Thumper bit my daughter on thigh and broke skin

[Koukla76]

So our new bunny thumper who is 8 to 9 months old just bit my daughter on the thigh and broke the skin! it hurt her she said, but she’s more upset because she thinks thumper doesn’t love her. i’m surprise because he’s been so good and hasn’t nipped at all! she said she was cuddling with him on the floor and hugging him so I’m wondering if she startled or upset him somehow? she’s 10 years old and she’s been very gentle with him. but I do know they’ve been taking lots of pictures and movies with him on their iPad and I’m wondering if the iPad being in his face upset him? should I be worried ? what can I do to prevent this ? I do plan on neutering him so maybe now he’s getting more comfortable and getting more territorial? Maybe neutering will help ?

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Aww, what a nasty scare for your daughter. Don’t worry though, things will settle.

It may be that it was just a bit “too-close-too-soon” for him. Many rabbits will take weeks to adjust to their new environment, and he hasn’t been in your home for longer than a week. Also, most rabbits don’t like to be held tightly. They are often portrayed with people hugging them, but this is false! Most buns hate this: they’re prey animals and they need to be able to run from danger to be at ease. When picked up, hugged tightly or blocked off from their safe places they will get nervous, and a nervous rabbit is a snappy one.

My advice would be to give the rabbit a bit more space, let him come to your daughter. Tell her that he needs to be able to move and run whenever he wants to. Rabbits will cuddle next to you, but rabbits generally don’t like to sit on a lap or to be hugged tightly.

This is an excellent website for both new and experienced owners: http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

It tells you all about a rabbits’ body language, instincts and needs. Go through it together with your family and use it in bonding activities with your bun.

 

[Koukla76]

Ok
Thank you, she let him off out again just now and he tried to bite her again on the thigh I think she was blocking his exit from the cage. Now she’s scared of him. I’m nervous too now! Ugh, he was so good until now but I don’t want mydaughter to be afraid of him! Then she stuck her hand out and try to pet him and he sniffed her hand and then try to nip her again! And then he was circling my feet and then tried to nip at my foot ! I don’t want him biting!

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

These all seem like cases of miscommunication. The rabbit is not yet fully at ease, and it’s a bit difficult to see what a rabbit needs and wants. Learn his body language, and most importantly: let the rabbit set the pace for the bonding.

See more info about those difficult first weeks here: http://www.rabbit.org/journal/4-3/new-home.html

 

Also: if the rabbit hasn’t been neutered yet, take him to the vet as soon as possible. An intact rabbit will always be more prone to aggression.

[Koukla76]

Ok,thank you. he has a vet appointment on November 22 and I plan I getting a quote for him to be neutered then. We may be rushing the bond experience like you said

[Vienna Blue in France]

Sounds like adolescence is kicking in. And I can understand her now being wary of him

Don’t forget to approach from the side of his face (rabbits have a blind spot directly in front of their face and so don’t know what’s approaching them which is sometimes why they ‘rush’ forward at the same time as nipping)

My neuteured boy nipped me the other day, I think he was so hungry he thought he’d have a try at my thigh (I was kneeling) – it wasn’t aggressive, just a tasting experience. I said ‘ow’ loudly followed by ‘NO’ and he went away probably not realising what he’d done… he also has a nipping fetish for my slippers. I’m trying to train him with ‘no’. Sometimes it works, sometimes he’s hungry…

My female bun prior to spaying would go round and round and round (and round again) my feet, she was a possessed bunny (I have photos of her leaping over to me repeatedly to prove it ) Looking back it was her hormones on overdrive. She hasn’t done it since.

Is there a beep when taking photos or a spotlight when filming…?

