We’ve got a biter

[lily2521]

A little bit of backstory:

We had Gizmo for about 1 1/2 years, she’s a 3 year old spayed female lop.  In October we decided to get her a companion, so after speed dating we adopted Nova, a 1 year old spayed Lionhead.  Bonding went great and within a month they were living together happily.  We see lots of grooming between the two rabbits, and they seem very happy together.

Gizmo – a pretty lazy rabbit, she doesn’t nip or bite much at things, doesn’t play with toys much, overall a well behaved rabbit.  We’ve seen her be a little bit more active since being bonded with Nova, which is great.

Nova – much more active.  She likes to dig (a lot) and she’s definitely more of a biter/chewer than Gizmo.  She’s a lot of fun, runs around and binkies, but we really struggle with her biting.  She’ll nip at our feet, she’ll jump up on the couch with us and it’s like we can’t trust her around us because she’ll start biting at our clothes.  It’s not a hard mean type bite, but more of a nipping action.  She seems somewhat comfortable with us, as she will jump up on the couch with us, but she won’t let us give her head pets, if we try she’ll grunt and sometimes box a bit at our hands.  This might just be due to her activity level though, that she just doesn’t want to sit still to be pet. 

We do offer plenty of toys and chew things, cardboard houses, etc.  We’re just not sure what to do about the biting?  How do we correct or redirect this behavior?  I understand that it’s in rabbit’s nature to chew, but we would like to try to direct her towards what is okay to chew on, and what’s not.  Thanks.

[AKM]

Try very slow movements when attempting to pet her. Also put a treat in your hand, palm faced up and try to pet her when she is eating the treat. Spend time with them in a small space so she can get used to you petting her and she may end up liking it. My new bunny does the grunting and boxing thing a little still when I go to pet her, but if I reach my hand out and let her sniff me, I will slowly stroke between her ears with the back of my fingers and she ends up loving it.

[jerseygirl]

Has Nova been like this right from when you adopted her? I just wonder if the biting is something she learnt prior to adoption and a way she “communicates”.
She sounds rather dominant… Sometimes buns will nip if they feel like your invading their territory (even when it’s not theirs!) or nip you to get you to move out the way.

I watched this video the other day that may be useful.

 

Some other info on aggression: 

http://rabbit.org/faq-aggression/

Bunny Bites

Taming the Aggressive Rabbit

Sorry! I cannot get the links to hyperlink. 

[Love4Bunny]

I saw this one Brit. video where the guy uses a feather to stroke the top of the rabbits head and eventually interactions like this got the aggressive rabbit used to handling. Like Jerseygirl said, it may well be a learned behaviour. Also, you may find it helpful to wear protective clothing or limit her from jumping on the couch, just till Nova stops biting. Part of me wonders if you should schedule your interaction in a different room with not much property to claim, so that she can see your movements and make positive associations. That way she gets to bond with you and Gizmo with less distraction. Maybe bring lots of treats or greens and give her one everytime she permits interaction.

[Love4Bunny]

Ps: my Lionhead is similar in that she is a chewer and quite active. She has nipped me hard on my back to tell me to move once or twice. She often behaves like she’s doing me a favour when I get to rub her little head. Be encouraged that it’s taken me over a year to get here!

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