Pee and ears questions.

[a7736100]

I got a few months old Lionhead buck. The last 3 times I handled him by flipping him and craddling him like a baby he wizzed. He had been humping his cage mate so his penis was out. Do you think he pee because he wanted me to stop or because he enjoyed what I was doing? I stopped and put him back in the cage because I didn't want to get wet. He didn't aim his pee at me.

I like to craddle rabbits and gently pull or stroke their ears. It seems to relax them. Of course they have to be used to being craddled. Anyone else find ear stroking to calm rabbits?

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Not sure about the peeing...but as for comfort, mine seem to like having their ears mooshed. If they are REALLY scared, I stuff their faces into the crook of my elbow or my armpit, they calm right down. If one is wigging out in the cage, I moosh the ears or just briefly cover their eyes, they seem to chill out that way. Of course bribing with treats works well, too!

Boss and Nosey will actually shove their heads under my hand, so I think they really like their heads/ears rubbed. Though Boss HATES to have his ear "straightened" to read his tattoo! He needs LOTS of treats and cajoling to allow that, LOL.

 

[BunnyWabbit]

Rabbits as a general rule don't like being held as it's too much like being scooped up by a predator. The peeing while you do it makes me think he was scared so he might be a floor loving bunny. Holding a rabbit on it's back so it "falls asleep" is called "Trancing" and I've heard conflicting things about it. Some people think it relaxes a rabbit and others think it's a scary situation for a bunny to be in. I don't have a particular opinion on trancing but I don't do it.

My rabbits enjoy having their ears and head pet but they do not like being held.

 

[Mickey328]

I wouldn't read too much into the peeing...it could be any number of things and may really not mean much of anything at all.

I've noticed most animals don't like to be on their backs...it exposes their bellies which is a very vulnerable part of the anatomy. Perhaps try just sitting him on your lap only loosely holding him; that way he won't feel "trapped". As Kyle said though, you may just have one that doesn't like being held.

Ours aren't much for being held either...they'll tolerate it for a bit but then kick up a fuss. They do okay sitting on my lap though...I think they simply prefer to have their feet on something solid.