It’s common for pet dogs and cats to wear leashes and collars outdoors. Therefore, can rabbits wear collars too? It is not safe for rabbits to wear collars. The risks involved in doing so might even be fatal to a rabbit. So how can you take your rabbit for exercise outdoors safely without collars?
Read on as we explain why collars are harmful and the safe way to put your rabbit on a leash. We will answer these questions in this article:
- Are rabbits harnesses cruel?
- Can you walk a bunny on a leash?
- Can rabbits wear a harness all the time?
- Can rabbits wear dog harnesses?
Are Rabbits Harnesses Cruel?
Harnesses are more secure for rabbits than collars. A harness distributes weight evenly throughout a rabbit’s body. So, if you need to transfer or move a harnessed rabbit swiftly, it won’t be injured.
On the other hand, when rabbits wear collars, they are exposed to injuries. Firstly, rabbits can strangle or break their neck while making sudden movements. Secondly, while attempting to remove the collar, they can injure themselves. Finally, a collar can wear away the fur around their neck and hurt the sensitive skin there.
Harnesses are acceptable if you find the perfect one and ensure it fits your bunny properly. When putting on the harness, make sure it’s not too slack, which could cause your rabbit to escape. Also, if too tight, it can make your bunny uncomfortable, unable to move, and possibly hurt. Thus, two fingers should fit beneath the harness.
You will need to train your rabbit before it is ready to wear a harness. Training is necessary because wearing a harness is not natural to your rabbit. Though training requires time and patience, the bunny must enjoy wearing the harness.
Safe Harnesses for Rabbits
Safe harnesses for rabbits have safety features to protect your rabbit. There are different types of safety harnesses, and they include:
H-harness
One of the most popular harnesses among rabbit owners is the H-harness. They fit around your rabbit’s neck and waist, distributing pressure throughout their body rather than just on their neck as the collar does. The neck and the abdomen have buckles that may be tightened or loosened to the rabbit.
Vest harness
On your rabbit, this harness fits like a small vest. Many vest harnesses have Velcro at the neck and waist, while some include snaps or bum straps.
Shoulder Harness
The harness puts pressure on the rabbit’s shoulders rather than their neck. As a result, they fit over the shoulders and under the front legs. So while they’re more comfortable for the rabbit, they’re more challenging to come by.
Unsafe harnesses
If your rabbit panics and tries to flee with these harnesses on, they could suffer physical harm.
- Figure 8 Harnesses
- Rope Harnesses.
Can You Walk a Bunny on a Leash?
Your rabbit’s most important type of exercise is to have the freedom to run, leap, and play in a bunny-proofed environment. But, of course, bunnies would much rather be free than going on a walk. Still, you can train your rabbit to walk on a leash with you.
Always use a harness if you intend to walk your rabbit on a leash. But first, you’ll need to start with a suitable harness if you want to train your rabbit to walk on a leash. As earlier indicated, It’s best to use an H-style harness.
When you’re outside in a backyard or park that isn’t fenced off, a leash helps you keep your rabbit from running away. It allows your rabbit to get some fresh air. When your rabbit is on a leash, though, it may not go where you want it to go. To protect your rabbit from having a panic attack, you should follow it everywhere it wants to go. It is best not to restrain our bunny with a leash unless necessary. So, run with your rabbit and allow it to sit in a corner for a while when necessary.
How to Get a Rabbit to Walk on a Leash
You might discover a rabbit group that conducts leash-training sessions in your locale. If not, you may choose to train your rabbit by yourself. Here’s how:
1. Gain your rabbit’s trust
When training any animal, the first step is to gain their trust. When working with rabbits, this is especially true. They are clever and friendly. Therefore, spend time with your rabbit so that it can bond with you.
Never force your rabbit to perform something they dislike or are afraid of. Using force will harm your relationship and make future training more challenging.
