Hershel and nipping

[gmacarroll]

I just got Hershel on friday and we are in the midst of bonding! He is a very sweet man, who is taking more and more steps to come for pets and to hang around me (as opposed to just running around my room). I've noticed that he nips quite a bit, and i'm not sure why. I've never owned a rabbit before, so i'm not entirely sure what this behavior means. He's not mean about it...like here's an example: We were watching TV together and i was petting him on my lap. Then he started getting up and running around me on the chair, digging at my stomach and nipping me. He nipped me quite a few times, mostly at my clothes but he catches my skin at the same time. Is he trying to get my attention or is he mad at me? if he is nipping and i pet him (after which he seems to stop for a bit) is this reinforcing bad behavior?

 

[paul2641]

My Sonic does this and he is neutered, It is just your bunny investigating the whole situation getting him neutered would help an awful lot.

 

[Flashy]

He is probably nipping you to GET you to pet him, so yes, that is reinforcing the behaviour. I would just put him off your lap, or turn your back on him when he does it. Don't feel any emotion, just be calm.

My Cloud id like this because my dad just stroked him after he was scrabbled and nipped, despite me telling dad not to do that. Cloud is now three and it will now probably stay with him because its very ingrained. The sooner you beat it the better.

 

[gmacarroll]

alright. thank you both!!! He is neutered, though i'm guessing he still has the hormones in him since he was just neutered on thursday. I will make sure to not pet him next time he nips at me, don't want him to get in the habit!!!

 

[Flashy]

His hormones will take 4-8 weeks to settle so they will definitely still be there right now. This probably isn't about that though, although as he calms down you might find the behaviour eases (didn't with mine, because it is a learned behaviour not a hormone driven behaviour and mine is a very highly strung bunny) because he will generally be calmer.