Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

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.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

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 confused- digging/pawing and nipping UPDATE- now just nipping!

Viewing 20 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • katie, max & penny
      Participant
      956 posts Send Private Message

        Hey guys. So Max has started doing a weird thing. He has started digging on me and nipping me. At first I thought it was because he wanted me to move, but now he’s doing it when I’m not in his way or when I do move, he walks away. What is he trying to tell me?!


      • Furface
        Participant
        618 posts Send Private Message

          Posted By katiehedger on 06/19/2009 07:17 PM

          Hey guys. So Max has started doing a weird thing. He has started digging on me and nipping me. At first I thought it was because he wanted me to move, but now he’s doing it when I’m not in his way or when I do move, he walks away. What is he trying to tell me?!

          How old is he? Sounds like he’s doin the, “Hey sexy, How you do”in? thing to me”.
           


        • katie, max & penny
          Participant
          956 posts Send Private Message

            he’s one- he just was neutered a week ago, so he probably still has those hormones in him.
            i never even thought of that!!


          • bunnycutie
            Participant
            549 posts Send Private Message

              its probably just his ‘female loving hormones’ that are still in him. don’t worry, they will go away eventually.


            • bunnytowne
              Participant
              7537 posts Send Private Message

                I think rabbits just like to do that.  Cotton does that on me I am on the couch he hops up digs smooths nibbles my shirt. When I go to pet him he pushes my hand away and resumes his business of digging smoothing nibbling.  He has stopped putting holes in my shirts  since he turned 1 year.   Which is good.

                Then Ruby took over and really put lots of holes in my shirt.  She gets upset when I stop petting her.

                I think they just like to do that.


              • RabbitPam
                Moderator
                11002 posts Send Private Message

                  I agree with BT – it just seems to be a bunny thing. It may stem from some instinctive behavior that once had a purpose in the wild, but last night I sat on the floor in the hall and Sammy just jumped over my legs, stopped on each side, dug my pants, pulled, then jumped over and did it on the other side. It’s a kind of playful attention.


                • katie, max & penny
                  Participant
                  956 posts Send Private Message

                    thanks guys! i will watch him tonight (we’re playing right now… well max is jumping around on my keyboard atm) and see what he does when i react playfully.


                  • bunnytowne
                    Participant
                    7537 posts Send Private Message

                      It is cute when they tug on your clothes too.  Ruby did that for a while.  Was so funny.

                      Ruby says:  Gee Mum your skin is loose.   Or maybe it isn’t your skin at all.  What is this stuff.  Well I can chew holes in it and dig on it.


                    • katie, max & penny
                      Participant
                      956 posts Send Private Message

                        Ok, now he’s just nipping instead of pawing AND nipping… I know he has room to go behind me and stuff and it hurts!! Still just playing??


                      • Moonlight_Wolf
                        Participant
                        1155 posts Send Private Message

                          Have you tried the squeaking technique? You squeak when he bites you? That worked with Fern.
                          You squeak high pitched and loud to let him know he is hurting you.


                        • katie, max & penny
                          Participant
                          956 posts Send Private Message

                            i kind of do it by instinct! but i will increase the squeak. he’s not trying to show disapproval or anything right? why did fern do it?


                          • Moonlight_Wolf
                            Participant
                            1155 posts Send Private Message

                              I am not 100% sure why Fern did it, I think she thought I was food O_O. But she did also bite my clothes and through them, me. She just chewed my clothes because she liked chewing fabric. I stopped both things by squeaking. Yea Fern also chewed my shirt when she wanted to go behind me, she wouldn’t bite me, just my clothes, but I found that even if there was space behind me she would want me to move away from the wall a little for HER.

                              Hopefully you will find your bunny’s motive for this behavior.


                            • katie, max & penny
                              Participant
                              956 posts Send Private Message

                                sounds exactly like max. its always my clothes, not my bare skin. i will squeal now thanks moonlight!


                              • Sarita
                                Participant
                                18851 posts Send Private Message

                                  My rabbit Pepe does this on the bed and pillow, not sure why but he seems to enjoy it – luckily he does not do this too me but in the past he did use to intentionally bite me. I think it’s crazy but maybe they are just exercising or relieving stress – Pepe always seem better after he’s had his bed clothes digging and chewing – it’s bad for my sheets but better there than on my skin.


                                • katie, max & penny
                                  Participant
                                  956 posts Send Private Message

                                    haha definitely! better the sheets than the skin!

                                    i started squealing and max stops immediately when i do- he’s getting it


                                  • Moonlight_Wolf
                                    Participant
                                    1155 posts Send Private Message

                                      Yay! Thats what Fern did to, she would look at me like, “whats that noise for”


                                    • katie, max & penny
                                      Participant
                                      956 posts Send Private Message

                                        yes!! thats what he’s doing! he gives me this innocent, “but, but i’m just a baby bunny!” look.

                                        oh lagomorphs. gotta love em.


                                      • bunnytowne
                                        Participant
                                        7537 posts Send Private Message

                                          Ruby nipped for a while too about a week and I would squeak and got loud she finally stopped.  Now she puts holes in my clothes instead. I have 2 Ruby shirts just for her entertainment and saves me from her nails

                                          OH they are little divas


                                        • Quantum
                                          Participant
                                          286 posts Send Private Message

                                            “Little divas”….that is the perfect description, BT!!


                                          • MooBunnay
                                            Participant
                                            3087 posts Send Private Message

                                              Most of mine have outgrown the nipping stage, except Martin will DEFINITELY nip me if I’m anywhere within 5 feet of where he thinks that he might need to go. The rest of mine only nip if they think they are grooming me, or if I’m wearing shoes for some reason they really like to take a nip out of those!


                                            • parrbear3
                                              Participant
                                              8 posts Send Private Message

                                                my little bunzle likes ankles and hair. i think she just wants attention but ill try the squeaking thing when she is starting to be a pest because as much as i would love to lay around all day and love on her its just not possible

                                            Viewing 20 reply threads
                                            • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

                                            Forum BEHAVIOR confused- digging/pawing and nipping UPDATE- now just nipping!