New and have a few questions

Quinn · Dec 5, 2005

Hi all

I bought Quinn my Dwarf Lop baby a couple of weeks ago now, he lives outside in his hutch and seems to have settled in well, hes just had his Myxo vaccine and he was a little angel at the vets......

He doesnt usually like being caught in his hutch, which i understand as i know rabbits dont like being picked up, although hes great once you get him in the house and in his pen he is really easy to pick up.

So, after going to the vets where i saw how he picked up the rabbit ive been a bit more confident and more willing to get him out even when hes hiding in the corner, is that ok? Obviously if i think hes getting stressed i stop and leaving him, but since watching the vet and getting more confidence ive been catching him quicker.

Also what is the best way to make him less jumpy,hes fine on your lap but can still sometimes be quite jumpy, is it just a matter if time and him getting used to us? we have only had him for 2 weeks after all

Phill · Dec 5, 2005

It will just take time for him to get to know you! At the moment your doing everything right so keep at it, he will come round with time X

Quinn · Dec 5, 2005

if he backs into a corner when i try and get him out should i still try and get him or leave him? because i think hes worked out i cant actually catch him from there

Phill · Dec 5, 2005

Still try to pick him up but i would try tempting him out of the corner with food first X

taylor v 109 · Dec 5, 2005

Dont let him think he can stop you picking him up, dosent sound like his frightened. The more you pick him up the better he will get. Wanting to jump of your lap means he wants to have a run round and is fed up of sitting there :lol: .He sounds fine. val

BevBunny · Dec 6, 2005

I tend to agree with Val, pick him up even if he really doesn't want you to but try to make it a brief pleasant experience for him.

Lavender was like this when she first came to live with us, so I picked her up a few times a week to start with and it might literally just be for 10 seconds or so, then put her down and gave her a treat. I gradually did it more frequently and for longer - now she gets picked up every day just for a brief time, we check her bum, teeth, ears and eyes then put her down again - she doesn't kick anymore, and sits waiting for her treat. Its true conditioning to food but it works, it means that we check her health daily and she's building up more and more trust in us, and as long as we give her healthy treats (a nut, sprig of brocolli, carrot top etc etc) then its ok.

Oh, one other thing, when I first started this if she kicked I wouldn't put her down, I only put her down when she was being calm and getting lots of fuss from us. My aim was to teach her that having a strop wasn't going to work - I paid the price tho, both Steve and I had some lovely war wounds for a few months!

New and have a few questions

Quinn

Mama Doe

Phill

Wise Old Thumper

Quinn

Mama Doe

Phill

Wise Old Thumper

taylor v 109

Mama Doe

BevBunny

Mama Doe

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