© David L. Fisher
Rabbits are very delicate creatures, prone to injury from improper handling. They are prey animals, very different from dogs and cats, so they are built for speed (to out-run and out-turn predators) - this means high muscle mass and low skeletal mass. This combination means a rabbit has the strength to break its own bones when it struggles. You risk serious injury to your rabbit if you handle it improperly, or if you try too hard to restrain it when it really wants to be released, so please learn how.

Because rabbits are prey animals, they feel much more secure when their feet are on the ground. Some rabbits may like to be held, but most prefer to sit next to you when you are giving them attention. Also because they are prey animals, they instinctively run from anything that scares them, which can include sudden movements. Sometimes something as simple as moving more slowly around your bunny will help him trust you more.

A lot of times, with a timid bunny, the best way to work on trust is to lay on the floor so you're at the same level, and allow the bunny to approach you. You are much less threatening when you are laying down.

Please note: if your bunny doesn't get a lot of exercise, his muscles will atrophy and his bones will become weaker - this can lead to life-threatening injuries from even the slightest mishandling. Please make sure you allow your bunny plenty of exercise time!! If you keep your bunny caged all day long, not only will it threaten the integrity of his skeletal structure, it will also lead to other problems such as the build-up of calcium in internal organs and the weakening of the immune system. It is imperative that you allow your bunny several hours every day to exercise and do what is natural - run around, jump, hop up and down, and many other entertaining displays of freedom and pleasure. This will lead the way to a happy relationship between you and your rabbit master (get used to the idea - rabbits will rule, even over dogs and cats - humans are just some strange furless rabbit that walks on only two feet, and they will treat you as such - as soon as you embrace this idea, you will be able to truly appreciate the wonderful nature of your bunny!)

Some things to remember when handling your bunny:

• Never lift a rabbit by its ears
• Never lift a rabbit by the scruff of the neck
• Never hold a rabbit by its limbs
• Never hold a rabbit by its tail
• Never drop a rabbit - if it is struggling and you can't hold it properly, get down and let it go safely
• Always properly support the rabbit's hindquarters
• Hold a rabbit close to your body, not away from you
• Be ready for the rabbit to struggle and kick, and be ready to put it down if necessary
• Never try to restrain a struggling rabbit - it can very easily injure itself - maneuver yourself back to the floor to let him go
• Sometimes covering the eyes and gently stroking a rabbit will calm it down and put it into a semi-hypnotic state, making it easier to handle
• Wrapping a rabbit in a towel or blanket is a good way to restrain it and avoid getting scratched (the so-called "bunny burrito")
• If you don't allow your bunny enough exercise time, his muscles will atrophy and his bones will become weak and brittle, making him much more prone to fractures.
• ALWAYS BE GENTLE!!
• NEVER HIT YOUR RABBIT OR HANDLE IT ROUGHLY!!
• NEVER YELL AT YOUR RABBIT!!
• NEVER PUNISH YOUR RABBIT!!