still even for a moment. After the experience they’re so so mad at me it’s not even funny (even with TREATS!).... I don’t want to harm them either (my biggest fear)

I should just take them to a groomer, but it seems unnecessary to me as I should be capable of doing it myself and so I don’t have to pay $20 per bunny groom.

I’ve seen threads that people pick up their rabbits once a week to try and get them use to it. Does anyone suggest this?

Does anyone have any tips for me that can make them more use to being handled? At least for a span of 10 minutes so I can trim their dang nails!

Thank you!

Look in the "Health and Wellness" forum. Blue Eyes posted a great video on cutting nails in the post, "Need some help clipping my Rabbits nails."

Maybe some rabbits get used to being picked up with practice, but for me, it seems like the trick is finding a way of picking them up that they will feel more comfortable with. They all like something different. I have one rabbit that hates being picked up unless he know what is going to happen. I have to pet him first before picking him up or he gets upset. I have another rabbit that was abandoned and ended up in a rescue at 4 weeks old. He was picked up daily from a young age. He is now 18 months and still hates it. I use him as a therapy animal, but I put him in a cat bed before picking him up, and he is fine with that.

Niomi said:

Look in the "Health and Wellness" forum. Blue Eyes posted a great video on cutting nails in the post, "Need some help clipping my Rabbits nails."

Maybe some rabbits get used to being picked up with practice, but for me, it seems like the trick is finding a way of picking them up that they will feel more comfortable with. They all like something different. I have one rabbit that hates being picked up unless he know what is going to happen. I have to pet him first before picking him up or he gets upset. I have another rabbit that was abandoned and ended up in a rescue at 4 weeks old. He was picked up daily from a young age. He is now 18 months and still hates it. I use him as a therapy animal, but I put him in a cat bed before picking him up, and he is fine with that.

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Thank you for the tip! I’ll definitely check out the video. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who’s struggling with them. Maybe I just need more time to figure out what they’re comfortable with!

My bunny is almost a yr and hates being picked up or groomed and trimmed. I blame it on his previois owner always holding him by the scruff. I still haven't figured it out. When i pick him up he will scratch and nip and try to hop out of my arms which is dangerous

Floyd2019 said:

My bunny is almost a yr and hates being picked up or groomed and trimmed. I blame it on his previois owner always holding him by the scruff. I still haven't figured it out. When i pick him up he will scratch and nip and try to hop out of my arms which is dangerous

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I’m glad to know I’m not the only one! I have no idea what their past is so I guess I just need to work around it & train them to trust me more.