When rabbit attacks (only men!)

[Gandalfs]

Hello forum!

I've been using these forums for a while now as a resource - I've been impressed with how helpful everyone is!

My wife and I recently adopted a rabbit from the local humane society. He is an unaltered male, Lionhead/some other domestic mix (I think). We bonded well at the shelter and he was soon taken to our home. He had been at the shelter with another rabbit, brought in at the same time. He was thought to have been a female by the previous "owner"... the other "female" rabbit was pregnant when the pair was dropped off at the shelter :rollseyes.

We were careful to place him into his home and give him some space for a couple of days. Upon placing him into the cage the first day, however, he lunged and bit me in the arm, drawing blood. I didn't think much of it - he was probably scared and I should have moved my arm out of the way (we transported with a covered cat carrier and let him hop into his new home - a NIC cage we had constructed.

We're still letting him get used to his new surroundings and try not to disturb him physically unless changing out water, adding food or letting him out to hop for a few hours.

It's in these brief moments of interaction that he always attacks me, a male, and leaves my wife completely alone. He only seems to do it when it's JUST me in the room. He had a wellness check with a local vet yesterday, a female, and behaved the whole time (100% healthy bunny, at least!).

I don't know if this is an issue with a male owner from his past abusing him, a hormones thing (unaltered) or simply him adjusting to his new home.

I'm prepared and committed to give him a good home no matter what - but it would be nice if I could work on this aggression (or whatever it is he's displaying).

I opened up his home to let him romp around about an hour ago. He was great until he got out of the cage, at which point he greeted me like a bat out of (a bad place) - charging my leg, jumping up, latching on with his teeth and shaking violently. There's a four-inch tear in my pants, now, and a decent scar to match!

Would neutering be a good first step? He seems to have quite the musky scent going on and is peeing everywhere (he was litter trained at the shelter... I know that's never a done deal and could be altered by the move... but he seems to wait until he's allowed somewhere new). I kept an unaltered male rabbit years ago - a complete sweetheart - and he never gave off the scents this guy is giving.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Sorry if I'm talking (typing?) everyone's ear off!

 

[Troller]

Wait, he's not neutered? I assumed all shelters do that before letting adoption through. If he's not, yes get it done as fast as possible. It might be his personality, it could be as you say he was abused, it could be a specific scent he's not liking about you, or he's just plain ornery. Who amongst you is giving the treats and food, and who is the more disciplinarian? (taking him away from pleasurable situations like keeping him from chewing household things, or from favorite pee spots etc.)Now others will share a more informed opinion but as a man, let me share my perspective on something. I truly believe that some rabbits judge us on our gender. When I went tp pick up my rabbit I was the only male in the room and I got sprayed by a female doe, one who supposedly has never done such a thing (heh, I'm handsomely smelly I guess what can i say ). Then while I'm the one who pets my rabbit the most, gives him the treats and food, takes care of him (though I also am the meany when I take away the "fun" destructive stuff) he tends to like my wife better, and let her get away with things I can only dream of. Maybe it's because I don't use the baby sweet tones she uses on him, i don't know but I believe there is a gender bias going on. Now I'll leave the floor for the more enlightened members here who I'm sure have better factual evidence then I

 

[Gandalfs]

Thank you for the quick response.

To help clarify:

The Nebraska Humane Society staff said they don't alter rabbits or other "pocket pets" (their words, not mine... and yes, it seemed a bit odd). I already started calling around on Friday to price out the operation at local vets that see rabbits (maybe Gandalf knows what I'm up to...).

As far as feeding, interaction, etc. go, I suppose my wife has been more about giving him treats (just hay), although I'm the one stocking/cleaning/spending the most time around his housing area. My wife and I both sit in his room and have conversations with each other whenever possible, to get him used to our voices.

When he attacks, I remain calm and talk to him softly while ushering him back into the cage. I'm the only one disciplining in this fashion, as he only attacks while he's alone with me.

He's eating/drinking/sleeping like a content rabbit. Unlimited hay, 1/2 cup of pellets a day and going to work up to some greens each day, once I'm sure his gi is OK.

Thanks again!

 

[PaGal]

I have an unaltered male bunny that turns a year old this month and have no issues with spraying or aggression. The difference in your bunny and mine may just be personality. Maybe the difference is that (I am assuming since you did not state an age) you brought an older unaltered male into a new home whereas mine was a baby when I brought him home.
I am not against neutering when it is necessary and in your case it may be. Neutering should , but is not guaranteed, to help. He may also settle down more over time.
I'm sure more experienced owners will have more to say.

 

[ladysown]

get him neutered.
he's treating you like a rival.

 

[Blue eyes]

Do you have any idea of his age? Neutering was my first thought as well.
He definitely sounds like he views you as competition. Those hormones can cause quite the upset.

I've also heard some say that if the neutering is delayed for too long that the bad behavior can become ingrained. I'm sure you wouldn't want that. I don't think I've ever heard where a real hormonal bunny settles down all on his own in time. I have heard some bunnies that just seem to have a barely noticeable hormonal stage and they seem to do ok staying unaltered.

When he does behave inappropriately to you, you could try pushing his head to the floor (gently but firmly). This is how buns may discipline younger buns.

 

[Tam O Ham]

I'm sorry you have a bunny that's that way but you're absolutely right about your attitude. Don't give up on him and I think he'll come around. It might be that he was abused by a male previously but given the way he behaves while 'mama' is watching, it sounds a lot more like he's trying to show you who head bunny is. Terrible to have such a rival for your wife's affections like that - haha. If that is the case, the neutering should help a great deal but I also want to pass along this link which may be more helpful after the surgery when certain parts of his body stop making decisions for his brain.

http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

I got it from this site in fact and it's been pretty helpful to me with my own bunny but what I think will be encouraging to you is that it's written by a gentleman that began dating a woman with a bunny. A Bunny That Did Not Approve. He tells a bit of his story in it and it might give you some encouragement.

 

[Gandalfs]

Thanks again, everyone.

The humane society put him at 6 months old. This appears to match up with the behavior, but I'm no expert .

I'll update this thread once he's had his operation - hopefully with good news! I'm going to check out the links this evening after work.

Again, thank you; more updates to follow.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

All bunnies are individuals, so there is no real prediction to give. I'd say to just keep working with him, but don't let him attack without restraining him--I'd pin aggressive bunnies to the ground or pick them up and roll them on their back. This stopped the attacks quickly. Bonnie, a neutered female just loved me and was still courting. When Nancy would come into the room, she'd screech and attack her legs. One of us thought it was funny.