Gizmo is bitting

[luna21]

As of lately ( im sure its because he's not neutered) when my DH says no and tries to redirect him, he will bite, tonight he didn't let go of his finger leaving a lovely mark and blood:cry2 we cant afford to get him neutered until May, so I pick him up and put him in his cage when he bites, are there any other useful suggestions:shame besides neutering ??:?

 

[elrohwen]

You could try gently holding down his head - this is something the dominant rabbit would do. As much as I'm against dominance theory in general, I think this is somewhat effective.

Have you tried yelping in a high pitched voice when he does it? If he's doing it to the point of holding on and drawing blood I'm not sure this will help, but it's usually the first place to start.

 

[Runestonez]

How old is Gizmo?

The reason I ask is bunns go through a phase at around 9 months to a year of age called the teenage phase and when I have run acoss this behavior...it usually around that time!
Rabbit bites are painful and...yeah mostly painful!:shock:

I would suggest continuing what you are doing re-directing him...but add a nice think pair of work gloves until he learns biting isn't going to work anymore...when he lunges or bites...firmly but gently push his head down...hold it there while in a firm loud voice you say..."NO!" Then repeat repeat repeat! BE firm...BE incharge and be consistant!

Biting can be a learned behavior...and as long as it works...he will continue to use it as a tool to get his own way! We had this happen with a lionhead boy of ours...he bite me so hard he removed most of my fingerprint and kept part to eat!:shock::shame

We started to use workgloves for the next little while when we worked with him...and it took a few weeks but once he learned he could no longer get his own way using his teeth the behavior stopped!

If you are noticing that this behavior happens when he is out and about...I would suggest restricting his area. Some bunns can get a little paranoid sometimes if they have too much area to protect...so start by restricting his area...work with him with the gloves and as the behavior improves...gradually expand his territory again!

I hope some of these tips help!
They have worked for us in the past!

Danielle

 

[luna21]

thanks I will give that a try!!!

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

elrohwen wrote:

Have you tried yelping in a high pitched voice when he does it? If he's doing it to the point of holding on and drawing blood I'm not sure this will help, but it's usually the first place to start.

This is what I was going to suggest. Yelping an "Eeeeee" in a high pitched squeal could help him learn this is unacceptable and that it hurts.

 

[luna21]

I've actually tried squealing or clapping my hands and loud noises, he seems unfazed by them now...lol:whistling

 

[Holland_Lop]

I have the SAME issue, my holland lop nips at my feet, and gets very territorial when he is out and about in my room. He is about 10 months, and is altered, unfortunately, fixing your bunny isn't always a quick fix (he's been fixed for 3 months now) and they still go through the naughty teen months.

My vet had suggested that I hold his head down (as others have suggested) to show that I am dominant, and to not give the bunny what he wants when he nips (food, hay, moving out of his way) that way he knows nipping does not work. I even put my bunny in his cage for a time out, partly because im so frustrated with the nipping, and to show him that if he does this he will lose out on play time.

as far as yelping, i've done that from day one and it has not worked. My vet told me that in bunny language, yelping means extreme danger or death, so yelping really wont work when it comes to nipping. They apparently, dont respond to noises like that, so perhaps it is a waste of time? please keep us updated, as nipping appears to be a major issue in this forum!

 

[Runestonez]

For the most part rabbits are non-verbal...and they will get a message across the best way they know how!:biggrin:Imagine being 4 pounds and having to train your stoopid human who is 20X your size! Pain is a great motivator!

Yes...biting, lunging and boxing are issues most owners come up against...there is no "quick fix" and because of this it is a major reason many rabbits are given up by their owners. Not only does the biting hurt...but it is more like they are acting out against YOU personally...and that hurts even more! Betrayal by a loved one!

My hubby and I love to take in aggressive and territorial rabbits. They are hard to work with...but really do have amazing personalities.

Westarted off yipping and squeeling...it has never worked for us...so we adapted!

The one thing I have found when our bunns were very young and would start to do this...as you wouldn't want to get your face too close to an adultticked off bunn...was (please don't laugh) we would put our chin on the bunns head, push it downwith our chin and make a grumping noise similar to what momma bunns do when they discipline their kits. The bunns we have raised from kits have never displayed much in the way of territorial behavior...only the rescues and such we brought home as older bunns...I'm not sure if this had anything to do with it.

We have found holding their head down and saying "NO" loudly and then repeating it and not letting them get their own way is the best...so far...with every bunn it is a different experience! No two bunns are the same...have been raised the same...or act the same...so the rules change. But it is a good place to start!

Danielle

 

[luna21]

I think Giz has quite a personality he is such a dear heart, I am willing to do whatever it takes to help him I dont know exactly how old he is, but according to the vet he should be about 7-8 months at the moment !