how I brush my bunnehs

[owlsfriend]

1)I groom on my lap, first use a fine wire brush with soft bristles on the back and "high" sides, with the rabbit laying sideways across my legs
2)I ease the back legs down the side of my thigh so I can get to the "seat area" of the back--the part they actually sit on.
3) I put the back paws on my lap and front paws on my chest, then brush the "low" sides. Bun tends to "cuddle" under my chin a bit...my favorite part.
4) I firmly hold the rabbit to my chest and lean forward, while relaxing my thighs enough that the rabbit slides down and can be held firmly between my legs while I groom the tummy. (The secret is firm but not tight--rabbits want to feel secure while in a vulnerable position).
5) I stroke the bun until relaxed and sort of tranced before brushing the under-carriage. 6) This is a good time to brush the chest and under chin.
7) If they are relaxed enough (head back) the lower teeth should show and you can gently part the upper lip to check the uppers. Sometimes they break a tooth chewing on the wrong thing...
8)Time to trim nails--if you can find them in the foot-fur.
9) Set the rabbit upright in my lap and stroke a while before setting down with bum facing away, face toward my feet. This is so they don't get in the habit of running away when you set them down.

 

[Miss M]

Nice description! :razz:

brushing the under-carriage

:lol:

 

[SarahMelisse]

Nice description! :razz:

brushing the under-carriage

:lol:

Thats what I call it too! :lol:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

brushing the under-carriage.

:hmm: Are we a dog person? :dogkiss:

Nice method- it sounds very enjoyable for both you and the bunnies.

Setting them down facing your feet meshes with my method of always returning a rabbit to it's habitat rear end first for the same reason. You don't want them "leaping to freedom"- it prevents a lot of scratches doing it that way.

 

[owlsfriend]

Maybe I got the set-down tip from rabbit talk, I know I picked it up on-line somewhere. It really works. Since they are going into the cage rear first, that would be the "unknown" and your arms would still represent safety. Hadn't thought of the scratching aspect....(silly girl).

I do find combing out my fluff mutts to be very relaxing, but I also enjoyed writing it out, step by step. I actually bought a rather expensive shop vac with reverse to blow buns with, but haven't tried it. Don't want the noise, really, or the stress on the rabbi (plural of rabbit).

 

[AnnClaire]

Owl,

I use my shop vac (outside, of course) on my English Angoras and some like it, others tolerate it, but it just takes a time or two for them to get used to the sound and feeling.

In the winter I also use a regular blow dryer to blow warm air back into the coat before returning them to their cage and that they all seem to appreciate

And I call it the undercarriage too ... and the back end, I call it the "tailgate" LOL

I use my workmate work bench with a 3'x5' carpet laid over the top for my grooming table ... I can split the top so that there is a hammock in the center which the rabbits will settle into during grooming as long as it is facing INTO the wind LOL, and it folds up for a smaller storage footprint.