Why is he nipping?

[funnybunnymummy]

We've had Gus for nearly three months now. And from time to time he's nipped myeight-year-old son (yes, the same one he seems to love the most!). The firstcouple oftimes, I'm pretty sureit was becausehe wasfeeling cornered.He'd gone under a chair or behind the toilet, and my son wastrying to pet him.At firstGus would nudge him, then bat at him with his front paws, then finally nip him. (I explained all this to my son, so he knew if he got nipped it was his own doing! )

It didn't take very long, just a couple weeks, but as Gus began to trust us more, this behaviour stopped.

He's nipped my son a couple other times. When they've been playing on the floor, he'd nip him for apparently no reason. I thought maybe it was because he didn't want to behugged or petted or held or whatever it was my son was doing with him at the time. The nips were never very hard (never left a mark, and never made my son cry), just enough to make my son go, "Ow! Gus!"

But more recently, he did something much more aggressive that has me worried. The other day, my son was lying on the floor with him (like he often does) feeding him a couple treats, when all of a sudden, Gus basically charged him and nipped him on the leg. Then before my son could scramble out of the way, he charged and nipped him even harder.I quickly scoopedhim up (he looked like he was goingafter him again!) and my son ran to the couch. Then I locked Gus in his cageand told him what a bad bunny he was.

I felt so bad. My son was crying and couldn't understand why the bunny basically attacked him! He had a big red welt on his leg too!

Since then,Gus hasseemed to be fine, but both my sons have been really leery around him. Sometimes when hehops along after them (as he often does witheveryone in the family) they start getting scared he's going to nip again andclimb up on the nearest couch or chair to get away from him.

Any insight as to why he did this (and if I should be worried it'll happen again!) would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Rue

 

[Pipp]

Its really hard to read bunny minds and some interpret things said/done in the lagomorph language. He could be jealous of something/someone, or playing, or correcting someone's inappropriate behaviour.

I find the nips endearing, it shows attitude. They really don't hurt. I haven't had one break skin yet (unless I was being mistaken for a carrot).

Scooter was an actual attack rabbit, but other than him, the others we either 'you're misbehaving again!' kind of bites or 'I love you and I think you've been cheating on me'.

If there's another bunny on the other side of the bunny gate and I go to leave 'our' room, Pipp chases me, growls and honks and bites my feet. (She weighs two pounds, it's hilarious).

Sometimes she'll take a nip out of my stomach when she's on my lap and I've done something to tee her off.

Sherry always used to pretend to be mean and growl and charge you when you'd reach into her cage and even put her teeth on your hand, but she'd never actually bite. (I never pulled my hand away, so I know).

My Flemish Zak will bite (sort of) out of fright when you pick him up, but not a sudden bite, more of a warning that he's reaching for a body part and you'd better let go.

Dill would try and nip when you were holding him too, but he wasn't frightened, he was just saying 'stop that!'

In those cases, as long as you were holding them properly -- with their backs against your body and a firm hand on their chests -- they can't do much damage.

In all cases, it was just a matter of NOT giving in -- I'd pick them up or hold them tighter and keep telling them that I'm a lot bigger than them.

Your son is going to have to remember he's the top bunny and communicate that to Gus. Yelping and loudly saying 'no!' is the best initial reaction. And remember that BEFORE the second bite. And he's going to have to remember the nips don't really hurt.

The only time I've seen a bunny bite and break skin was when Darry sunk her teeth into my roommates hand when he was messing with her hay (but she's a mini-lop and pretty ornery).

And Scooter the killer mini-rex who I dearly miss. (But we won't go there).


sas :clover:

 

[Maureen Las]

If Gus was a baby when you got him and is now growing into adolescence he is becoming hormonal. Nipping and biting behavior is often triggered by raging hormones.

I have seen this time and again in shelter rabbits.


The single most effective method to discontinue this behavior is to have your rabbit neutered. it will take a month or so for his hormone level to drop and most likely so will the aggressiveness.


If he is already neutered then you are dealing with another issue which can also be resolved with patience.

let us know...

 

[funnybunnymummy]

Thanks, guys.

Until this last incident, the nips didn't hurt my sonand he often brought them on himself (like trying to pet bunny when bunny was trying to sleep :rollseyes), etc. It's just this most recent incident that has me concerned. The welt he gave him was huge! I'd hate to see this become more serious!

