Holding and Carrying a Rabbit Safely

For rabbit owners, learning how to properly hold and carry your bunny is crucial for their health and safety. Improper handling can lead to serious injuries and trauma in these delicate animals. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn the right techniques for a happy hopper! We cover what mistakes to avoid when picking up your pet, plus explain different carrying styles to use in various situations. From football holds to upside down cradling, find out how to lift and transport rabbits of all sizes while keeping them comfortable and secure. Read on for expert tips that will give you confidence to snuggle your rabbit without stress or struggle for either of you!

What to Avoid

When holding or carrying a rabbit, there are some things you'll want to avoid doing to keep them comfortable and prevent injury. Here are some key things to keep in mind:

• Avoid picking up a rabbit by the ears – Their ears are very delicate and picking them up this way can cause them pain and damage. Always support their body weight when lifting them.

• Don't squeeze or restrain them too tightly – Rabbits have very fragile bones and can be easily injured if held too tightly. Hold them firmly but gently. Provide adequate support but don't restrain their movement.

• Don't lift them up suddenly – Make slow, gentle movements when picking up a rabbit. Sudden lifts may startle them and cause them to struggle or kick out, which could lead to injuries.

• Avoid holding them on their back – Rabbits feel very vulnerable and frightened when held on their backs. They may struggle violently to right themselves, risking injury. It's better to hold them against your chest or cradled in your arms.

• Watch for signs of struggle – If a rabbit starts kicking their legs, twisting their body or nipping at you, put them down. Don't force them to stay held if they are struggling. This will cause unnecessary stress.

• Don't let small children hold rabbits without supervision – Kids often don't know how to properly support a rabbit's body weight. An adult should always be right there supervising to ensure the rabbit is held safely.

• Don't carry rabbits by the scruff of their neck – While mother cats carry kittens this way, it can harm rabbits. They don't have loose skin there and lifting them by the scruff can damage their spine.

• Avoid restraining their hind legs together – Trancing a rabbit (putting them on their back and holding their back legs together gently) should only be done minimally for medical procedures and requires experience. Doing this improperly can cause serious spinal injury.

The key is to always support a rabbit's full body weight, let them feel secure yet don't restrain them excessively, and be very aware of their comfort level when holding them. Proper handling takes practice so go slowly and be very cautious until you learn your rabbit's responses. If they seem distressed, stop what you're doing and consult an expert on proper techniques. With care and experience, you can hold your bunny in a way that's safe, secure and comfortable for both of you.

Different Carrying Styles

There are a few different carrying styles that can be used to safely lift and transport a rabbit:

Cradle Carry

• Place one hand under the rabbit's chest and the other hand under their hindquarters.
• Let their body rest against your chest for security and gently hug them close using both arms.
• Be sure to fully support their body weight – don't let their legs dangle.
• Keep the rabbit's head higher than their body to make breathing easier.
• This carry is good for calm rabbits that feel secure being held close.

Football Carry

• Place one hand under the rabbit's chest so their front legs straddle your wrist.
• Put your other hand under their hind legs with their back legs straddling your wrist.
• Keep their body tucked close to your stomach and chest.
• Make sure their weight is fully supported and don't let their legs hang.
• This carry keeps skittish rabbits more securely contained.

Forearm Carry

• Place the rabbit sitting balanced on your forearm.
• Let their front legs wrap around your arm with their belly against you.
• Use your other hand to gently restrain their hindquarters if needed.
• Keep your arm curled to create a secure place for them to sit.
• This carry allows you to keep an eye on the rabbit at all times.

Over the Shoulder Carry

• drape the rabbit gently over your shoulder so their belly rests against you.
• Allow their legs to wrap naturally around your shoulders and cross their front and back legs for security.
• Use one hand to support their hindquarters if needed.
• This carry frees up one of your hands while keeping the rabbit feeling safe.

On Your Back Carry

• Place the rabbit so they are draped across your shoulder blades while you are bent over.
• Let them situate themselves so they are lying on you with their legs outstretched.
• Slowly stand up with the rabbit on your back. They should cling there securely.
• This carry allows you to transport rabbits through confined spaces.

Upside Down Cradle Carry

• Rest the rabbit on their back in the crook of your arm with their face towards your elbow.
• Let their hind legs drape over your forearm and support their shoulders with that hand.
• Use your other hand to restrain their hips if needed.
• Only use this carry briefly or for medical procedures requiring access to their stomach.

Baby Carry

• For small rabbits, place one hand under their chest and the other under their hips.
• Snugly hold the rabbit tummy side down against your chest.
• Make sure to fully support all their body weight.
• Keep your hand over their back and bottom for a secure hold.
• This carry is perfect for juvenile rabbits.

No matter what carrying style you choose, always fully support the rabbit's weight, move slowly and handle them gently. Avoid excessive restraint and watch closely for signs of struggle or discomfort. Proper handling will help keep your bunny safe, secure and stress-free when being carried.