Personally, I would call up the vets to get a quote in advance (they should do it over the phone if you have Thumper’s weight) and get him checked-in asap. I wouldn’t want your d’ter to be ‘scarred’ and afraid of him permanently.
It will take about 6 weeks for his hormones to die down aftet the neuter and then he should be a calmer bun-bun.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

I’m sorry that the start is rougher than you expected, but over time things will smoothen out. Many people don’t expect rabbits to be prone to nervousness and agression, and that’s the biggest misconception of all. All these bad behavours are the result of a rabbits nature: they are at the bottom of the food chain, and they have an intense need for calm, stability, and being undisturbed in their habits. Moving a rabbit into a new environment has upset everything he knew, and its confusion shows in its behaviour.

You can help your rabbit overcome this by studying up on its needs and its body language. Over time and after neutering, your rabbit will calm down. Calmly bonding with him and showing him that he has nothing to fear is essential. It takes a lot of patience to make a rabbit feel at ease, because they are flighty prey animals by nature. If you have bonded however, rabbits are the most wonderful pets. All your patience and hardships will be doubly rewarded. They are easily litter trained (though that may also be an issue in the first few weeks), and they are very sociable and affectionate.

Let me tell you how Breintje and I bonded:
When I met my boyfriend Bas 2 years ago he had a 2 year old dwarf bunny called Breintje. He roamed freely in Bas’ bedroom. After the second date Bas started to bring him to my place, because he thought that it would benefit both the bun and me. I’m home all day because of a chronic illness, and Breintje was a bit lonely because Bas was away for his studies the whole day.

The first evening that he left us together was hellish: I had had a pretty rough treatment at the fysio that day and I was in pain. I also had trouble moving around and lifting things. Breintje took the opportunity and tore down the house: he peed everywhere, got into forbidden places, chewed at furniture, and he wouldn’t be caught and put back in his cage. Running around with me stumbling to catch him seemed like a fun game to him. When Bas came home around midnight he found me in tears and a rabbit looking very smug. The reason was that I had let Breintje out of his cage way too early: a rabbit in a new environment has to adjust to it slowly and learn the new rules of the place.

After two weeks he was settled in completely, and litter training also went well. Most rabbits have a tendency to mark their new territory by pooping and peeing outside of their cage, this will pass if you consistently remove those droppings and teach them to use a litter box.
Within 3 months we were best buds: Breintje licked my hands and face, and loved to sit on the ground and be petted. After a year his hormones kicked in full-swing, he humped everything in the house and this ruined several skeins of yarn and knittings. We decided to neuter him, which in retrospect we should have done years before. It really is best to neuter them ASAP, because it eliminates hormonal behaviour like aggression and humping.

After his neuter Breintje calmed down, and he now is the worlds’ most cuddly snuggle-bun. He sits next to me on the couch for hours and loves to be petted. This is comfortable for the both of us: he feels safe but free, and I love it that he snuggles up to me. The only times when he wants to be held is when he’s scared: at the vets’ office or when we’re on the train. He jumps into my arms then, and settles himself on my chest. If I don’t hold him tighty enough he’ll scrabble for purchase and shiver. People look at us and go: “Aww, I want a cuddle-bun like that!” and I have a hard time explaining that this is not his normal behaviour, but in fact the behaviour of a very scared bun. Normally he *HATES* to be picked up and held.

Nowadays he’s so attuned to me that he feels it whenever I’m in discomfort, he tries to comfort me on those days. A couple of weeks ago I had a particularly rough treatment at the fysio, and he immediately jumped up next to me and gave me this look:

 

He then tried to make me smile by licking my fingers as a sign of affection:

 

This wonderful bond can also be yours in a while, as long as you are patient with your rabbit and try to understand him. They truly are wonderful and affectionate animals, although gaining their trust is a major investment.

[Koukla76]

Thank you everyone, first vet I called give me a quote on everything right away , the second vet that I called is giving me a free initial exam and then will only give me a quote after the exam which makes me a little uneasy, why can’t they give me a quote over the phone the other vet did? I feel like they’re sucking me in with a free initial exam but the neuter might be more expensive at that place which is maybe why they’re not giving me a quote?? I hope it’s just a hormonal/new home/I’m still getting used to you guys thing.

