Aggressive/Defensive Rabbit

[Happi Bun]

I'm looking for advice on how I can win this Rabbit's trust so she is more adoptable. She is at the rescue I volunteer with and aggressive. We are talking wants to bite and do damage, aggressive. Anytime a hand goes in the cage, even if you just lower it, she is after it. It's not just with her toys or cage either. When you reach down to pet her she will growl and go for your hand with an open mouth. She did bite someone before and actually hung on to the gal's finger.

Despite all this, she has a good relationship with the owner/founder and acts totally different with her, I believe because she trusts her. This rabbit was confiscated with a bunch of others in an abuse/neglect case involving a breeder that could no longer be bothered with caring for her animals. I'm not sure if she suffered physical abuse or what... honestly I don't want to know what turns a rabbit so defensive.

Lately when I volunteer I've been sitting by her cage and talking softly. When I give her pellets or hay I make sure to pet her, even though she does try her best to bite me. She does eventually settle down and tolerate the gentle petting. I'm determined to make her see that not all strangers are bad, which I know will take time. So any advice or techniques you'd like to share is greatly appreciated.

:wave:

 

[naturestee]

Can you set a pen up around her cage, and let her hop from her cage into the pen to be with you? IMO this can be one of the most important things to do with shy or aggressive rabbits. Then she can approach you on her own terms and outside of her territory.

I'd also recommend feeding her treats through the cage wire, or holding a small plate or dish with treats on it. That's how I trained Sprite (RIP) to take treats from me without going on the attack first. One thing I started as a distraction- holding her toys in front of her nose- turned into a game that she loved. She'd grab the toy from my hand, shake it, throw it, and wait for me to return it so she could do it again. Always use praise, they respond well to it.

Even with the biting, it's important to let her know that it does not phase you. Wear leather gloves if you need to, just do your best not to react when she goes for you. Tell her no gently but firmly and continue with what you are doing.

Best of luck! She'd do best in a foster home with more individual attention but I've made progress in a shelter environment also. The fact that she will allow some petting means she's doing better than some others I've seen that still got adopted.

 

[katt]

the goal is for sure to add trust.

naturstee has it right, you need to sit down with her and spend time.

if there is a seperate room, or you can add a pen to her cage or whatever then do that and bring a book or something small to do (like a pad of paper to doodle on or some knitting). sit down, let her out, then ignore her (as long as she isn't doing anything bad). she will come to you, after a while, when she sees that you aren't going to grab at her or anything.

let her slowly work her way to you, she might give you a sniff and back away or maybe a little nudge, but keep on ignoring her. don't talk to her or try to pet her.

its all about giving her time to adjust to you being there and when she realizes that you aren't a threat then she will want to know what you are doing and slowly want attention from you.

at least this is what i have done in the past with rabbits that have issues with trust. and after a few sessions it really does improve their relationships with humans!

good luck!