What to Avoid

When holding or carrying a rabbit, there are some things you'll want to avoid doing to keep them comfortable and prevent injury. Here are some key things to keep in mind:

• Avoid picking up a rabbit by the ears – Their ears are very delicate and picking them up this way can cause them pain and damage. Always support their body weight when lifting them.

• Don't squeeze or restrain them too tightly – Rabbits have very fragile bones and can be easily injured if held too tightly. Hold them firmly but gently. Provide adequate support but don't restrain their movement.

• Don't lift them up suddenly – Make slow, gentle movements when picking up a rabbit. Sudden lifts may startle them and cause them to struggle or kick out, which could lead to injuries.

• Avoid holding them on their back – Rabbits feel very vulnerable and frightened when held on their backs. They may struggle violently to right themselves, risking injury. It's better to hold them against your chest or cradled in your arms.

• Watch for signs of struggle – If a rabbit starts kicking their legs, twisting their body or nipping at you, put them down. Don't force them to stay held if they are struggling. This will cause unnecessary stress.

• Don't let small children hold rabbits without supervision – Kids often don't know how to properly support a rabbit's body weight. An adult should always be right there supervising to ensure the rabbit is held safely.

• Don't carry rabbits by the scruff of their neck – While mother cats carry kittens this way, it can harm rabbits. They don't have loose skin there and lifting them by the scruff can damage their spine.

• Avoid restraining their hind legs together – Trancing a rabbit (putting them on their back and holding their back legs together gently) should only be done minimally for medical procedures and requires experience. Doing this improperly can cause serious spinal injury.

The key is to always support a rabbit's full body weight, let them feel secure yet don't restrain them excessively, and be very aware of their comfort level when holding them. Proper handling takes practice so go slowly and be very cautious until you learn your rabbit's responses. If they seem distressed, stop what you're doing and consult an expert on proper techniques. With care and experience, you can hold your bunny in a way that's safe, secure and comfortable for both of you.

Different Carrying Styles

There are a few different carrying styles that can be used to safely lift and transport a rabbit:

Cradle Carry

• Place one hand under the rabbit's chest and the other hand under their hindquarters.
• Let their body rest against your chest for security and gently hug them close using both arms.
• Be sure to fully support their body weight – don't let their legs dangle.
• Keep the rabbit's head higher than their body to make breathing easier.
• This carry is good for calm rabbits that feel secure being held close.

Football Carry

• Place one hand under the rabbit's chest so their front legs straddle your wrist.
• Put your other hand under their hind legs with their back legs straddling your wrist.
• Keep their body tucked close to your stomach and chest.
• Make sure their weight is fully supported and don't let their legs hang.
• This carry keeps skittish rabbits more securely contained.

Forearm Carry

• Place the rabbit sitting balanced on your forearm.
• Let their front legs wrap around your arm with their belly against you.
• Use your other hand to gently restrain their hindquarters if needed.
• Keep your arm curled to create a secure place for them to sit.
• This carry allows you to keep an eye on the rabbit at all times.

Over the Shoulder Carry

• drape the rabbit gently over your shoulder so their belly rests against you.
• Allow their legs to wrap naturally around your shoulders and cross their front and back legs for security.
• Use one hand to support their hindquarters if needed.
• This carry frees up one of your hands while keeping the rabbit feeling safe.

On Your Back Carry

• Place the rabbit so they are draped across your shoulder blades while you are bent over.
• Let them situate themselves so they are lying on you with their legs outstretched.
• Slowly stand up with the rabbit on your back. They should cling there securely.
• This carry allows you to transport rabbits through confined spaces.

Upside Down Cradle Carry

• Rest the rabbit on their back in the crook of your arm with their face towards your elbow.
• Let their hind legs drape over your forearm and support their shoulders with that hand.
• Use your other hand to restrain their hips if needed.
• Only use this carry briefly or for medical procedures requiring access to their stomach.

Baby Carry

• For small rabbits, place one hand under their chest and the other under their hips.
• Snugly hold the rabbit tummy side down against your chest.
• Make sure to fully support all their body weight.
• Keep your hand over their back and bottom for a secure hold.
• This carry is perfect for juvenile rabbits.

No matter what carrying style you choose, always fully support the rabbit's weight, move slowly and handle them gently. Avoid excessive restraint and watch closely for signs of struggle or discomfort. Proper handling will help keep your bunny safe, secure and stress-free when being carried.

What to Avoid

When holding or carrying a rabbit, there are some things you'll want to avoid doing to keep them comfortable and prevent injury. Here are some key things to keep in mind:

• Avoid picking up a rabbit by the ears – Their ears are very delicate and picking them up this way can cause them pain and damage. Always support their body weight when lifting them.

• Don't squeeze or restrain them too tightly – Rabbits have very fragile bones and can be easily injured if held too tightly. Hold them firmly but gently. Provide adequate support but don't restrain their movement.

• Don't lift them up suddenly – Make slow, gentle movements when picking up a rabbit. Sudden lifts may startle them and cause them to struggle or kick out, which could lead to injuries.

• Avoid holding them on their back – Rabbits feel very vulnerable and frightened when held on their backs. They may struggle violently to right themselves, risking injury. It's better to hold them against your chest or cradled in your arms.

