Today, it is common to see people who have a rabbit as a pet. These cute animals are a very good option as pets, since they are affectionate, intelligent and through proper education you can even take them for a walk. This idea may seem crazy to you, but it is still an advantage for those owners who want to offer quality time outside the home, always looking for a place without threats that endanger your little friend.
If you're thinking of taking your furry friend out for a walk, you've probably wondered which is the best rabbit harness. For this reason, in this article on our site we explain the different types and characteristics to take into account.
Advantages of the rabbit harness
The harness consists of an accessory made up of intertwined ropes or a vest that is placed around the rabbit's thoracic area, behind the head, holding it in place by means of a leash and preventing it from escape, as rabbits are sensitive and skittish animals by nature. Therefore, the main function of this element is that your rabbit is safe, preventing accidents and giving it the possibility of going outside. Also, unlike a collar, the harness, apart from being more difficult to remove, prevents physical damage to your rabbit, such as choking or neck injuries, if, for example, you make a sudden movement.
Without a doubt, teaching your rabbit to walk is a good idea, as it gives it the opportunity to leave the house, explore different environmentsto stimulate him mentally and, furthermore, exercise The harness is the best way to do this, as it adapts to your furry's body, providing comfort. For all these reasons, if you want to provide the best care for your rabbit, teaching it to walk with a harness is more than recommended.
Finally, even if you don't plan to take your furry for a walk, it's a good idea to put a harness on him to go to the vet, as this way you'll make sure you're holding him securely and prevent him from running away if he happens to the case.
Types of harness for rabbits
There is a wide variety of harnesses for rabbits on the market with characteristics of all kinds, sizes, designs, colors, etc. However, they all serve the same function of keeping the rabbit safe. You will be interested to know that there are even harnesses designed for agility (yes, rabbit agility exists!). In any case, we mainly identify the following types of harness for rabbits:
Interlocking Harness
This type of harness is made up of ropes, which can be made of fabric, nylon, leather… Within this group we usually differentiate various forms depending on where they have the closure and how it holds your body:
- Step-in: this type of harness is put on by inserting your rabbit's front legs into it and closing it with the only buckle that has, which is located in the upper part of the body. This type of harness does not press directly on the neck, but on the chest, even so, it is not entirely safe because it can be removed by pulling out the legs.
- H-Shaped: As the name suggests, this harness is H-shaped when open. In addition, it has two side closures, one at the neck and another around the rib cage.
- Shoulder Harness: These harnesses are more unusual in stores, as they are generally used for rabbit agility. These cords encircle the chest and abdomen, relieving the rabbit of pressure on the neck that it would experience with the H-type harness.
Vest-type fabric harness for rabbits
This type of harness is usually made of cloth or mesh and envelops the rabbit's body completely, keeping it securely fastened. This usually also occurs in the different forms discussed above. It usually closes with a zipper, buttons or Velcro. And, in case the closure is velcro, you have to make sure that it stays clean and intact so that it can fulfill its function properly.
What is the best harness for my rabbit?
Choosing the most suitable rabbit harness will be especially important once you have decided to take your rabbit for a walk, because thanks to it your little friend will be safe and you can be calm in any unforeseen situation. The features you should look out for are:
Security
Rabbits are skittish and elusive animals, for this reason it is essential that you make sure you purchase a harness that cannot be removed. The purpose of this fact is none other than to prevent your rabbit from fleeing in case of feeling threatened by danger, since if you do not react in time you could lose your furry friend.
Comfort
As we have seen throughout the article, your rabbit receiving pressure on its neck is completely harmful. For this reason, for nothing in the world should we take him out for a walk with a collar, nor make him wear a harness that does not distribute the force well throughout the body.
In addition, the materials from which it is made, as well as the decorative elements it may have, must be harmless to your animal and thick enough so that they do not rub or dig into its small body. Needless to say, for your rabbit to be comfortable, the harness must be adjustable (which, as a general rule, happens in all harnesses) so that you can put it on without pinch or be too loose. In this sense, we recommend that you adjust it to a finger width between your body and the harness.
Leash Hook
This is also a detail that you should pay attention to, as it is common for each rabbit harness to have a different point to attach the leash. It is best to connect the leash to the back of the rabbit's body, thus distributing the force across the abdomen. In other words, avoid those harnesses that hook in front of the rabbit, as they hinder its mobility. It is also advisable to avoid those that have the hook directly on the neck.
