How to Choose the Right Harness and Leash for Your Rabbit

Some rabbits can be trained to wear a body harness and leash when you take them outside your home and the safety of their play area. My rabbits like to take me for a hop whenever they wear their body harnesses because they know they can race about outside and I will remain nearby to pick them up, if anything threatens or scares them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Select a light body harness that contains a buckled band that goes around your rabbit's neck and a buckled band that goes around your rabbit's chest/torso. Select a matching light leash.
2. Make sure the neck and body bands are connected to each other by a band or strap that goes from neck to chest over your rabbit's chest and by another that goes from neck to chest over your rabbit's back. This type of harness provides a bit of additional support for your rabbit. The metal hook for the leash should be attached to the body strap.
3. Hold your rabbit firmly, but gently, on the floor and kneel beside him. Ask another family member to hold your rabbit this way, if you feel uncertain about doing this by yourself.
4. Speak gently and soothingly to your rabbit as you slowly ease the harness over his back and buckle the neck band.
5. Continue to soothe your rabbit as you ease the body band over his midsection and buckle it. Stop and try again the next day, if your rabbit resists strenuously, so you don't stress him overmuch.
6. Attach the leash to the leash hook located on the body band of the harness.
7. Gently pet and praise your rabbit, then let him go. He'll probably dash about trying to remove the harness.
8. Clap your hands firmly and loudly say, 'No-no-no-no-no!' if your rabbit tries to chew through the harness or leash straps. Many rabbits destroy one or two harnesses before they get used to them.
9. Pet and praise your rabbit when he stops chewing. If he refuses to stop chewing, pet him anyway or give him a treat to distract him from his mission of destruction.
10. Get your rabbit accustomed to the body harness and leash by putting it on him for a few minutes each day, until he no longer tries to chew through the straps of the harness.

Tips & Warnings

• Teach your rabbit a keyword or phrase that raises his comfort level, such as, 'It's okay. It's okay, Smokey.' Use your rabbit's name. Or 'Safe. Safe, Smokey.' Using this keyword or phrase may help calm your rabbit if he grows anxious when outside on his harness.
• Never yank or pull your rabbit while he's wearing the harness and leash. Rabbit's bones are delicate and break easily. Always gently coax your rabbit and remember that he's taking you for a hop. You're not taking him for a walk. So follow his lead, and only change his course, if he's heading for danger.
• Never take your rabbit outdoors in warm weather or stormy weather or weather that is too cold.
• Never take your rabbit outdoors where he may be threatened by other animals, both wild or domestic.
• Never leave your rabbit alone outdoors. Rabbits are prey animals and can be killed in mere seconds by larger animals.