Being reassuring or reinforcing negative behaviour?

[Guiness2018]

I read opposing advice about this EVERYWHERE and it’s driving me insane. My bunny has started to charge me and bite my legs whenever I walk past, he’s super fast and it’s actually a bit terrifying. I read advice that says “just pet him when he’s being aggressive, he needs reassurance” and then more advice that says “don’t pet him, you’re reinforcing his bad behaviour!!!” Which is it?

I also want to reiterate that Guinness is definitely neutered. ALL of the advice columns I’ve read just say this as the solution, but he has already been done and we have had him for almost a year now (he’s around 2 years old). 

I’ve tried the squealing trick, and although it stops him from eating the carpet (for 5 seconds until we can get a blanket down), it doesn’t stop him from charging and biting my calves and ankles. If I stay really, really still he will just stare at me all tense, then as soon as I go anywhere, he charges FLASH and bites. Yowch. 

I’m so exasperated, I just hide in my study (which has laminate floors so he doesn’t come in)… 

[Wick & Fable]

The squealing tactic (typically used for rabbit to person interaction, not training as you imply for the carpet scenario; but if that works, better for it!) mimics how puppies learn to differentiate painful biting with play biting. Feedback is taken as “Oh, that was too hard.”, which is why repeated squealing and retracting of the body part typically catches on for rabbits.

Petting is a tactic used for *overall, generally aggressive rabbits who have defaulted to aggression permanently due to abuse, neglect, or bad experiences*.

Does he bite/charge you only in the scenario of walking around him, or does it happen in all interactions, regardless of body parts present? This will help differentiate if it’s context-based or a general trust issue which needs to be mended.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Guiness2018]

Hello, thanks for your response, it’s only when we walk around him or past him, he charges and then sits very still if I don’t move, then as soon as I go to walk again he lunges and bites. 

We tried squealing, he stops but then does it again immediately as soon as we move again. 

We tried petting for reassurance, he seems to like that and sits very still for 10 minutes but then when I move my hand to leave he bites it and the whole thing happens again. I don’t want to keep trying this method because I can wear thick socks all the time but not thick gloves all the time! 

At the moment we are trying to ignore the behaviour and see if it’s just a pent-up thing. It’s been like this only for a few weeks, I think he’s possibly pent up indoors (he has the whole house to run around in the daytime and the living room at night) but every time I put him outside he goes crazy and throws the fence around with the strength of 10 bunnies! 

[Wick & Fable]

Since it’s a start behavior change (last few weeks), you should think about if he may have any health maladies. A rabbit defensive tactic is when they feel I’ll, they get overly defensive and aggressive to compensate for their lack of health defenses.

How are his poops, pees, and general level of energy, as compared to before this behavior started?

If he’s charging your hand after petting, he may not like being pet. I say this because Wick shows similar behavior when I finish applying topical treatments to his face, which I know he does not like. He’ll be calm and teeth chatter during application to comfort himself, but once I remove my hands, a nip attempt or two is bound to occur… Also because he knows he gets a treat afterwards.

Hand approach is important. Rabbits are very frightful of objects coming from above, especially in front. During a pet session, some rabbits fall into a daze and day dream, so stopping will facilitate them to snap out of it. If the next thing that stimulates the rabbit is an object traversing their front (i.e. your hand passing by), attacking is a common instinctual behavior.

If health issues are ruled out, my guess is your rabbit never grew to feel wholly secure with the free roam environment and the movements involved with it. I would limit space temporarily and limit catching him off guard by walking by him. Talk to him or make sure he sees you before walking by. Another item is the human body is quite large, so if he likes you, he may just not realize your libs are a part of you, which is why announcing your presence, presenting your face and confirming his acknowledgement that it’s you prior to exposure to legs or hands is important to think about.

To help think more thoroughly about health, can you describe his diet, when he was last seen by an Exotic vet, and maybe any medical conditions he has had? Also, include anything that you may think would upset him, besides the outside free range time restriction, because since he’s free roam in your home, it makes it more unlikely that’s the source of frustration. Also include how often he’s exposed to your presence and interaction, as well as other people.

Sorry for the long post!

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

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