Aggression & Fixing…

[alwyzchanging]

My Bun-Bun’s Facts:

• 10 weeks old
  
• Male
  
• Adopted him only 4 days ago
• Scheduled for neuter in mid-august

I know its only been a few days but I want to get a general idea anyway.

I feel like the bunny I got is really territorial because…

• Rubs his chin against everything/ anything in my room
• Leaves random poopies everywhere (thank god he doesn’t pee anywhere but his litter box)
• I think he grunts every time I pick him up (not 100% sure though)
• Kicks at me whenever I put him back down
• Seems “on guard” with me even when I just pet him and he’s sitting in one place

I would like to get him used to being picked up not only for when I have to move him into a crate for his cage cleanings, but also because I would just love to cuddle with him. Any ideas?

I’m also wondering if after surgery:

1. Will he calm down more
2. Will he be more affectionate 
3. Will he be more open to being petted and being picked up

Any help is greatly appreciated! :]

[Sarita]

He sounds like a very typical rabbit.

Neutering and aging MAY help with some of the concerns you have but it won’t be immediate. He is going through adolescence right after the neuter and most owners are confused why they aren’t “better” after the neuter and it’s because they have the wrong expectations.

Also you have to remember that aggression is fear – rabbits do not have the capacity to be mean. So because they are acting in an aggressive manner, it means that they are fearful. So try to remember that – rabbits cannot be vengeful, mean, any of those human emotions that you think of when you think of aggression. I think the behaviors you describe as territorial aren’t really territorial, just age related rabbit behaviors.

So cuddling – you may be able to get down on the floor with him and he will come and play with you or be near you, but he won’t want to cuddle like you want him too – rabbits can be social and like to be petted but not held or cuddled. These type of behaviors will come but it will be later as he ages and feels more comfortable.

[LoveChaCha]

Hello and welcome ;D

It looks like ‘chinning’ may never stop. It means “this is mine, mine mine, and not yours!” It is very typical rabbit behavior when something new is in the house or something.

I would advise not picking him up unless needed. Most of the time rabbits do not like being held, they believe that they are going to be eaten! So in defense, they are fighting so that you let go. They prefer their limbs on the ground.

I have a female rabbit and she was spayed at 6 months. It has calmed her down, and she is not even crazy hormonal (but she is more bossy and demanding, which is her normal personality). Affection is different with rabbits. Some love to give kisses, some don’t. Some rabbits are affectionate in a non-direct way by grooming your clothes, and other items that smell like you.

[tanlover14]

Welcome to BB! All my babies to are young’ns and the cutest little devils ever… but that’s exactly what they are.. little devils.

My buns were all just neutered and spayed and they still constantly walk around and chin EVERYTHING, including me. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad behavior for you to watch for — I mean all of mine did it before and after they were successfully bonded with each other and they get along great. So I think it’s more of just a thing that they do. Hahah.

Mine also hate to be picked up. One of them will stand it for 5 seconds before he realizes you’re just holding him and gets angry. (If you do whatever you’re doing quickly — moving him to a different spot, putting him in his cage, ect. then he doesn’t get to worked up about it.) The others HATE it though. Both of boys are affectionate as all heck but only on THEIR terms and definitely not mine. Whenever I want to pet them they’ll run away binkying and being crazy but when THEY want to be pet and I’m busy it’s all nibbles and yanking on my clothes until I do it. My girl however HATES to be pet and the only way we have been able to finally get her out of her skittish shell is by letting her climb on us at her own pace without pushing her to let us pet her. As we’ve let her do her own thing more, she’s definitely opened up and our girl actually bonded with us and became more comfortable with us petting her after she was spayed. We spent a lot of time with her the few days after her spay just giving her attention and she came to love it! But again.. only on her terms. Seems to be a thing with them. Hahaha. But she was ALWAYS on guard when we would try and touch her before but with a lot of time and love she’s starting to come around!

Just give them time to get to know you and figure out their new life — and I’m sure they’ll begin to become content and happy!

I also like to lay with mine after playtime. My buns are the hyper type and getting them to sit still for more than .4 second is impossible… BUT when I lay down in their play area with a blanket (all mine LOVE to dig into blankets and towels) they will usually climb all over me and dig into my blanket before exhausting themselves out and plopping down beside me for a good 15 minutes of petting.

[bun-crazy]

My boys also do alot of chinning (even after their neuters) but I wouldn’t let that bother you. I actually think its so cute. They are about 7 months old now and are just beginning to come to me for a few pets before hopping away to do something else. They come up to me and nudge my foot/ankle/hand with their noses (a couple of bump*bumps) and then I rub their head a time or two before they take off again on a new mission. It’s like their just saying “hi!” as they run by. Neither of them likes to be picked up and cuddled though (unless we’re at the vet and then they burrow into my arms). Like others have said, it just takes time with them. They need to learn you and decide for themselves that you aren’t a predator who wants to eat them. Be patient ( and I know its hard!) but most likely they will mellow a little as they get older and their hormones aren’t raging. I also like to lay on the floor with them and let them come to me, jump on my back and just basically use me as playground equipment. But even that is usually short-lived and then their off and running again.

When he’s kicking as you put him down, it is just a reflex because he thinks he’s falling. Make sure you are as close to the ground as you can get before trying to set him down (I kneel/sit down and try to let them just jump off of me instead of setting them down).

I brought my buns home at the end of March when they were only 8-10 weeks old, they were nuetered in the middle of May and they are just beginning to enjoy a few pets, so like I said, try to be patient. I’m like you, I want to snuggle and cuddle them, but I have learned that they have a whole different mind-set compared to other pets we are used to. This is not to say that they will never cuddle with you–some bunnies are totally cuddly. They all have different personalities, so you never know!

[Freyja]

Bunnies will always leave 1 or 2 poops around the place (they do an average of 200-500 a day so not bad) but it can be a territorial thing if youre finding them everywhere and neutering will hopefully fix this lots of bunnies hate being picked up, my bun is super cuddly and loves pats and cuddles but only on his terms, and would sulk in a corner and not come near me all day if i even thought of picking him up! I would only pick him up when you absolutly have to and pat him on the ground. offering a treat with your pat will also help him build a positive association with you (remember not too many treats though ) You can still have an affectionate bun without picking him up, my bun will jump onto my lap when he wants attention (and if not a shake of the raisin jar will bring him running)
some buns take awhile to get used to you but with patience he will come around For cage cleaning could you let him run around somewhere else instead? maybe an x-pen? I herd my bun into his carrier when i absolutely need to pick him up, he’s never impressed but its much easier than a struggling kicking rabbit in your arms!

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