My bunny hates my dad

[Tiffany W.]

All the sudden my Bunny Lemon, started charging and bitting my dad.  My dad would drop something on the ground and my bunny would charge at him when he when to pick it up and bite him.  He’s a 13 month old Netherland Dwarf Male.  He hasn’t been fixed yet, I hoping to do that when I get my refund in.  Why is my bunny being mean to my dad?

[LoveChaCha]

Does your dad socialize with your rabbit at all or anything? I’ve heard of some animals not liking certain people, but in rabbits, it is just hiding from that person/thing.

I insist on getting your rabbit neutered when you get your refund Unspayed/unneutered rabbits are very very territorial, grumpy, mean, etc.

[Sarita]

He’s not being mean. This little rabbits just tend to be more defensive because they are small. My little netherland is not at all mean but he charges me. I think it’s insecurity and a defense mechanism not being mean or hateful.

[KytKattin]

Rabbits, like most animals, are not capable of hating anyone. So, unless your dad has intentionally ever antagonized him, it is likely your bun just needs to be fixed, ASAP. It is unfair for you to expect him to not be territorial when he has all those hormones going through his system, and I promise he is not intentionally being mean. He simply cannot control himself from wanting to protect what he views as his territory.

I agree with Sarita, my small bunny still charges me, though she doesn’t bite. There is a good chance your boy will continue to charge but hopefully not bite once he is neutered.

[Stickerbunny]

It might help him get more accustomed to your dad in the mean time to leave something with his smell on it with the bun, that way he won’t see him as much as an intruder since the smell is normally in the room. Bunnies who are not neutered can be more territorial and tell your dad if he does bite, to make a high pitched noise at him to let him know it hurt.

[RabbitPam]

As was said, neutering will help alot. The smell suggestion is really good, too, since I wondered if he smelled differently and cause the alarm.

But also, I realized that Samantha charges me when it’s treat time (she goes back in her house) and she just runs and grunts and charges and runs away and comes back. It’s like its her play routine when she knows what’s coming and is excited. He may be charging to play, too. Doesn’t hate your Dad at all.

(I’m still laughing because sometimes I just get this high speed bunny going smack into my leg because she charged.  They are just weird, and wired, sometimes.)

[Author]

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