[Vienna Blue in France]

Well maybe n°2 wants to check he is operable first… or maybe when they give quotes they have surprises when the bun comes in (size, type, health?) and have problems changing their quote…

So if the initial exam is free and you are not obliged to go there for the op, then there’s nothing to lose…. win-win !

[Koukla76]

Ok, then I’ll stick with the vet. I feel bad my daughter is so shaken, she’s taking it personally. I called th pet store and they said she may have done something to make him angry OR if she ate something and smelled like food That could be the reason he bit her in the thigh. He went after her 3 times at 3 different occasions each time in the same thigh area. They said thumper never but before so it’s wierd. He was SO sweet and cuddly all day yesterday and this morning , and then later morning just flipped a switch on her. So sad. I feel like I jinxed him because he’s been so good.

[Vienna Blue in France]

You didn’t jinx him. Honest. Sometimes it just happens. We’ve all been there….. Teens hit and nothing is the same again.
Unfortunately this is one of the reasons why so many buns are abandoned as everybody thinks they are cuddly….. (Some are, most are not)

I used to have big cuddles in my arms with Zou and overnight (after a bad pick up at 8 months) she was having absolutely none of it….
Then at 2 yrs she went territorial and aggressive. It all worked out after the spay…

Though i still cant pick her up now, I can lay down with her and pet for as long as i wish….

[Koukla76]

I won’t give her up, I think Space, respect and a neuter will
Hopefully fix it! I just feel bad for my daughter because she takes it personally

[Koukla76]

I won’t give her up, I think Space, respect and a neuter will
Hopefully fix it! I just feel bad for my daughter because she takes it personally

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Maybe this will turn out to be a learning experience for her, go through all the info here together with her. This will teach her valuable things about communication with animals

[Koukla76]

I just checked her iPad, there is a movie of her and thumper and she’s making him dance in the movie. Now , I wonder why he bit her ?

[jerseygirl]

Ah.. Mystery solved?

That he has done it again since the first time is something to watch. It may have been because she was sitting in his pathway, they do use their teeth to clear pathways at time. Take care of how you both react when he nips. You don’t want this to become a learned behaviour that he uses. Give a little squeal when/if he nips again. Often that’s a natural reaction – it can hurt!! But also stand your ground. Especially when he’s out in shared areas.
I remember reading a book once where the author tool to wearing long pants and gum boots when doing the dishes as her rabbit was attacking her at that time for some reason. The idea was 1) protect her skin obviously 2) let him see that his behaviour caused no reaction in the hopes that he’d abandon it.

[Koukla76]

Yes I don’t like that he kept going after her at other times. I feel so bad she was so happy and so in love and now she’s scared and depressed about it. I will try to explain to her that she needs to give him space, we left for the weekend after lunch today and won’t be back until Sunday morning. Maybe us being away will be good for him. Im also wondering if it’s a sexual aggression issue since he circled my feet as well and tryed to nip my foot as well. Can’t wait for his vet appointment

[Mikey]

Ive found that most rabbits dont like being treated like a toy, so your daughter trying to make him dance likely irritated him causing him to lash out at her as an attempt to get her to stop. He may be nipping her to show her that he is still irritated at her. A little sucking up with hand feeding pellets/greens and pets should help out the situation

As for circling your feet and nipping, thats part of the mating dance. He really likes you lol I hope his vet appointment goes well

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Really, she treated him like that???
It sounds like she was not at all prepared for how to deal with a rabbit. A rabbit is not a mindless toy to be lugged around and picked up at any of your whims. Seriously… get her a teddy bear if she insists to do these things, it’ll only traumatise your rabbit.

I hate it when people mistreat rabbits, whether they are adults or children. A rabbit is a delicate, sensitive animal with its own mind. It needs a bit of freedom, some safe space and people who respect it, these are minimal needs.

No, rabbits are NOT ideal pets for children. It takes months to years of kindness and patience to decrease their fears and to cement the bond between you and the rabbit.

It’s vital that you educate yourself about the personal care that a rabbit requires, and be sure to include your daughter in the whole process.

