...when we had to put some flea/tick/lice (preventative) treatment on him.

He's never been treated before - it's a wonder he's in such healthy condition to be honest.

He's only been with us a week and his previous experience of being handled was usually quite stressful (e.g. hands reaching into a small hutch and dragging him out & small children 'stroking' him!).

So - I didn't want to delay treating him so I thought I'd try to minimise potential stress by using a spot treatment applied to the back of the neck, as opposed to something you apply all over the fur. I also spent time talking to him and sitting next to the run first before applying this, rather than just launching in and grabbing him.

However, he got reacted badly to being held still for just a moment. He got anxious that he couldn't move away immediately and he cowered while his breathing sped up, and I felt quite upset about obviously causing him stress. I stroked him gently and made soothing noises throughout to try to calm him, and released him as soon as the treatment was safely applied. This was literally a period of about four or five seconds.

He's not reacted like that before, but to be honest it's the first time I've really handled him properly to do something like this (beyond very quick bum checks, that is!) as he's still settling in.

On the plus side, he was back to normal fairly immediately and scuffling around his run happily again afterwards, so maybe I'm overreacting. I did stay by the run after for a while, talking to him and giving him a bit of food by hand, and he seemed happy enough with me once the 'ordeal' was over!

Any tips?

I think its just a case of trying to keep up a little bit of handling every day, the best way to start is just stroking and hand feeding, the progress up to actually holding then picking up.
If you have somewhere you can sit on the floor and let him come to you then thats the best way to get them calm around you

*Heidi*

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Neither of mine are massive fans of being picked up and Lottie gets stressed, especially if my OH picks her up- she really hates men for some reason (she is a rescue bun so could be due to a past trauma) and breathes really fast and even somtimes starts squeaking

What I did to get Lottie used to being handled is when she's scoffing her fave food I sit and stroke them both or when i give them a treat I stroke their heads first before they get the treat. To pick up Lottie I gently lay my hand on her ears so they're flat on her back and she doesn't struggle then and lets me pick her up. I usually just sit her on my lap so she can get down whenever she likes but I find if I rest my hand on her ears she does stay calm.

Alan is a little monkey though, I have to hold him firmly otherwise he struggles and could hurt himself, he doesn't get stressed though just wants to get away. He'll have a little cuddle when he wants to but when he wants to be put back down he makes it known!

Hope that helps in some way

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Thanks both, that does help. I think I am probably being a little over-sensitive about it - it's still early days!

We're going to be moving Buddy from his hutch to a shed soon; that will obviously provide an ideal neutral environment so I won't worry too much until that happens. I think at the moment he probably feels very much that I'm on HIS terrirory!

Looking forward to seeing pics as you progress Helen

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