I've told him to yelp or squeal when the bunny nips him, but he justsays, "Ow!" (and keeps on petting him...). How would he show he's top bunny? (I thought bunny's were always top bunny and we were just slaves... :biggrin2

He came to us as an adult bun.Theneighbours we got him fromsaid he was two years old and neutered. I had himvet checked about a month ago and the vet confirmed he was neutered. So I don't think it's hormones. (Though the lovin' he gives his big rubber ball sometimes has me wondering... :shock

Rue

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Definitely get him neutered when you can, which can make the behavior worse, if you don't.

Haha. The nipping? Absolutley, and definitely don't eat something he might like and put your hand down, we learned that the hard way. Hubby wound up bleeding from trying to give chips to an eager bunner!:shock:

Very good of you to have your son squeal if he gets nipped, that is what the House Rabbit Society says to do as well! Very good teaching there!

:bunnydance::highfive:

 

[elrohwen]

When my bun was young he would get nippy when excited during play. I think he was trying to play with me, but I didn't like being nipped! I found the most successful thing was to push him away and say "No!" firmly. If he did it again, I got up and left. He quickly learned that nipping made him lose a playmate.

However, if a bun is nipping because they want you to leave or stop doing something, clearly leaving them alone will only reinforce that. But since he loves your son, I wonder if part of it is him trying to play inappropriately and hurting your son accidentally (at least in the last situation you described).

I've also been told that pushing their head down for a few seconds will show them that you are dominate and that their behavior is unacceptable. I would have your son try this first the next time he bites.

My final suggestion is to get a water bottle to squirt him with. This would probably work best if you handled the water bottle while your son was playing with him. If he bites (or is lunging to bite) squirt him and say "No!" in a firm voice. This works very well for some rabbits, though it make take a few times for him to put together that biting means a squirt of water.

Good luck!

 

[Baby Juliet]

The thing with biting rabbits is counter measures works only if the rabbits wants to stop. If a rabbit really wants to bite me no amount of loud screaming will make it stop till it's through with the bite.

Obviously you've learned that neutered rabbits is not a cure all.

If anything works before you sons get too scared of him please be sure to let us know. Your rabbit may just prefer less attention. Sometimes the best solution is to get a rabbit that don't bite. Just as rabbits will get along with one but not another, you might have to find one that get along with you.

 

[funnybunnymummy]

Thanks, guys.

Do you think it would be worth it to put him in his cage if he nips again? D'you think he'd put two and two together? Or would it be better just to ignore him when he does it?

I'll also teach my son the proper way to push his head down and invest ina squirt bottle. I'm hoping thatGus was just getting carried away and didn't realize he'd hurt my son.

Oh, and I don't plan on trading Gus in on another rabbit just because he's nipped my son a handful of times and had one "bad" episode! :shock:

Rue

 

[missyscove]

When I first got Timmy he would nip a lot, never hard enough to break the skin, but hard enough to annoy me. Everytime he bit I would squeal and shortly thereafter he stopped. It's important for Gus to know he's hurting him.

 

[funnybunnymummy]

Thanks, Christina!

Now I've thought about it a bit more, it seems likeGus was either trying to get my son to "get outta the way" or was playing some kind of weird game. "You got me, now I'm gonna get you!" :shock:

I hope he was just getting excited playing or just didn't realize he'd nipped him so hard. Because if he knew he was really hurting him, then we definitely have a bigger problem on our hands!

If it happens again, I'llget my son to squeal loudlyand then pin Gus's head down for a few seconds. Hopefully that'll get the message through!

Rue

 

[NorthernAutumn]

I agree with the thought that he is communicating. I got my ankles nipped last week for not hurrying up to do something or other that Slatey thought I should be doing.

Does Gus give any warning vocalizations before nipping? Slatey will grunt, and I know that if I keep testing him that a nip is coming. Ear position can tell you a lot as well. I would be watching to see what signals Gus is giving before he nips... if no obvious cranky signs, I would assume it is some version of play.

Slatey has a version of tag where he will grunt/bellow and charge, and I wouldn't put it past him to get nips involved for "fun".

I have seen what gerbil teeth can do to a finger. There is no doubt in my mind that if Gus means to bite, there will be one heck of a lot of blood on the floor .

