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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR Complete behaviour change, need help or he might need to be put up for adoption..?

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    • BaileyBunny
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         The first few months that we had him he was a good bun bun. We’ve moved, and now there’s a small dog in the house. He’s really nice to my rabbit, just sniffing him and following him nicely around, sometimes “protects” him from me lol. The rabbit (in the last month, since we moved) has been front paw swatting at my dog, jumping at him aggressively and making trill souds and…growl sounds? When I go to give him his morning salad and his daily bowl of pellets he swats and jumps at me, scratching and always flips his dishes. I got him heavier dishes, and now he digs all the food out of them because he can’t flip them. He also kicks the litter ot of his box, which is new. IF I let him out (which is rarely now because he’s way too agressive..) I’ll be sittign on the floor, and he’ll come up and scratch my leg. Everytime he tries to be agressive with me i boop him on the nose, or place both hands over gently holding him down, and he makes a trill sound, and growls when i pick him up and scratches. He used to be nice, and social. Cuddly bunny especially. Always sat between my boyfriend or I’s feet when we played video games. Now he’s a nightmare, and i can’t think of anyting to do. If this behaviour persists, I’m gonna have to give him to a sanctuary or somewhere. Which I really don’t want to do. :/ I want my nice bunny back.


      • NewBunnyOwner123
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          Is he neutered?


        • BaileyBunny
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             Not yet… could this be why?


          • NewBunnyOwner123
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              Most definitely! How old is he now?


            • Sarita
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                It could be not being neutered and the dog – it sounds alot like fear aggression – what YOU perceive as being nice is not what your rabbit perceives as “being nice”. Rabbits are prey animals and dogs are predators. It is always best to keep your dog away from your rabbit.


              • NewBunnyOwner123
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                  Also, I would NOT allow your dog to become possessive of your rabbit. That’s not a good thing. And the rabbit showing aggression towards the dog could be out of fear as well. Did they have a proper introduction? Did the aggression start shortly after him and the dog started interacting? He might be fearful towards the dog and defending himself. Try not to allow your dog to follow your rabbit around either. When introducing my dogs to the buns I basically made the dogs just lay down and IGNORE my rabbits. And the rabbits eventually approached my dogs. And I would NEVER allow one of the dogs to become possessive of the rabbits. (that’s what your dog is doing by “protecting” your rabbit from you) That’s possession, and it’s not a good thing. Your dog needs to know that that rabbit is YOURS not HIS and what you say goes when it comes to the bun. For the safety of your bun, put your dog in his proper place so he will respect you a bit more.

                  I now have it where my dogs coexist perfectly with my rabbits and really any other small critter that walks through my door. The buns can run and binky and even hop all over them and the dogs just eh… don’t really care.


                • BaileyBunny
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                     It was a pretty crude introduction. Bunny was brought here in a box, and the dog was investigating all the way. But as much as my dogs possesion – If i tell him “Back!” he backs up to the door frame and sits until i tell him its okay for him to come inside. He listens, and his 
                    protect is basically… I walk up to get the rabbit, he gets in the way, stealing my attention. Like a doggy “theres no rabbit here lol npe nope not behind me” But I’ll separate him for now. Then why is he aggressive toward me??


                  • NewBunnyOwner123
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                      It could be hormones or he may just smell the dog on you. It could also be a mixture of both. First things first, get him neutered. That should help with the aggression. Sally used to lunge at me when I reach towards her food bowls. and Box and growl when I was sweeping in the kitchen around her cage…it’s been 4 weeks post spay and all of that has ceased completely.


                    • BaileyBunny
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                         Thanks! I’ll get that done ASAP.


                      • jerseygirl
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                          Ditto NBO & Sarita’s advice.

                          Then why is he aggressive toward me??

                          My guess is its fear-based aggression. He would no longer be feeling secure in his environment. Its his only defense. Rabbits will act out against even their bonded mates when there is fear or pain.


                        • Caroline22
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                            Yeah, my rabbit HATES if I smell like dog. She’ll come up to smell me, and then start thumping.


                          • Bam
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                              I’m also guessing fear of the dog. I don’t think your dog is protective of the rabbit, I think your dog wants your full attention. We’d call it jeallosy in a human, but in an animal it’s rather about protecting assets. You are your dog’s best asset.

                              My dog gets like that when my mother comes to visit, both dog and bunny love their grandma and compete for her attention. I have made strict rules for the dog though, if she can’t behave around the bunny I send her out of the room. She’s a very good dog and I’ve never let her bother Bam, but just her presence could’ve been why it took Bam a whole year to become really comfortable here.

                              Then Bam started bothering the dog, but that’s another story. That stopped when Bam was neutered. I recommend you neuter your bun.


                            • Deleted User
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                                I’d like to add that it really sounds to me as though your dog is being possessive towards YOU Not towards your rabbit. My guess is that if you give into him and pay him attention when he steps between you and the rabbit that probably adds to the rabbit’s feelings of insecurity, … but while I’m not very knowledgeable about rabbits I’ve had a lot of dogs and know from personal experience they aren’t too keen on sharing their favourite person. I’d suggest making much of your dog before you go into see the rabbit, and then telling him to stay by the door and making it clear to the rabbit that its just the two of you, … that should help make it clear to the dog too that you won’t give into his attention getting behaviour. I would never be able to pick up or cuddle either cat, or handle my rabbits if my Shepherd had his way, he’s the gentlest animal and wouldn’t ever hurt any of them, but he will be the first to push his big head in between me and anyone furry if I’d let him.

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                            Forum BEHAVIOR Complete behaviour change, need help or he might need to be put up for adoption..?