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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 My bunny hates me

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    • Lindie Naude
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        Hi, I am desperately looking for some help. I have a female mini lop, Chino, and she is a year a month old now and neutered. When I first got her she did have a tendancy to bite, but not so often and not without reason. I could also understand why she would give me a bit, like if she was scared or I was holding her too long, and she would rarely bite me very hard. My family and I went on a ten day holiday and I got a friend to house sit so she could take Chino out and play with her and feed her. I came back, and it seemed fine for the first few days, but for the last week she has been distant, and agressive towards me. She will flee from me when I come towards her cage, even if I dont come to pick her up to to fill her food, and will growl and try to bite me as she runs away when I do try to take her out. I let her run around, but she bites me whenever I pick her up and if I am too close to her for too long when she is running around. And these bites aren’t just little nibbles or pinches, she had bruised me and drawn blood. I struggle with depression and axiety and I got Chino as a way to take my mind of things and just cuddle, but it is quite distressing to me that she can’t seem to stand my pressence and makes me feel like an inadequate carer for her. My mother has suggested looking for a new home for her but it fills me with so much saddness to have to give up on her, but I dont want to keep being her chew toy. I dont know what to do or what I’m doing that’s making her treat me this way but it is very hard to handle as I’m going through a tough time and usually seek out Chino for comfort. If anyone has some advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.


      • Paradigm
        Participant
        479 posts Send Private Message

          A few questions which might help us help you:

          How long have you had your bunny?

          How long have you been back from your holiday?

          How much free running time does your bunny have and how big is his cage? Under exercised buns can be aggressive.

          We took our bun away with us for Christmas and he sulked for days when we got back.

          He also varies from day to day with how much he wants company – some days he’s all over us and some days he doesn’t want anything to do with us!

          I also find that he has favourite times of day too – he loves cuddles in the morning and late evening but likes to be left alone in the afternoon (as per the natural sleep schedule for rabbits).

          Unfortunately, often bunnies don’t take well to being cuddled and picked up.

          But there are some things you can do to help him get used to you, but remember this may take time. Try not to despair if you don’t get immediate results.

          Rabbits can be territorial about their cages – try changing the food while she is outside the cage.

          My bun, Roger, took some warming up to with food and only eats from the hand when he’s relaxed.

          I started out bringing his hay to where I was putting it and leaving the bag where he could get to the hay – this helped associate the sound of the bag with “noms are coming”.

          Similarly, I rattle his bowl when I’m coming. He now runs for the bowl.

          I then moved onto rattling food in my hand for him to do tricks and putting it on the floor when he came or stood up.

          Laying on the floor until he came to sniff worked and gradually we moved up to stroking his ears, then his body.

          Then my wife had enough of this and started picking him up and putting him on our bed (NOTE: this can encourage unwanted behaviours such as urinating – proceed at your own risk).

          He then got used to being around us and coming for strokes and now hops up to harass us for food and cuddles.

          My wife also took to picking him up for strokes and putting him on her lap or hugging him. He wasn’t keen on it at first but does love affection and now likes this too.

          He wasn’t ever a biter. You could invest in some gloves while you practice with your bun.

          Oh, and we put most of his good into puzzles or treat balls outside of his cage. If he does come for food he’s usually distracted by taking it from the other pots first.


        • Flopsie
          Participant
          388 posts Send Private Message

            You bunny doesn’t hate you, the word hate is a human construct, there is no way to measure hate nor is that a concrete definition of what it means.

            However, you bunny is exhibiting aggressive behaviors towards you. The reason is unknown, but if I had to guess, it seems like it has to do with escape either from your presence or from being picked up. The bite is the behavior and it is her form of communication. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t like you, it might just be her (socially inappropriate) way of communicating. Also, bunnies can hold a grudge and finally, we don’t know what happened during your 10 day vacation (maybe nothing). But the point is, it is learned behavior.

            Ask to see if anything happened. It’s possible that she might not have had a pleasant experience and bit the caretaker and has learned that this is an effective means to get what she wants. I would also look into avoid holding her, give them space. Bunnies hold grudges and can be fickle at times. Build that trust again and I think things will turn around. Also, in addition to what Paradigm has said above.


          • Mykl
            Participant
            68 posts Send Private Message

              If there’s a food she particularly likes (a green herb) then try giving her a tiny bit of that often so she associates you with a tasty (healthy) treat.

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          Forum BEHAVIOR My bunny hates me