How to hold a rabbit: what a survey of 2,644 responses says
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
Grabbing a rabbit by the scruff before putting it in a carrier is still a reflex for some owners, even though other methods exist. A study by Oxley, Ellis, McBride and McCormick, published in 2018 in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, surveyed 2,644 owners and professionals in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland on the handling methods they use and how they rate them (see the study). Our guides for transporting a rabbit safely are gathered in the rabbit travel and safety section.
Contents · 4 sections
The most-used method is no accident
Of the five handling methods documented in guidance aimed at owners and professionals, supporting the rabbit's body against the handler's chest comes out well ahead of the rest as the most commonly reported practice. Respondents also rate it as the most comfortable and welfare-friendly, making it both the most widespread method and the best-regarded one in this survey.
Scruffing stays a minority practice, and the most criticised one
By contrast, scruffing combined with hindquarter support — often called "scruffing with rear support" — comes out as the least-used method among respondents. It is also the one seen as most likely to cause pain and distress, which explains why it stays confined to specific settings, such as certain veterinary or laboratory procedures, rather than everyday use.
What this means before picking up your rabbit
Before every trip to the vet or every time a rabbit goes into a carrier, giving full body support — one hand under the hindquarters, the other along the back, the rabbit held close to the body — limits both the stress felt and the risk of injury if it startles. Our guide to preparing for a vet visit covers what to do before leaving, and our article on securing the carrier in the car rounds out these tips for the journey itself.
- 2,644 respondents in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, owners and professionals alike.
- Support against the chest: the most-used method, and the one rated most comfortable.
- Scruffing with hindquarter support: the least-used method, and the one seen as most likely to cause pain and distress.
The choice of handling method is far from a minor detail: it directly shapes how stressed a rabbit becomes at every handling moment, well before the carrier even comes into play.
Frequently asked questions
Should scruffing be avoided entirely?
The study advises against it for everyday use at home; it stays reserved for specific situations overseen by a professional, never for routine handling.
How should you hold a rabbit that's struggling?
Bringing it in close against your chest while supporting the hindquarters limits the points it can push off from, reducing the risk of a fall or a back injury.
Does this method work for heavier rabbits too?
Yes, the principle of full body support holds regardless of size — just adjust the grip to the animal's build.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Bubble-window carrier backpack for dwarf rabbit, guinea pig or ferret (€47.90) · the whole shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Rabbits universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
