Rabbit Aggression

[massie777]

I have a rescue bunny that is very cage aggressive. He is a small 3 pound neutered male dwarf bunny. Ever since he came into the rescue he has been cage aggressive, i can't even get his food in his cage if he is in it. Once i put my hand in he lunges right for it. How do i help him get over this? I just feel bad because i can't bond with him because he wont let me go near him. Also he will not find a home if he keeps acting like this. Please i need help. Thanks

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

massie777 wrote:

I have a rescue bunny that is very cage aggressive. He is a small 3 pound neutered male dwarf bunny. Ever since he came into the rescue he has been cage aggressive, i can't even get his food in his cage if he is in it. Once i put my hand in he lunges right for it. How do i help him get over this? I just feel bad because i can't bond with him because he wont let me go near him. Also he will not find a home if he keeps acting like this. Please i need help. Thanks

can you pet him,with one hand then feed him with the other>??..does he bite??.their vision is about 360*,only two colors/green,blue,no red,/.there is a blind spot directly in front of them..,allow him to smell you first before you close in(slowly)attempt to feed/.time and acquaintence should calm him down..sincerely james waller,,has he had an exam??..:wave:

 

[Runestonez]

We have had many bunns over the years...we like to adopt aggressive bunns because they are the ones it is so hard to find homes for...

When we bring them home we let them adjust for a week and then we start working with them. No bunn in our home (we have 10) "owns" anything. We switch them from hutch to hutch, we switch toys, we change dishes and litterboxes. It keeps them off balance.

We give them loads of treats and socialize with them and get them used to us being in their space.
The biggest one is the lunging...bunns lunge and bite because it works...easiest way to get a hand out of somewhere you don't want it to be.
I suggest wearing a heavy glove and even if you just have to go in and pretend to tidy his house...get him used to the fact that he can't push you out. If lunging doesn't work...then there is no reason for him to keep trying!
Don't try to pet him or anything, just being in there is fine...lots of attention and treats and patience!

He'll come around!

Danielle

 

[sbaxter]

George was just like this and i worked round it he was happy to be petted on the floor infact he was in an indoor cage once i`d taken the top off he was fine because he knew he was getting out for run around time,He did exactually bite me when my hand was in filling his food bowl(i started wearing thick leather gloves just so my confidence levels stayed up as you are obv nervy that they may bite),But having said that week later he was neutered and since then he has mellowed out to the lovely bun he is now,But he does not allow me to pick him up and goes bonkers kicking am going to work on that!!

 

[massie777]

thanks everyone i will try your suggestions. He is a fighter though. even if i put my hand in front of his face for him to sniff me he automaticly lunges and bites. He has really bad front teeth that get clipped so biting really doesn't hurt but still. i will let you guys know how it goes.

 

[sbaxter]

poor bun obv hasn`t had a great start in life but with the care ,time and patience he`ll get now i`m sure he`ll come around,it`s a shame when they are like that and do not open themselves up to soak up the love and kindness that is around them,:hugsquish:

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Aww, he gets his toofies clipped? That could have something to do with it too. Not just cage aggression, which can also be handled as others have stated.

Try to not put hands in his face and give space, he might just calm down on his own after some time. Document how he reacts and see if it helps at all.

Let us know about his teeth trimmings too. Does he have malloclusionor another condition?

 

[snap]

Use heavy gloves, or oven mitts.
Never, ever give in and let him chase you out. Take a day you have nothing to do, put gloves on, and tidy his cage for maybe five minutes. Leave for about 15-20, then come back and 'clean'. If nothing else just hum to yourself and poke everything. Repeat the process and eventually he'll learn he can't get you out.

 

[silvermoon]

Not sure how his enclosure is set up, but if you can toss food in without opening the cage it may help too. I mean just tiny bits of something he likes. Pellets or tiny bits of carrot. Every time you walk near his enclosure, toss some in. Eventually he will realize your footsteps mean delicious things. This may help him to not lunge at you immediately as soon as you approach. The other tips are good to get him accustomed to you working in his enclosure.

 

[Maureen Las]

hereare some other links

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12319&forum_id=17

I had to deal with a very aggressive rabbit several years ago and I had to work hard on myself not to allow my emotions to rule me. After I had been bitten enough times it was dfficult to keep a level head butI did and after his health issues had resolved and he was physically able to be neutered he was fine.

Irealize that your bun is already neutered...

let us know how it progresses