I’m 100% done with my female Netherland dwarf! I don’t know what to do anymore with her. I’ve had her for nearly 4-5 weeks and she’s still super aggressive. None of my other rabbits stayed this aggressive and I’m sick of being clawed and bitten when I even go to give her food! I was going to try and bond her to my rabbit domino but all that happens is she growls and tumps and he begins to chase her. ( they never fight though just chase ) I feel bad because I don’t have a official cage for her since when I first introduced them before I got her they’d seemed like a match made in hevean. I’ve alrealy spent $160 to treat a UTI so I don’t wanna get rid of her but what do I do about her nasty behavior! If it can’t be fixed or worked on I’m just going to have to get rid of her. Sadly I don’t have the space for a entirely different rabbit set up ( I have a big set up because I want them to have a lot of space )
Bratty female bunny
- Thread starter Squiddy
- Start date
Help Support Rabbits Online Forum:
It might be worth speaking to your bet to find out for sure if she has been spayed because that does sound like highly territorial behaviour.
It might also just be cage guarding, which is a normal behaviour for some rabbits. You can try only putting food in/cleaning etc when she isn’t in her cage, or not close to the doorway. Could you show us a photo of your setup? Maybe a video of the behaviour, to show when it happens and what it’s like?
It might also just be cage guarding, which is a normal behaviour for some rabbits. You can try only putting food in/cleaning etc when she isn’t in her cage, or not close to the doorway. Could you show us a photo of your setup? Maybe a video of the behaviour, to show when it happens and what it’s like?
I will send pictures when I get home for sure. She’s currently being kept in a XL dog crate at night, but during the day she has free roam of my room ( its bunny proofed don’t worry )
Her food and water is kept in her cage. She also attacks me anywhere it doesn’t matter where. I’ll set her in the bathtub while I sweep my room and when I go to move her back to my room she will lunge at me even tho it’s a totally new territory so I don’t think it’s territory aggression.
This isn't unprovoked attacks. She sounds scared and she doesn't like being handled. If you are reaching to pick her up out of the tub, it is frightening her. She's probably already scared at being inside a slippery bathtub, and possibly also from hearing the vacuum while she is in this scary new tub. Her "aggression" is simply self-defense. She is scared and reacting (like a cornered dog).
It is possible that she needs to be spayed, but even if she is already spayed, I'd suggest a new and gentler, more hands-off approach with her. I'd also suggest stopping the free roam for now as she doesn't appear to be adjusting. (Lots of space is not always a good thing - especially with a timid or insecure rabbit.)
Having had her for a mere 4-5 weeks is really a short time for some rabbits. It can take much longer than that for some rabbits to get adjusted. I'd suggest a do-over.
I'd confine her to her cage (with litter box) for at least several days. Keep the food, hay, and water near the entrance to the crate. (This is to minimize your intrusion into her space.) See if you can distract her whenever you refill her supplies so that she doesn't get the opportunity to 'protect' her territory.
Next, after several days have passed, use on x-pen to create a small space around her crate. Open her crate door so that she can come out of the crate and into the x-pen area at will. Sit inside there with her and do not touch her. Let her approach you. When/if she does, then ignore her. Don't try to pet her or pick her up. She needs time (probably more time than most) to gradually learn that you are safe. She needs to un-learn the fear that she seems to have developed of you.
After many days of her getting comfortable around you, only then should you try to pet her.
She just sounds like an especially timid girl that will take patience and time.
I'd also suggest taking a closer look at http://language.rabbitspeak.com/
I’ll take all of that Into mind thank you! But I will have to handle her for the next week because I need to give her oral medicine twice a day. Also isn’t the only way for a vet to tell if a female is spayed is to go inside and check?
Bummer. I'd suggest you try to give her the meds while she is on the floor. Just hold her where she is and insert the meds into her cheek (between cheek and teeth). Having to give her meds and her having a UTI probably isn't helping matters either. Poor girl.
Maybe until her meds are done, keep her confined in the open crate that is surrounded by an x-pen rather than allowing the entire room. I still think she is too insecure for too much space.
April LD
Well-Known Member
I agree, one other thing I might suggest, is lay with a towel or small blanket that you can put in her cage. that way your smell is inside with her, she can get using to your smell, smell, this may help. also, after her meds, try to give her a a nice treat. So she "understands" you are not just "mean" trying to give her meds, etc. She sounds extremely stressed and sometimes a nice treat can help her understand that good things come from you too...not just meds, and stress.
I have a bun who is spayed and she can get that way. I place my hand on her head and pet her tell her she is a good girl, and talk to her while I feed her hay and pellets.
Same with one of my male buns who is neutered, he can get territorial of his area too, I do the same...a little pressure, pet the head, talk to him, all while I feed him. It's getting better but it's been months...patience is all I can say.
Please have patience with her. She is in a new place, she has been ill, and she is handled a lot in a short amount of time...think if you had this giant picking you up, giving you meds, you don't feel good, you don't really know the space, the smells; wouldn't you feel scared, stressed, confused...give her some time. Try to give her a small treat before you give her the meds...and maybe a treat after or later that night just to show her good things come from you too.
Wishing you luck!!!!
I have a bun who is spayed and she can get that way. I place my hand on her head and pet her tell her she is a good girl, and talk to her while I feed her hay and pellets.
Same with one of my male buns who is neutered, he can get territorial of his area too, I do the same...a little pressure, pet the head, talk to him, all while I feed him. It's getting better but it's been months...patience is all I can say.
Please have patience with her. She is in a new place, she has been ill, and she is handled a lot in a short amount of time...think if you had this giant picking you up, giving you meds, you don't feel good, you don't really know the space, the smells; wouldn't you feel scared, stressed, confused...give her some time. Try to give her a small treat before you give her the meds...and maybe a treat after or later that night just to show her good things come from you too.
Wishing you luck!!!!
I started laying down beside her cage while I just played on my phone and afyer a few hours she warmed right up to me. Now she won’t leave me alone and demands love 24/7 ever since I began to pet her when she lunged at me she’s made a total 360 and loves it when I pet her.
April LD
Well-Known Member
YAY!!!!! I'm so happy for you both! 
now you can be in bunny love forever
now you can be in bunny love forever 
