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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 Bunny Bites

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    • Yellowdogfish
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         My bunny frequently licks me as if he were grooming me.  I think it is his way of demonstrating affection.  He will lick my hands, fingers, arms, face, sweater, any part of me.   He will start  licking slowly, then speed up and eventually it turns into nipping.    Sometimes he will draw blood — ouch!    I am certain, it is not aggressive behavior, he is a lovable bunny.   He is also neutered and started doing this soon after joining the family and has continued for the past 8+ years.  FYI — I am the only one he licks or nips.  Everyone else in the family is immune from his licks/nips.   A few years back, I owned a short beard and he would LOVE to groom my beard, but his grooming was excruciating, because he would actually pull the beard — OUCH!!!!!   Everytime, I put him close to my face, he would wrestle his way towards my beard.  Now, my beard is very short — too short for him to get a grasp with his teeth.

        When he starts to nip, my responce is to pull him away and usually, that will end his nipping for about 5 minutes.    It is definitely not aggressive behavior, but it may sound like it is?  it’s not so bad in the winter months, becuase I just put on a thick sweatshirt.  FYI – nearly all of my sweatshirts have scattered 1/4 inch size wholes from where the bunny has nipped. 

        Has anyone else experienced this? 


      • Bam
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          Sort of. My bunny Yohio nips me occasionally. Then he sticks his head out to get pet, so it’s not aggressive. It’s about attention, perhaps. Hey, I’ve groomed you, now you groom me. Or sth. He’s gotten much better though since I got another laptop that I use in bed – Yohio is my bedroom bunny. I nowspend more time with him. I think he likes that.

          The scattered holes in clothes are very familiar to me.


        • Sarita
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            My rabbit Bobby is a nipper too – he’s a Netherland Dwarf – about 1.5 to 2 pounds. He’s very sweet but he can nip sometimes – I think he’s easily annoyed with me which is why he does it. He is also free roam as well. I also don’t think this behavior is aggression…not entirely sure what it means but don’t think it’s aggression – just a form of expression…

            I also had another rabbit who would bite – he was bigger and came to me as a stray – I was never able to break him of this habit and just accepted that he would be this way – I think it was fear aggression. He was a free roamer and was much happier this way too – didn’t stop the bites and nips but helped calm him down some.

            I know your rabbit is about 8 years old and I guess this is a now learned behavior that you would have a very difficult time correcting if you wanted too.


          • LBJ10
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              Wooly will do that “chewing” thing when they find an itch or a knot when grooming… on my arm. He will be licking and then he will start nipping with his front teeth as if there was an imaginary itch for him to scratch. All I do is go “ow” in a high pitched voice and he will stop and look at me. Then he will start licking again. I don’t think it is meant to be aggressive. I think that sometimes grooming just feels good to them and not so good for us.


            • LolaBuns
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                Lola nips/bites too. Most of the time its when I’m petting her or when i stop. Usually on my arm or leg. I don’t think hers is aggression either, pretty sure hers is attention. She also follows me around the room and nips my ankles. She likes to chew on my pajama pants too so sometimes she will get me hard. The high pitched no doesn’t have any effect. She very rarely licks me though unless my fingers taste like banana and then watch out because the licking quickly turns into your fingers are food.


              • Yellowdogfish
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                  I don’t at all find the licking or nipping annoying.  That’s just what makes Guiseppe so cool.    I am glad to know, that this behavior is not that strange.   I am amazed at how perfectly round he can chew holes into fabric! 


                • Sarita
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                    He does sound like he’s fun and full of spunk :~) Love the name Guiseppe too.


                  • DottieNLiz
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                      My Dottie also seems to communicate alot with nibbling/biting. She’s not so much a fan of pets, but will jump in my lap for a craisin treat (or an attempt to beg a nibble of really anything im eating) and once i give her her treat and put my hand down she will give it a nibble, and if i dont respond she gives it a harder bite and will stare at me. She also gave me alot of curiosity nibbles when I first got her, just loke everything else I own got curiosity nibbles. Unexpected toe nibbling is quite unpleasent! Lol


                    • LBJ10
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                        My buns never nibbled on my toes. My chinchillas, however, did and my boy tried to pull on my toe nail one time! Ouchie!


                      • DottieNLiz
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                          LBJ ouch! Having chinchillas must be interesting. I always feel uncomfortable around them, same with birds. Lol weird, I know


                        • LBJ10
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                            They are gone now, passed away from old age. That’s why we got the rabbits, my husband missed having the chinchillas. They were fun little critters with lots of personality. But yeah, having my toe nail pulled on didn’t feel good. LOL

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                        Forum BEHAVIOR Bunny Bites