Bunny started biting me

[bagel]

Hi everyone, I’m new here, apologies if this has been asked before. I did look it up but I couldn’t really find what I was looking for.

My bunny turns two in November, we’ve have had him for over a year. He has recently started biting me. I mean, he has bitten us before when we’ve tried to clean his litter box or done something he doesn’t like, but that was quite rare, it’s not like he did that everyday. 

I love cuddling him and he loves it, he loves being the centre of attention, but the moment I take my hands off him, he gets a little aggressive and either bites me (sometimes it’s just a light nip, sometimes he really goes for it) or aggressively scratches me? He doesn’t do that anyone else. He’s done that pretty much every night this week. This started about a few weeks ago and it’s getting more and more frequent. I honestly don’t know if it’s me, if I’m doing something wrong, or if he just hates me for some reason. 

He was neutered ages ago, so it’s not that.

I don’t know if I’m doing anything wrong or if I should be doing something else. He is really really bossy, and is jealous of our pup, he likes it when everything is the way he likes it and gets mad if we change things around. 

Any advice on what I could do is much appreciated, cheers.

[Luna]

Hi! How long ago did you get your puppy? Sounds more like attention begging as opposed to aggressive behavior. I don’t think he hates you . Plus, it seems like recently everyone’s buns have started being more rambunctious with the arrival of spring.

[pinknfwuffy]

My rabbit has never bitten (to the point of pain) but a handful of times, only when I’ve been petting him for a while, he would nip at my hand or arm if I stopped before he was ready to be done. When they do this during “grooming” and cuddling it is usually because they are demanding more. Some rabbits nip this way to show affection, even if it seems like quite the opposite. No matter when it happens, let out a high-pitched squeal when he does it. This sound is similar to what a rabbit would make when they’re in pain and will let him know the bite doesn’t feel good. It may take a while for him to make the connection so be consistent and persistent.

As for your puppy, it sounds like there might be some jealousy and/or territory issues. Do you rabbit and puppy share common areas in the house? Rabbits can be very possessive of their space and humans. He might be biting to tell you he wants the focus to be on him, not your new dog. Do they get along? Is your rabbit free-roam?

[Mikey]

Blue does this to me if he feels Im giving more of my attention to my partner or other bunnies. Blue will glare at me then come up and scratch or nip until I notice him. He needs to have the most attention in the apartment or he gets upset. Ive somewhat been able to train him out of the aggression of it by purposely ignoring him and/or walking away whenever he gets sassy. Now if he feels needy, he will just sit near me, stare at me, and pout until I notice him

[Azerane]

How do you react when he bites or scratches? What do you do afterwards?

[bagel]

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies.

We’ve had our pup for about six months now. And no, they don’t get along. Our pup wants to be play, he loves everyone, he’s total sweetheart, as opposed to our bunny who really doesn’t like pup. They kinda do share the same areas. Whenever the bun is in his hutch or outside, we bring our pup into our downstairs living room, which is where bun usually resides.

I usually go Owww whenever he bites or scratches me and ignore him.

I don’t get why he bites me because he loves my mother. If I’m cuddling him, and mum walks in the room, he would just get up and leave and try to get her to cuddle him, but he never gets mad at her when she stops cuddling.

[Author]

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