Preferably people should do these things BEFORE they get a rabbit. It really is one of the most misunderstood animals in the world, and therefore also one of the most mistreated animals.

[Koukla76]

I amfully aware that rabbits are sensitive creatures. When I realized my daughter wasn’t innocent in this (like she claimed to be ) i reprimanded her. She feels awful, kids make mistakes. She’s A very responsible girl and made a mistake. I hope she will learn from it. I told her no wonder he’s angry with you! Now she’ll have to rebuild his trust. I’m upset with her, and I don’t want anyone to be angry with. ME on this forum, I’m here to learn. As well . In my opionion she deserved to bit biteen after she kept hugging him and hugging him

[Vienna Blue in France]

We all do silly things when we’re young (most times we dont realise they’re silly) and especially now she knows it was most likely her the cause of the nip she’ll take that on board and learn from it…. And also hopefully understand that it is not that Thumper doesnt “love” her… It’s that he was angry with her….. So hopefully she’ll be going overboard on the gentle approach. Lots of hand feeding and she’ll have to gain back his trust….

It’ll be ok

[vanessa]

I’ve had 2 bunnies bite me. On each occasion, it was because I was getting too physically close to them. I was trying to pick them up. But in this case, I needed them to get used to being picked up so it wouldnt be so bad for vet’s visits. Both bunnies let me pet them now, and Guin in particular, is super duper snuggly with me. Bribe bribe bribe. I guess by now the myster is solved, and lessons have been learned. Moving on… Whatever the reason for the bite, bribery and respect works wonders. If she trets the bunny well, and offers plenty of veggies by hand, things will go well 🙂

[Koukla76]

Thank you all for the advice! I will have her bribe and respect thumper !

[Vienna Blue in France]

It’s great preparation for the big wide world….. Bribe and Respect !!!! (just joooooking)

[Koukla76]

?????

[jerseygirl]

It wouldn’t be that he’s angry exactly. It can certainly feel like a rabbit is pee’d off and holding a grudge sometimes though!!! But essentially, it’s fear based. It can be hard when you think you have made great lengths in a rabbit trusting you and then have them act aggressive or fearful. I have had my bunners for years and will have this happen. It can be hard for your daughter to adjust her thinking and not take his reactions personally. As an adult, I still have to self-counsel when one of my buns doesn’t want a bar of me and I want to make peace.

They just have one dominant MO – Survival.* They are hard-wired that way. So the majority of behaviour comes back to this. It’s why when we give them a hidey box, it’s better to have 2 holes in it, so they can escape out one if they sense a threat at the other entrance. Often, if there is only one entry/exit. they’ll go to work on making another “bolt hole”.

*For young, intact male rabbits, I think their main MO shifts to Mating.

[LBJ10]

Kids don’t always have the best judgement. That doesn’t mean she meant him any harm. As you said, it was a mistake. I’m guilty of dressing the cat up in doll clothes and then wondering why he scratched me. I’m glad you discovered what the circumstances were surrounding the bite and you were at least able to help your daughter understand that making Thumper dance is probably not a good idea.

I do agree with Jersey. This sounds to me like this is a fear response.

[Hazel]

If this isn’t textbook of how so many “aggressive” rabbits end up in shelters, I don’t know what is.

– child gets rabbit as a pet

– child handles rabbit inappropriately without the parents knowledge

– rabbit becomes aggressive

– rabbit gets dumped for being a vicious monster

Luckily, you avoided the last step by looking into it further rather than taking your daughters word for it. It likely saved your buns life. If you hadn’t, this behavior would have likely continued (on both your daughters and your buns side) and you probably would have eventually let him go because you would have thought he was randomly attacking your child.

This is why it’s so important to never leave a child alone with a rabbit when it’s out and about.  As LBJ said, kids don’t have the best judgement, and they don’t always do what they’re supposed to. That’s why there should always be an adult there to supervise, to assure the safety of both the rabbit and the kid. Believe me, a nip on the leg is nothing more than a slap on the wrist in the rabbit world. I’ve walked away from a p’d off bun with a nasty, bleeding gash several times, and I didn’t do anything nearly as offensive as making him dance. I know it might not seem that way, but I think your bun actually showed a lot of restraint when telling your daughter off. Their teeth are like razor blades and they know how to use them.