• Watch for signs of struggle – If a rabbit starts kicking their legs, twisting their body or nipping at you, put them down. Don't force them to stay held if they are struggling. This will cause unnecessary stress.

• Don't let small children hold rabbits without supervision – Kids often don't know how to properly support a rabbit's body weight. An adult should always be right there supervising to ensure the rabbit is held safely.

• Don't carry rabbits by the scruff of their neck – While mother cats carry kittens this way, it can harm rabbits. They don't have loose skin there and lifting them by the scruff can damage their spine.

• Avoid restraining their hind legs together – Trancing a rabbit (putting them on their back and holding their back legs together gently) should only be done minimally for medical procedures and requires experience. Doing this improperly can cause serious spinal injury.

The key is to always support a rabbit's full body weight, let them feel secure yet don't restrain them excessively, and be very aware of their comfort level when holding them. Proper handling takes practice so go slowly and be very cautious until you learn your rabbit's responses. If they seem distressed, stop what you're doing and consult an expert on proper techniques. With care and experience, you can hold your bunny in a way that's safe, secure and comfortable for both of you.

Different Carrying Styles

There are a few different carrying styles that can be used to safely lift and transport a rabbit:

Cradle Carry

• Place one hand under the rabbit's chest and the other hand under their hindquarters.
• Let their body rest against your chest for security and gently hug them close using both arms.
• Be sure to fully support their body weight – don't let their legs dangle.
• Keep the rabbit's head higher than their body to make breathing easier.
• This carry is good for calm rabbits that feel secure being held close.

Football Carry

• Place one hand under the rabbit's chest so their front legs straddle your wrist.
• Put your other hand under their hind legs with their back legs straddling your wrist.
• Keep their body tucked close to your stomach and chest.
• Make sure their weight is fully supported and don't let their legs hang.
• This carry keeps skittish rabbits more securely contained.

Forearm Carry

• Place the rabbit sitting balanced on your forearm.
• Let their front legs wrap around your arm with their belly against you.
• Use your other hand to gently restrain their hindquarters if needed.
• Keep your arm curled to create a secure place for them to sit.
• This carry allows you to keep an eye on the rabbit at all times.

Over the Shoulder Carry

• drape the rabbit gently over your shoulder so their belly rests against you.
• Allow their legs to wrap naturally around your shoulders and cross their front and back legs for security.
• Use one hand to support their hindquarters if needed.
• This carry frees up one of your hands while keeping the rabbit feeling safe.

On Your Back Carry

• Place the rabbit so they are draped across your shoulder blades while you are bent over.
• Let them situate themselves so they are lying on you with their legs outstretched.
• Slowly stand up with the rabbit on your back. They should cling there securely.
• This carry allows you to transport rabbits through confined spaces.

Upside Down Cradle Carry

• Rest the rabbit on their back in the crook of your arm with their face towards your elbow.
• Let their hind legs drape over your forearm and support their shoulders with that hand.
• Use your other hand to restrain their hips if needed.
• Only use this carry briefly or for medical procedures requiring access to their stomach.

Baby Carry

• For small rabbits, place one hand under their chest and the other under their hips.
• Snugly hold the rabbit tummy side down against your chest.
• Make sure to fully support all their body weight.
• Keep your hand over their back and bottom for a secure hold.
• This carry is perfect for juvenile rabbits.

No matter what carrying style you choose, always fully support the rabbit's weight, move slowly and handle them gently. Avoid excessive restraint and watch closely for signs of struggle or discomfort. Proper handling will help keep your bunny safe, secure and stress-free when being carried.

What to Avoid

When holding or carrying a rabbit, there are some things you'll want to avoid doing to keep them comfortable and prevent injury. Here are some key things to keep in mind:

• Avoid picking up a rabbit by the ears – Their ears are very delicate and picking them up this way can cause them pain and damage. Always support their body weight when lifting them.

• Don't squeeze or restrain them too tightly – Rabbits have very fragile bones and can be easily injured if held too tightly. Hold them firmly but gently. Provide adequate support but don't restrain their movement.

• Don't lift them up suddenly – Make slow, gentle movements when picking up a rabbit. Sudden lifts may startle them and cause them to struggle or kick out, which could lead to injuries.

• Avoid holding them on their back – Rabbits feel very vulnerable and frightened when held on their backs. They may struggle violently to right themselves, risking injury. It's better to hold them against your chest or cradled in your arms.

• Watch for signs of struggle – If a rabbit starts kicking their legs, twisting their body or nipping at you, put them down. Don't force them to stay held if they are struggling. This will cause unnecessary stress.

• Don't let small children hold rabbits without supervision – Kids often don't know how to properly support a rabbit's body weight. An adult should always be right there supervising to ensure the rabbit is held safely.

• Don't carry rabbits by the scruff of their neck – While mother cats carry kittens this way, it can harm rabbits. They don't have loose skin there and lifting them by the scruff can damage their spine.

• Avoid restraining their hind legs.