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Bringing Bunny Outside on Occasion?
The Great Outdoors: Since this site is dedicated to housing rabbits indoors, I won’t go into the potential dangers of housing outdoors. That information can be found readily enough online. However, some people do like to consider taking their indoor rabbit outdoors on occasion. This is fine to do, but certain precautions should be taken.
How NOT to take your bunny outside.Often a new bunny owner will come across the idea of harnessing a rabbit and become quite taken with the idea. They think they will be able to take their rabbit on daily outdoor walks just like a dog and their bunny will get plenty of exercise that way.
Both of these types of harness risk injury to your rabbit.
Dogs get exercise when taken for a walk. Rabbits do not.
While the idea of "walking" a rabbit sounds adorable, it isn't what it seems. A rabbit won't get its exercise by "going on a walk," because they typically will just sit on the grass and graze. Then they’ll take a hop or two and graze some more. So it is actually quite boring for the one holding the leash. It is a task of standing, not walking.
The grazing of grass is another issue because suddenly eating a bunch of grass is considered a diet change for a rabbit and can cause intestinal upset . Also, one must verify that the grass is pesticide-free, weed-killer free, and fertilizer-free. That means no public parks or neighbors' lawns. There is also the potential for bunny to pick up parasites from the grass as well. Fleas, ticks, mites are not friendly to rabbits!
Yet another problem is that rabbits do NOT like new environments. New places are frightening to rabbits. Rabbits also spook easily. So the sudden appearance of a dog, cat, person, or even the passing shadow of a bird overhead can cause a panic reaction in a rabbit. This panic could very well result in a bolt reaction where bunny suddenly dashes off. If this rabbit is being held on a leash, that sudden bolt can cause serious injury to bunny's back or neck regardless of the type of harness used.
The potential for a bunny to bolt suddenly may be the most-pressing reason for avoiding harnessing a rabbit.  This "H-style" harness is recommended.
Allow me to divert here and explain that agility jumping is a growing sport within the rabbit owning community. If this is something you are seriously interested in, then I’d encourage you to find and join an agility club. These people do harness their rabbits and know how to do so safely. They also know how to train your rabbit to be receptive to a harness. Of the many types of harnesses available, there are only one or two that are actually considered ‘safe.’ But even these are only safe if they are fitted properly. A novice will not know how to fit one properly. Let an expert be your guide if agility is your interest.
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How TO take your bunny outside.If fresh air and sunshine is what you are wanting for your rabbit, the better and safer option is to use a permanent run or a temporary exercise pen. I find exercise pens most convenient. In such an enclosure, bunny can actually move about without being impeded by a leash or harness. If you set up a pen or run in the grass, be sure the grass is rabbit-safe and don’t let bunny eat too much at once. I prefer to set up on hardscape. This avoids the potential dangers in grass and, as a bonus, can help file down their nails.
When using a pen outside always, always remain beside the pen. It takes seconds for a bird of prey to swoop down and carry a rabbit away. Never step away from the pen -- not for a moment.
The best exercise for a rabbit is when bunny runs and dashes and binkies. This can’t really be done while on a leash or harness. It doesn’t happen much in an exercise pen either. When they are outside – even in a pen or run - they tend to do more exploring than exercising. They get the bulk of their exercise inside the house where they feel safest and so enjoy doing their dashes and binkies.
By using the same location or space for each outdoor excursion, bunny becomes familiar with it and will quickly associate it with their exploration time. 
Who wouldn’t want to show off their adorable bunny(s)?
If you desire to show off your rabbits by taking them out in public, that's best done once your bunny has established a solid bond with you and trusts you. Some bunnies are more receptive to being out than others. But for taking them out to show them off, I would suggest using a bunny stroller instead. This way they are safely confined in the carrier portion and cannot dash away or hurt themselves. Pet strollers are a great option. Just keep a close eye on your bunny’s body language. Keep an eye out for stress and be sure he doesn’t chew through his carrier (especially the cloth ones). Remember, even in the carrier, bunny should have hay and water available. |
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