Handling Your Rabbit
English Angoras are pretty easy going, but they’re still rabbits. When you pick them up, you should always make sure his bottom is supported and that he is being held in a way that won’t allow him to fall. If he doesn’t feel safe and secure, you’re going to get scratched, and your rabbit could injure himself trying to “flee to safety.” NEVER, EVER, PICK HIM UP BY HIS EARS. The ears aren’t built in handles and they certainly aren’t built to carry the weight of a rabbit. If you try picking up or carrying your rabbit by it’s ears, you could injure the ears and your rabbit could break it’s back trying to get away from you. It’s painful for him, so just don’t do it.
To groom your rabbit, check his feet/nails, etc, you will have to flip him on his back. To do this, place one hand on his bottom and the other firmly gripping his chest and back, just below the “arm pits”. In one swift movement, rock him backwards until he is lying down. Don’t be so hasty that you throw him across the room, but don’t be slow about it either. If you’re too slow, he’s going to squirm and you’ll never get him on his back. Once he’s on his back, position him as needed for whatever the task at hand is.
The most important thing to remember is that your rabbit is a living, breathing, animal. Talk to him and pet him. Use a calm, sweet voice when you’re handling him. Whether you’re speaking to him, or telling your kid to clean up his mess for the five-zillionth time that day – your rabbit won’t know you’re not mad at him when you let your frustration at someone else show in your voice, and you may inadvertently put the fear in the wrong “person.” So always stay calm when handling your rabbit.
When you introduce your new rabbit to other pets in the house, start with the rabbit in his cage. At first, he may feel cornered and trapped, but he’ll quickly realize that the cage protects him. Within a short couple of minutes, he’ll most likely walk up to whatever animal is sniffing him through the wires and start checking it out. When all tensions are gone, it is probably safe to introduce them without the wire between them. Just use your best instincts. Our cats, dogs and rabbits all get along just fine.
When teaching your children, especially young children, how to handle your new rabbit, it is best to have your child put on blue jeans, a long-sleeved shirt/jacket and have them sit down. The long, thick, clothes will protect your child from potentially getting scratched in the event that your rabbit gets scared. Having your child sit down minimizes the risk to your rabbit if your child accidentally drops it. When teaching your child, encourage them to be gentle and remember that rabbits are fragile animals. Younger children have a tendency to try and pick the rabbit up by it’s wool, so keep an eye on them and discourage them from doing this. Remember that just like any other animal or person, nobody likes being picked up by their hair, so encourage your child to pick up the rabbit (if you feel your child can do so safely) as if it were a dog- supporting the rabbits bottom and keeping it’s head above it’s chest (so your rabbit doesn’t feel “upside down”.)
To groom your rabbit, check his feet/nails, etc, you will have to flip him on his back. To do this, place one hand on his bottom and the other firmly gripping his chest and back, just below the “arm pits”. In one swift movement, rock him backwards until he is lying down. Don’t be so hasty that you throw him across the room, but don’t be slow about it either. If you’re too slow, he’s going to squirm and you’ll never get him on his back. Once he’s on his back, position him as needed for whatever the task at hand is.
The most important thing to remember is that your rabbit is a living, breathing, animal. Talk to him and pet him. Use a calm, sweet voice when you’re handling him. Whether you’re speaking to him, or telling your kid to clean up his mess for the five-zillionth time that day – your rabbit won’t know you’re not mad at him when you let your frustration at someone else show in your voice, and you may inadvertently put the fear in the wrong “person.” So always stay calm when handling your rabbit.
When you introduce your new rabbit to other pets in the house, start with the rabbit in his cage. At first, he may feel cornered and trapped, but he’ll quickly realize that the cage protects him. Within a short couple of minutes, he’ll most likely walk up to whatever animal is sniffing him through the wires and start checking it out. When all tensions are gone, it is probably safe to introduce them without the wire between them. Just use your best instincts. Our cats, dogs and rabbits all get along just fine.
When teaching your children, especially young children, how to handle your new rabbit, it is best to have your child put on blue jeans, a long-sleeved shirt/jacket and have them sit down. The long, thick, clothes will protect your child from potentially getting scratched in the event that your rabbit gets scared. Having your child sit down minimizes the risk to your rabbit if your child accidentally drops it. When teaching your child, encourage them to be gentle and remember that rabbits are fragile animals. Younger children have a tendency to try and pick the rabbit up by it’s wool, so keep an eye on them and discourage them from doing this. Remember that just like any other animal or person, nobody likes being picked up by their hair, so encourage your child to pick up the rabbit (if you feel your child can do so safely) as if it were a dog- supporting the rabbits bottom and keeping it’s head above it’s chest (so your rabbit doesn’t feel “upside down”.)