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Forum BEHAVIOR HELP: BITING BUNNY : LUEY

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    • Deleted User
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        His biting is getting out of control now and it is causing me concern.

        I would place him out in the loungeroom so I could clean out his pen, however, he thought he could pee everywhere in the lounge and I have had to place him in the middle pen next to Sprinkles while I do my Luey pen chores.  As I have indicated on another post, both Sprinkles and Luey have started spraying each other if they are in close proximity to one another.  Anyways, last night I thought I’d clean out Luey whilst  he was in his pen too, oh oh bad mistake.  Constant biting and l lunging at me (ouch!).  I ended up putting him in the middle pen again until I had finished.  He was running up and down the pen, seemed like he was dying to get back to his own pen (or maybe he wanted to have another go at me!).  I quickly finished cleaning and put him back.  Little Sod retreated to his box for an hour! 

        During the night I would go over to him and speak softly  … he would bite the bars and push his nose through the pen … me thinking he would like a nose pat, but no he was trying to bite me even through  the gaps and got me again!

        He has had a bit of a biting problem since I  have had him, but I feel it is getting worse and will escalate if I don’t nip it in the bud.


      • Gravehearted
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          well – it sounds like he’s got a lot of aggression and also is VERY territorial of his pen and is also having a turf war with Sprinkles. Likely the stress of the situation is causing the behavior , but it could also be he wasn’t handled enough in the past or even may have been abused. He likely is very frightened. But don’t lose heart, since I have known several very aggressive biting buns that with proper handling and time have turned into calm and sweet bunnies.

          The first thing I’d recommend is really watching him to try and figure exactly what is setting him off. Remember to pay careful attention and try to avoid whatever makes him really upset. Another tip that sounds funny when he’s being so bratty – is to make a BIG fuss over him every day, tell him how handsome he is and how much you love him. This really can help melt an aggressive bun.

          Remember bunny’s vision is very different from ours and our hands coming right at his face can be seen as a sign of aggression to a bunny. Try to keep your hands above his head and away from his nose. When he looks upset, stroke him gently from above, avoiding his face except for the forehead, and speak in a soothing voice. Positive reinforcement and understanding will go a long way in getting him to be calm and less aggressive.

          In regards to his cage – it’s important for him to feel like he has a place to call his own. Open the door and let him come and go on his own time. Wait until he’s out of his cage to clean it, change his water, or do other housekeeping. After a few weeks, you can begin to try to touch him in his cage, but don’t grab him or mess with his stuff. Wear gloves so you don’t jerk your hand around, which may provoke him. Keep your hand above his head and then calmly and quickly bring it down to the top of his head. If he lets you touch his head, very softly stroke it. Tell him what a great big, brave, beautiful rabbit he is. Then let him alone until the next day, when you try the exercise again. Eventually he should associate your hand in the cage with a nice nose rub, not being grabbed.

          (help from hrs article on aggression)


        • BinkyBunny
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            Does he bite you when he’s out or just when he’s in the his pen? It sounds like he’s being very territorial. Sprinkles spraying and marking may add to his need to protect his place. So when you come by just to clean, he now sees that as another attempt of someone/bunny way to invade or takeover his place. So I think gravehearted’s advice about allowing him to feel his place is truly his by letting him out while you clean is a good idea.

            I think in addition it is a good idea to teach him that you are not a threat even when you are just sitting near his cage. That YOU will not spray him like Sprinkes. (spraying is a definite dominate move and if Sprinkles started it, it is meaning a dominance war!) You have to let him know you are not part of that war. So you can try a few things for the next few weeks.

            1. Sit quietly on the floor next to the cage. Don’t reach out to him, just ignore him at first. If you have anything you can do on the floor, like opening mail, or doing bills, at least you can do something while ignoring him.  Try not to make real quick moves or he may spray you.

            2. Talk to him

            3. When he seems to relax while you are there, then offer a treat to him. (cut treats up into tiny bits, so you can offer more without causing digestive upset) You may need to wear gloves so if he does bite, he realizes biting won’t affect you.

            Then after some time (a week or so???)  when you feel he’s calmed down, and trusts you near his cage, then try and reach in (with gloves) and pet him. Reaching in with a treat may be advised!

            Try this for a few weeks and see if this makes him at least relax while you are around his cage.

            3. When he seems to rela


          • Deleted User
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              Thanks for your advice Ladies … yes he will bite me if he’s out and about, mainly during the time I am trying to herd him back in his pen at bedtime. He will circle me and jump up to my hand … thats why I have been using the feather duster.

              I will try your suggestions and see how he goes.


            • dmh426
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                is he neutered?!?


              • MooBunnay
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                  Hi! My boyfriends first bunny was very similar, he was incredibly dominant, lunged at anything that came in his pen, and had quite the attiitude.  After some work though, Henri is now an incredibly sweet and calm bunny, he even grooms my BF’s head when he sticks it in the cage! So do not worry – Luey has a lot of potential!

                  One trick that my boyfriend always used is that if Henri lunged, he would not take his hand out of the cage, but get his hand on top of Henri’s head and push it (gently) to the floor.  If he could, he would even use his own chin to push Henri’s head to the floor, and keep it down for a few seconds, and say a very firm "no" (not loud, just kind of in a low voice).  Apparently thats something buns do in the wild to get other buns in line (not the "no" part, but the head pushing, haha) and it worked very well on Henri.  He started to get the idea that my BF was in charge and not him.  It also showed Henri that grunting and lunging had no positive effect, instead, he would end up with his chin on the ground!  If you are nervous to keep your hand in the cage, I would go with that suggestion of using gloves, I think its very important that when he lunges you don’t back away!


