Bunny just attacked me; what’s wrong?

[Desic737]

Today I let Doodle out of his cage for about 30 minutes just before I had to leave for an appointment. Usually I can lure him back in with his favorite treats, but today that didn’t seem to be working. He did not want to go back into his cage. I picked him up carefully before he wriggled away, and then when I did again, he started scratching. I have about 12 cuts on my wrist, two on my cheek, and three on my chest.

He’s never been this aggressive before, and he’s never not wanted to go back into his cage. I’m shocked and sort of upset about his sudden behavior. He’s only three months, and I can’t neuter him just yet.

Does anyone have any advice on discipline? Is there any disease that can cause aggression? Did he just have a bad day?

Thanks.

[Dee]

My bunny Luke did the same thing. When I first got him, he was very docile while being handled- he would bring his back legs up and kind of make himself into a little ball. I only pick my bunnies up to do nail trims or if they are ill and need meds.

The last time I went to pick Lukie up, about 3 months after I adopted him- yikes!!! He started clawing and struggling for all he was worth! I also got all scratched up, and it was worse because I wasn’t expecting it. With my girl bunny, I know to wear heavy, highcut, longsleeved shirts.

But they really didn’t mean to hurt us. Probably, in both cases, they are less afraid of us, more comfortable, and therefore dare to put up a fight. Your bunny’s hormones might be kicking in, causing a little more aggression. So I wouldn’t worry, I would just prepare next time by wearing more protective clothing ☺?. Now if your rabbit starts chasing you and leaping up at you to latch on with teeth and claws… then there might be a real problem. Of course, circling you, humping your leg and a bit of spraying might happen before he’s neutered, so you do have that to look forward to ?. Bunnies are interesting little creatures!

[vanessa]

I would chalk it down to hormones, and a strong desire to be out for more than 30 minutes. Don’t be too alarmed. I think he was surprised to me put back after less time than he was used to, and because he is still hormonal, he doesn’t feel you are boss. Once he is fixed, the hormopnes will calm down, and he’l probalby realise you are boss. I have a bunny taht is super duper easy to pick up – never squirms or complains ever. Another bunny who is easy to pick up, but shows slight nervouseness about it, a bunny who hates being picked up and either tries to flee or freezes, and a bunny who is spayed, and fights like hell. I have to wrap her up in a towel, or trap her in ao you get all sorts of bunnies. I wouldn’t count on their characters untill they are spayed/neutered.

[Bam]

His age is consistent with hormones starting to run rampant, as Vanessa points out. A baby bunny is sweet and docile and love cuddles, a teen-age bunny is -well, a teen-ager. We all know how they can be since we once were teenagers ourselves =) It is the time of emancipation and becoming an adult individual. As Dee says, you might see many types of hormonally driven behaviors now, like pee- and poop-marking, defense of territory, courting behavior like circling, nipping and humping, aggression with growling and boxing etc.

I think Dee is right too in that he more comfortable a new pet gets, the more he dares assert his own will. It’s very common in adopted dogs. That is of course a good thing, even if it’s not very pleasant to be scratched. I totally agree he doesn’t do it to be mean.

Neutering helps a lot with these things, but it won’t make him a baby again, so he probably won’t ever like being picked up and held. A very rare few adult buns don’t mind being picked up, but the vast majority of buns have a strong instinct to dislike being lifted and held. Predators pick buns up, then have them for dinner =(

[Sr. Melangell]

I would get him neutered when he is ready, as for handling Olly doesn’t like being handled, last night he was almost asleep, he let me check his ears, his teeth and bottom, claws everything and I tried to pick him up, (He is neutered) he gave me the look of ‘Don’t you dare!’ and ran back into his cage, bunnies are sweet to us and cuddly, but can be a problem like Bam said, because predators pick them up, not all bunnies see this as us being sweet and kind, we mean nice and kind to our bunnies but some don’t see it that way, maybe your bunny will like you just to stroke him, check his claws and teeth, give him kisses and he might give you kisses, but not like you picking him up, if you try and pick him up and he doesn’t want you to, back away, don’t corner him, let him run about, you can stroke him, let him climb on your lap for a treat, but don’t force handling unless it is an emergency, if you get him neutered he might still be the same, or the same for many months, there is no punishment for bunnies, but wear a jumper or long T-shirt when trying to pick him up, bunnies don’t understand everything, like us, everyone thinks bunnies are sweet animals, they are, but some just simply don’t want to be handled and cuddled and that is that and we have to accept it, you can train your bunny to do things when he is older, like come when called for a treat, train him to go in his cage just by asking him to do so, when picking him up you could put gloves on and make sure you put a hand under his bottom and hold him close to you, if after that he wriggles about, carefully put him back on the ground and let him go about doing what he wants, he is male and maybe territorial and could snap if you go to clean his cage, if he does don’t shout at him, try to stroke him and talk calmly to him about something, at 3 months old he does not understand, he is a baby, even babies can attack us if they don’t understand what is going on, before I forget, try and pick him up from the side, this is so he can see you, if you try when he is facing you, he may attack thinking a big bird has grabbed him, bunnies can only see out of the sides, I know we can get upset if bunny won’t let us pick them up, but we have to accept it and not let it bother us, some cats don’t like being picked up, don’t be surprised that after he is neutered that he still wriggles away, neutering is not so we can pick up bunny, I’m sure he knows you love him, I’m sure there is nothing wrong with your bunny, maybe he was interested in something and when you picked him up he wasn’t happy because he wanted to go to whatever it was he was interested in, please note, I’m only going by experience and no way a specialist.
Good luck.

[Desic737]

Thanks everyone! Doodle seems to be a lot calmer as of late; I haven’t needed to pick him up, seeing as when he’s had enough play time he will happily hop back into his cage without me needing to interfere. Was probably just feeling a little agitated that day.

[Beka27]

Yes, he may have just not wanted to go back home. Is his cage set up in a way that he can hop in and out on his own?

[vanessa]

That coudl easily be. My bunnies aren’t all the same from day to day. Some days Guinevere is shy, other days grumpy, lately she has been coy and snuggly.

[Author]

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