Doing the Flip when showing 4-H rabbits?

[The_Dutchess]

My brother and I are in 4-H and we have been trying to master the flip, where you put your index and middle finger between the rabbits ear s and grip the head and hindquarters, and push the rabbit backwards so they are on their back. This makes it easier to examine the reproductive area, belly, legs, paws etc.

My SIlver Fox, Softfall, will not let me do it. He squirms and just flips back onto his back. What should I do?

 

[SatinsRule]

Be calm and persistent about it. The whole thing is obviously new to them, but as soon as they realize that you're not going to hurt them, they will come around to the whole process.

 

[WildWolf]

Wear gloves, with something covering your arms!! Scratches really hurt. Just try it every day, and eventually they'll come to accept it.

 

[SableSteel]

Act confident. Rabbits can sense if you are nervous, and that makes them nervous too.

 

[WildWolf]

Also, try using a towel at first. Rabbits usually are much much calmer with a towel wrapped around them, especially if some of it is covering their heads.

 

[ottersatin]

I never wear Gloves when handling mine or any other persons Rabbit.
I don't wrap them in a towel either, I handle them with confidence!
After all, I AM the ALPHA, the boss/ top rabbit of the herd.
With time your Rabbits will bow to your superiority!
Working with gloves will only convince the Rabbit that YOU are afraid of them,
and they WILL take advantage of that fact.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[The_Dutchess]

Thanks for all the advice! IMHO I tend to agree with ottersatin. I like to feel the rabbit, and I don't have to deal with mean, bitey rabbits because here they just get culled. Softfall is doing better now but I have discovered why I was having so much difficulty was because the rabbit was too large for me and I just couldn't handle him properly. So I am just using him in the normal show class in which all I have to do is pose him, and I will be using a huggable, sweet sr. Mini Lop buck named Bandit for Showmanship, where I will be doing the flip. Once again, thanks for all you replies.

-Dutchess