                • Deleted User
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                    Yes, Luey is neutured. He is getting much better as I have been trying a few different things with him … thanks to the girls here who have given me some great advice.

                    I am still reluctant to put my hand in the cage though … he lunged at me this morning, but he bit the cup that contained the pellets and not my hand … thank goodness!

                    As I was trying to pour the cup of pellets into his dish he was pushing his head under the cup ….. eerrrrrr did he want a head pet? I was trying to get around his head but he kept doing the head pushing still and in the end he bit the cup.

                    Other than that he has not tried to bite me … maybe he was annoyed with the cup! He was good last night when I had him out of his pen … he came to investigate a few times whilst I was cleaning him out, but most of the night he was doing his bunny things.


                  • Lucy
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                      when Fujoe was aggressive I found that petting his head while he was eating helped out a lot. That way he connected Food + Pets = happy. Also, for you, his mouth is full so he can’t bite you as quickly.


                    • skunklionshow
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                        Funny, our pet therapy program tends to introduce the kids to "their rabbit" by recommending that they read a book next to the bunny’s cage.  

                        Jessica is still not very fond of me…she prefers the hubby and the cats.  However, I don’t let her get dominant w/ me, I push her head down. I also let her come to me on her own terms and time.  She gets free cage access when we are home, else she is caged. 

                        Now that we added her cage addition (see some good news for a change on general questions) she doesn’t lunge or bite me when I need to access her cage for cleaning or food.  She seems much happier w/ the big juicy cage!

                        However, since Spring Break, Trigger the Therapy bun has gotten really mean w/ me!  He would occasionally nip me if I corrected him or tried to cage him, but now he bites me anytime I get near him.  I can’t even feed him w/o getting my skin broken. 

                        During Spring Break he stayed at our main center.  We have an animal assisted therapy center there.  He had his regular cage.  He has such a great personality that one of the therapists let him stay in her office for several days.  Its like he knows I was the one that brought him to the center.  He seems like he hates me now!  He lunges and bites me over nothing.  Today I ended up w/ a big bloody mess on my arm.  We are raising the funds for a neuter, but I don’t know what to do in the meantime.?


                      • MooBunnay
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                          Hi!

                          Yes, i think when he was pushing his head under the pellet cup he wanted head pets.  My bns do that too, they ignore the pellets and try to pet their head on the cup, so of course I feel bad and then start giving them head pets!

                          When dealing with difficult bunnies, try not to get your hand in front of their face, if you can get your hand on top of their head before they can lunge at you, I find that they rarely turn around to bite, especially if they are getting nice head pets.  Also, if you are putting your hand into their cage, they are also being very cage territorial.  Can you set up an expen that they can walk out of their cage and into while you clean their cage? That way they will not be angry at you for rearranging their bunny zen arranged cage!


                        • Deleted User
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                            I have been letting him out of his pen when I am cleaning him out … He pretty much has the roam of the loungeroom and kitchen area now … he loves to hang around my feet when I am preparing food! He has not bit me which is obviously a sign that things are improving. These last few mornings we have had no bitey issues so I am pleased its progressing well. He has been sticking his nose through the pen bars and putting his head down so I have been able to stroke his little head.

                            All is going well which I am so pleased about. He is also very good with his litterbox habits when he is out and about.

                            Thanks again for your responses 🙂


                          • skunklionshow
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                              I was wearing backless clogs today.  As I was delivery fresh veggies to the therapy bunnies….

                              Trigger ran after me and bit my heel!  Several of the kids saw it and started laughing.  I couldn’t help but laugh too!  Why does he hate me so?  Has Jessica been sending him telepathic messages about how tasty my blood is?  Are they little "bunniculas" in the making?


                            • BinkyBunny
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                                Dawn – YEAH, I’m happy to hear your Luey is doing better.

                                Skunkliion: Rabbits that nip while food is being given is usually due to an overzealous bunny who is basically saying GIVE ME MY FOOD, and you’re in my way.  So, one of the things you can do is use a squirt water bottle and as soon as he nips, say No and give him a squirt.   The trick is to do it right away.  You can’t go look for the water bottle, then come back and squirt.   So if you find he’s makes a habit of this, bring the squirt water bottle with you.

                                Regarding Jessica – Sometimes rabbits are afraid or territorial with one member for whatever reason – who knows – sometimes it’s as simple as perfume choice and other times more complicated like body movements.    But you can make friends with her by offering her a treat every time you reach for her or come near her.  (since you don’t want to overload her with sugary things, if she likes rosemary, or mint that would be good, and/or cut up her treats into tiny little pieces so you can offer more.  Just be sure that when you are offering it to her you come from the side so she can see you.

                                Here are some other tips regarding aggression – it covers many scenarios.  

                                http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/aggression.html

                                 


                              • skunklionshow
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                                  I will get a spray bottle for Trigger.  I really think his problem is that he believes that he is the King of everyone and everything.  Since I believe I am likely seen as the head bunny, doing the cleaning, training, feedings, checking ins, etc., that he wants to be the King of me……

                                  wait a second…..This behavior began post Spring break.  I thought he was ticked off w/ me for bringing them to the head animal center for the break, but I also changed classrooms w/ another teacher.  That classroom has the other male bunny, Leo.  I bet he smells Leo on me.  He and Leo stalk each other in the hallways.  We have to ensure they are separated during their "free-time" so they don’t fight.  We have to keep a barrier on our doorway when Trigger has the hallway.  Duh….sometimes I’m a real bone-head!


                                • MooBunnay
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                                    Yep, that is a good thought that you smell like the other bunny! His agression can definitely come from the scent of the other boy bunny….he knows you are CHEATING on him

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                                Forum BEHAVIOR HELP: BITING BUNNY : LUEY