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What's the best way to socialize a rabbit?

posted 9 years ago by drunkbear
2 replies | jump to latest

I've had 'Sybil' in my household for three weeks now, and for the most part, we're getting along well. I try to make sure she hears my voice all the time (easy enough, since I talk to the TV), and I make sure to pick her up and pet her for at least 15 minutes, every day.

We're doing well on every part of the relationship except the putting-down. She starts to kick and do the 'Brokeback Bunny' routine when I put her back in the cage. I've tried several different ways of holding her and lowering her in, but she still starts to panic when I lower her.

What's the best way to put a bunny down (other than telling her that her ears are too big, I mean...)?

- HOW kin I be so brainless, when I is so smart?

[–] Grayovac 9 years ago

I would recommend you check some other (non-IMDb) forums that are specifically rabbit-related (www.binkybunny.com & www.bunspace.com are two that immediately come to mind) and ask your question there (I'm sure you'll get a lot of opinions/suggestions on those forums). Also definitely check out www.rabbit.org for all sorts of useful information about house rabbits (but they don't have a forum).

One thing you may want to try is cover your rabbit's eyes (a paper towel should work fine) before you put her back in the cage. I'm guessing that if she can't see she's going in the cage until her feet touch, you might be able to put her back in her cage without her kicking too hard. If that works, you can try using your hands to keep her from seeing the cage (as long as you can do it while still holding on to her safely). Some buns will always try to kick off when put back into their cage. Others (like mine) are so laid back, that it's not an issue (though he may have tried kicking when I first got him, it's been so many years I don't remember).

What's the best way to put a bunny down (other than telling her that her ears are too big, I mean...)? No, no, no. Positive reinforcement only! 

---
On IMDb, nobody knows you're a (I said nobody knows!).

[–] drunkbear 9 years ago

Covering her eyes only helps - if at all - when picking her up, and she really doesn't have any issues, with that. She'll sit still and let me scoop her up with no problems, at all. But, as I said, it's hard to keep her eyes covered when I'm putting her DOWN.

Her problem with going back INTO the cage doesn't seem to have anything to do with what she's SEEING, it's with what she's feeling. I think the problem is either with the angle when I'm leaning in, or the difference between the surface her front feet and back feet are feeling.

- HOW kin I be so brainless, when I is so smart?