I think a good rule for when your daughter is interacting with your bunny is to never have more than one hand touching him. That should only allow for petting, no picking up or manhandling. As long as she does what she’s supposed to of course. And as I said, always have an adult there to supervise.

[Theodorusrex]

I don’t have much to add to all that is said here except for a few things.
I adopted my bunny Theo when he was 8 months old too, and he was intact. We had him neutered the day after we adopted him. However in the weeks before his hormones settled down he would nip relatively often, and on occasion bite harder, rather than a gentle nip. He almost never nips now after almost a year of training, although he will still nip if he feels trapped in any way.
For example, he will hop up on my knee but if I try to put an arm around him in any way which impedes a swift exit, he will nip my arm. I suspect this is something Theo won’t grow out of or be trained out of. This could have been the case with your daughter if she was hugging him etc when he nipped.
One thing I have learned about bunnies since owning one which I had not prepared for is that EVERYTHING must be on their terms, be that play time, affection etc. Once I accepted that our relationship blossomed and we have such a great bond now. When I come home from work I lift him up for a cuddle and he licks my nose! When we got him we couldn’t lift him at all or even pet him. With love and lots and lots of patience and understanding the rabbit-human bond can be great.
I agree with others saying only supervised play time with your daughter – one small mis-handling of a bunny can set bonding/training back so far!

[VivaLaBunz]

Posted By Koukla76 on 11/11/2016 4:23 PM

I won’t give her up, I think Space, respect and a neuter will
Hopefully fix it! I just feel bad for my daughter because she takes it personally

It may very well be his hormones kicking in, and so he’s getting more aggressive and territorial.  What I’ve found with my previous rabbit who was very cage-aggressive/territorial is to put your hand firmly on top of their head/ears like you are petting them, but just leave it there.  This would calm my aggressive rabbit down immediately so I could use my other hand to feed or clean the cage.  It doesn’t seem like your bun is THAT aggressive (yet) so you probably won’t need to do this, but I think it is a good way of asserting dominance.  

Hopefully your daughter will understand that he didn’t do this out of spite or hatred, it is just how rabbits communicate since they can’t talk to us.

[Koukla76]

Thank you so much for the advice!! He never fights or nips when we put our hands in his cage I could clean poop out and give him food and he just sits there and sniffs us and he let us pet him in his cage very willingly! Hopefully he will stay that way !
It usually happens when she’s kneeling right in front of him, and then he bites her thighs! today he was being so lovey-dovey and following my husband and I as we were walking around , and then my husband kneeled in front of him and thumper grunted at him and I think he was about to nip/bite , but my husband got up quick before he had the chance. is it possible that he doesn’t like people kneeling right in front of him? He follows me around like crazy now and gets in between my feet and lays down at my feet while I’m sitting on the couch and that’s how I pet him or if he lays down, I sit by his side and I pet him and I never kneel in front of him , maybe he doesn’t like people kneeling in front of him? Also, what does it mean when he follows you around? I have to be careful cause I might step on him he’s constantly in my feet ! tomorrow I’m taking him to the vet and I’m bringing my kids with me , so they can ask the vet questions and also to hopefully make an appointment to get him neutered.

[Mikey]

If hes easily aggravated by people kneeling in front of him, i would question your daughter if she held him wrong or messed with him too much while she was kneeling on the day that he started to bite more often. Since he is ok with sitting, laying, standing ect in front of him, he has something against that pose and you should investigate why

[Koukla76]

Hmmm good to know, maybe she smothered thumper with too much love in that pose? ?

[Mikey]

Its very possible. She may have thought Thumper was more comfortable with her hugging/cuddling in that position, but Thumper really didnt appreciate it like your daughter though. Its a learning process to see what your bun is and isnt ok with

[Author]

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