Squealing loudly works. High-pitched like a bunny scream tends to get the point across I'm not sure I would push the rabbit's head down, as they may move into a state of panic upon hearing the squeal. I would start with the squeal first, and see how that goes for the next week/two.

 

[funnybunnymummy]

Thanks, Autumn!

I don't recall if he grunted or made any other sound before he charged. I don't think hehad his ears pinned or anything either. As I recall, they were actually forward. I do know he had a very determined look on his face that had me quite concerned! :shock:

The more I think about it, the moreI think he was just trying to play, but got too rough! I was just really concerned that it could go from nipping to all out chomping! But he's been really good since, no nips or anything for a couple days. So I think if he was actually getting aggressive, we'd have seen evidence of it by now.

I'll hold off with any head pinning unless it's absolutely necessary. I'm kinda thinking that our reaction to him at the time might have enough to let him know it wasn't okay! Maybe I'll also do some role-playing with my son to get him to react by squealing instead of just saying "Ow!" :rollseyes

Oh, and the kids were much less jumpy around him this afternoon than the last couple days. So that's good too. Don't want the kids terrified of the rabbit!

Thanks again!

Rue

 

[missyscove]

Trust me when I say that if he wants to inflict some damage, he can and will. Rabbit teeth can do some serious harm to humans, other rabbits, etc.
When I'm working with a rabbit that I'm not comfortable around, I will wear thick gloves when reaching into their territory to protect myself. Wearing gloves gives me confidence and lets them get used to me.
You definitely don't want the kids to be terrified of the rabbit, but they also need to respect the rabbit's teeth and be aware that the rabbit is perfectly capable of hurting them.

 

[elrohwen]

I think it sounds like you have a great action plan. Just remember to be consistent. When my bun was nipping in play, it took me a few days to get him to stop. The first squeal or squirt might not fix the problem, but keep going and you should see results. Good luck! He's such a cute little guy.

 

[funnybunnymummy]

Thanks, guys!

I'll try to keep all this in mind. So far, though, he's been really good. Let's hope it continues this way!

Rue

 

[Runestonez]

When our one boy hit puberty he began to give us "love nips"...which are just a part of being a male...he was trying to tell us how much he loved us...and we furless hoomans were squealing and trying to get him to stop! lol

My arms would be all red form being nipped...this did stop immedately after neutering...we tried squealing and making noises to discoourage the grooming...but it just didn't help...a bunny in love is a bunny love...what can you do?!

Danielle

 

[zyymurgy]

If he can't switch to yelping, I'd suggest being louder with his NO!'s. Plus, you don't have to pin their head down - the neck is a little fragile, and you can hurt the bunny if you are too rough. I find that just covering their eyes and holding their head relatively still works for a bit of dominance. ;3

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

NorthernAutumn wrote:

Squealing loudly works. High-pitched like a bunny scream tends to get the point across I'm not sure I would push the rabbit's head down, as they may move into a state of panic upon hearing the squeal. I would start with the squeal first, and see how that goes for the next week/two.

Why thank you! This is what I tried to say earlier. It does work and it does make the bun back down from doing it repeatedly. You make the sound they make when they hurt, it does work most of the time.
It is an earie sound...:shock:

 

[funnybunnymummy]

Thanks, guys.

He hasn't nipped anybody since, but he has tried to nip both boys a couple times. We've learned to recognize the signs that he's going to nip, though. Usually it's preceded by some nudging and digging behaviour and a grunt or two. So we just put him in his cage for a bunny time out when he gets like that. I'm not sure if it's working or not, but at least nobody's getting hurt! :shock:

Thanks!

Rue

 

[GorbyJobRabbits]

I think even though he might be playing if he nips you should try the head pinning. Because treat him as you would a puppy. Even if a puppy barely nips its not funny. It needs to learn to play nice.

And if that rabbit wasn't socialized in the way you have him now with his previous owners, then he may prefer to be in his cage. And thus any time he begins to start the rude behavior he will associate going to his cage.

Has he ever stomped his feet? If he has stommped his feet thats basically the rabbits warning to leave it be. As well as the grunting and ears pinned.

I would look for other ways to correct the rude behavior he is displaying to your sons. If he doesnt do this behavior you to YOU, and just the boys in the house, I would lean as a male dominece situation. I'd just either way look into other methods of correcting the behavior without putting him away every time.