2. Get the rabbit familiar with the harness and leash
Allow the rabbit to interact with the harness and leash for a while to become comfortable with them.
Begin by draping the harness over its back. Reward the rabbit with treats when it leaves the harness there, but don’t force them to keep it. Next, put the harness on the rabbit slowly, but don’t buckle it or attach the leash yet. Allow them to wander around with it on for a few minutes at a time. Then, put it on and off several times a day.
If your rabbit doesn’t mind the harness being on them for a few minutes at a time, then, let them wear it while it’s buckled up. If not, back off and only let them wear it once a day.
Unbuckle or remove the harness entirely if they panic or display fear. Allow your bunny to wear it for five minutes or so if they are comfortable.
Repeat this procedure multiple times a day until the rabbit can move around and play freely without noticing the harness. After that, connect the leash to the harness.
3. Start your walks indoors
To get your rabbit to feel the leash, hold it tightly and gently tug on it. However, pulling too hard may cause the rabbit to dislike the collar and leash altogether.
Next, allow the bunny to guide you around the house. Follow after it and grip the leash as it moves. Begin to introduce redirection using the leash as it becomes accustomed to walking with them.
Keep in mind that the rabbit will lead most of the time if you succeed with leash training. Therefore, you want them to respond to redirection as much as possible to help them avoid tangles in the leash or to restrain them from prey.
Suppose you force your rabbit to perform anything while on a leash. In that case, they will be dissatisfied with the activity, and you will have to restart the training process.
4. Look for an outdoor place where your rabbit can feel safe
Allow your rabbit to walk on a leash for at least a week indoors before introducing them to an outside location.
If your rabbit has never been outside before, this is very crucial. Before you and your bunny walk out, choose a location where you believe your rabbit will feel safe.
An open grassy area with little traffic would be okay. However, if you have a yard, it’s better to start there. After that, you can start going on short outings together.
5. Go for short walks outdoors
Walk outdoors with your rabbit for a few minutes each day in the same place. Because this is so new to them, you may have difficulty getting them to move around. Use treats to persuade them to walk and hop, but don’t drag them around on the leash.
Treats can help them see walking on a leash as a fun activity. Only use the leash to reroute them when necessary.
Pick up your rabbit and calm it down to the best of your ability if they start acting scared or if there is danger. You don’t want them to link the activity with danger or predators.
6. Go for longer walks
At this point, your rabbit is ready for lengthier walks of about 10-20 minutes at a time once they appear comfortable walking around in the outside area you’ve chosen. Long walks, like everything else, should be done gradually.
Also, keep in mind that bunnies aren’t dogs. They’ll probably only hop a couple of steps at a time. Be patient with them, and they’ll start to appreciate the long walks and the fresh air
Can Rabbits Wear a Harness all the Time?
Harnesses are not safe for rabbits to wear all of the time. They should only wear it for walks or other outdoor activities such as agility training. In addition, any time a rabbit wears a harness, a human must be present to supervise. Thus, don’t leave her alone in the yard. Too many things could go wrong in that situation: the rabbit could become tangled in the leash, chew through it, be taken by a predator, and so on. Even in the house, a rabbit should not wear a harness constantly.
Can Rabbits Wear Dog Harnesses?
If you think your rabbit is ready to walk on a leash, make sure you have a suitable harness. Allowing your bunny to wear a dog harness is not a good idea. Same with any harness that isn’t rabbit-specific. When selecting harnesses and leashes, it’s crucial to consider your pet’s comfort and safety. If you can test a product with your rabbit, that’s even better; after all, there’s no better way to determine if a harness will work than to try it on.
Conclusions
Finally, it is not safe when rabbits wear collars. Instead, consider rabbit harnesses and leashes if you want to take your bunny for a stroll, and make sure they adapt to wearing them before you leave. Notwithstanding, it’s cruel to force your bunny to wear a harness and leash when it’s scared of doing so. Alternatively, you may provide a bunny-proof area if possible.