Grooming? Biting?

[BabyRue]

So my little diva I think is starting to test her limits. She loves to give kisses but randomly in the middle of it she will start lightly nibbling. Is she trying to see if she can get away with biting? Or is she just "grooming" me?

I pull my hand away and say no and lightly tap her nose(not at all a slap or hit its just a very light graze of her nose). But now she runs away when you pull your hand back.

How do I teach her this is wrong? Just keep pulling back and saying a firm NO! ? I don't want my little terror turning into a biting terror because I know if she starts biting my SO will say we can't keep her because we are trying to have kids and I can't have a terror of a bunny biting my kids

Its not even like I sit and coddle her all day. I will get down on the floor and play with her for about an hour or two each day but otherwise her play time is with my dog(who thinks shes a rabbit) and they play tag. She's never tried to bite my dog though she will nibble on her hair. My dog just lays there and sighs lol. My dog has never even shown any sign of aggression so I don't know where this is coming from.

 

[ZRabbits]

Rue is grooming you. As she is grooming her friend the dog by nibbling on her hair. That's why the dog isn't upset. They are buddies that play and groom each other. Kreacher was a groomer like that. Bunnies are used to grooming themselves and Kreacher had to realize Mom couldn't be groomed that way. The licking was fine, but the nibbling had to stop. I would give him a "No". when nibbling, but more scratches in between his ears (his favorite place) if he only licked. He got the picture. Bunnies are smart. Oh there will be times they test you, but just be firm. I know when my bunnies are testing me because they test me on everything all day. I wouldn't tap Rue on the nose though. I believe she really doesn't think she's doing anything but grooming her. You want the licks because that's a rabbits way of showing bonding. But you want to stop the nibbling part.

Hope this helps.

K

 

[BabyRue]

Thanks I didn't think it was being mean. I really don't think she has a mean bone in her body. Like my Maggie lol. I have only tapped her nose twice and that was today. Now I know its not limit testing I am not concerned.

I fully intend on keeping her with me until the end of her days. I just love her silly behavior so much. When she leaps and twists in the air. Goodness she is endless hours of entertainment lol.

So just keep rewarding the licks(which I love, she has been licking me non stop since the day I brought her home) and a firm NO when she nibbles.

 

[LakeCondo]

Make a small loud noise [like say ouch] when it happens & pull away a little, so she'll get the idea that we furless creatures have unprotected skin. When you need to show dominance, gently push her head down a little, rather than nose tapping.