Help with aggressive bunny!

[SirPercy&I]

Hi Everyone, I adopted my holland lop from the shelter this past weekend. From the sounds of it, he has been in multiple homes, and was on the list to be euthanized.I am willing to give him the time he needs to mellow out (hopefully). I know its barely been a week, but I need advice! He seems to be very aggressive. He has not biten, but I cannot even give him his food, treat bowl or sweep up his cage without him trying to attack my hand. As soon as my my hand is in the cage, he jumps at me and scratches. He constantly thumps. I've kept the room pretty quiet, and I let him hop around while I 'ignore', him. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.:?

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Need to treat him like an alpha rabbit would. If he comes at you, pin him down. We had a couple that were exceptionally aggressive, so I'd pin them and roll them onto their back and talk with them for a bit till they calmed down. They are all model citizens and can be kind of pesty wanting a rub. Day and night difference. If it's just in the hutch, I'd still pin them or take them out and hold them and establish your dominance. Better that, then they learn they can intimidate you. It makes for a lot easier time cleaning and feeding.

 

[SirPercy&I]

Thank you for your reply! I will definitely do this. I am not afraid of him lunging at me, I am just so sick of scratches all over my arms, and want a sweet rabbit!

 

[funnybunnymummy]

Is he neutered? Cage territoriality is often due to hormones.

There are two ways to approach this:

Option one: only feed, clean, or otherwise mess with the cage when the bunny is elsewhere.

Option two: wear thick gloves and don't let him push you around.

One thing, though, do you pick him up out of his cage, or allow him to exit and enter on his own? I think rabbits should be allowed to enter and exit their cages on their own as they can come to associate hands in their cages with being grabbed and may attack them. Some people use carriers or boxes if the cage is too high for the rabbit to jump into or out of.

Hope that helps!

Rue

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:yeahthat:We have a couple of apple boxes with cutouts at both ends we herd our bunnies into then put it up to their hutch. The removal is by hand and we wait till they come over for a rub.

 

[toyabrooke]

I had a few of the same problems when we got our Napoleon a few weeks ago. He was very on edge (mostly due to hormones which will now slowly be decreasing), but I think a lot of it was also due to fear - He was in a whole new place away from his mummy and here I was this giant THING that could very well eat him. I thought when I first got him "ohwell I wil make you love me", but I realise now how nieve that was. It all takes time (which I know, REALLY sucks) and lots of patience. Now I just sit around him and let him do his thing and he comes to me. He loves to be picked up and nursed (lots of teeth grinding ) but still doesn't like to be petted on the ground just yet.

We tried showing assertion and dominant behaviour to Poe, but I think all that did was make him more fearful of us. Since I haven't been punishing naughty behaviour through dominance or timeouts, he has been much more comfortable with me and will lay much closer to me and seems to follow me and know my voice.

Every bunny is different though - that's what so great! :bunnyhug::bunnyheart

Toya :mrsthumper:

 

[SirPercy&I]

Well, today it seems he is mostly cage aggressive. I have him in our guest room, and I have been sitting on the floor with my laptop while he runs around. He is very interested in my 8 lbs maltese, and isn't afraid to jump onto my lap. I haven't picked him, and have been just talking to him. hopefully he'll come to me when he feels comfortable! Small steps!