She bit me on the face! (Problems with my nervous energy)

[KytKattin]

 Or something… Her behavior seemed hostile, but all I felt was wet, no teeth… I was down on the floor trying to get a picture with her and when I called her over she ran towards me and looked like she was going to bite my nose. For all I know it was just a really enthusiastic kiss? I just don’t know how to interpret the behavior and it kind of freaked me out. Needless to say, I won’t be putting my face at her level for a while. I wish I wasn’t so jumpy around her. I am terrified that she is going to nibble or bite me. I am like this with most other animals, cats included, but not dogs. Never dogs. The funny thing is that I don’t think she would even bite hard, it just freaks me out. I do plenty more painful things that leave bruises and scars, but I am afraid of a 3lb rabbit.  Suggestions? Does anyone else feel this way about their rabbit?

[RabbitPam]

Rabbits learn to control their teeth very well as they become adults, so it is only when they are very young do they bite and break skin. They do use their teeth to communicate, so it is possible she will set her teeth on you, but if it breaks skin it’s an accident. Still, if it bothers you, then if she bites you scream in a high pitched squeel, which is bunny talk for “you hurt me”. She will also pull on your clothes with her teeth to get your attention or get you to move.

But bunny licking is kissing, so if she runs over and just licks you, she loves you and is giving you kisses. I understand not wanting her to bite your face – I got a love nip from Spockie on my upper lip years ago because it was just hanging out there in his face and looked tasty, and he was young so he got excited and chomped. Just keep your face away from hers if you’re concerned. It’s not strange at all.

[Sarita]

Bobby bit my face the other day. It was totally my fault of course, I put my face in his face and he didn’t like it. I think it is territorial and you have to change your behavior as she’s pretty much told you, please, don’t do this.

Bobby is a grunter and a bit of an attacker – I laugh of course, because he’s small and just defending himself…

[RabbitPam]

Sarita, Bobby emailed me about it. He said if you don’t brush your teeth, put on makeup and comb your hair before getting in his face, he’ll do it again.

[Sarita]

LOL – dang, I thought he was too short to reach the computer but I guess I was wrong. Thanks for letting me know RP, I’ll remember that for the next time :~)

[Rei]

I used to get really nervous about Molly biting me. Now I’m not AS nervous, but still am a little bit. Its like I know it won’t hurt too much, but its still a shock if/when it happens. When i was younger I had a hamster and it bit really hard and ever since then was afraid of the 3 oz. hamster beast!! haha

[KytKattin]

I was a good two feet away from her. She literally charged me! Though again, I can’t say if it was aggressively or not. She runs towards me like that when she wants a treat. At least we are better with my feet. I don’t have to dance around her as much. Yay for 21+ years of dodging Chihuahuas to know how to not step on a rabbit when she is trying to do something with my toes (again, not sure if it is charging, kisses, nibbles, etc). I will say though that she totally does that with my clothes, the moving thing. I need to get her a blanket to dig in.

Rei: Hamsters are terrible little creatures! My sister was one of the best hamster owners you can imagine: patient, gave her a good diet, kept her cage clean, never startled her. That darn critter took more blood from her than I have drawn out of me every 4 months for labs!

[Stickerbunny]

Aggressive biting, if they really want it to, can hurt. Usually nips are just “you’re in my way” or “I don’t like that” or “I love you, lets groom” – bunnies communicate with each other with teeth and they don’t know our fragile human skin can’t handle it, unless we teach them. For example, last night I was laying at the wrong side of the bed because my nook was plugged in and the cord wouldn’t reach to the normal side, so Powder nipped me on the elbow cause I was in the way of his nightly bed zoomies. A high pitched squeal will let them know it’s not OK to use teeth. If she didn’t break the skin, or even make it hurt, she wasn’t trying to hurt you, just say something.

And female hamsters I found more prone to biting than males, my males never bit me but the females… well, lets just say I lost a fair amount of blood as a kid to the females. lol

[kinggoblin]

I’ve only gotten a few warning nips on my fingers when he was younger and on my legs if he thinks they are in his way of hopping around. Mine likes to get in my face but only to bump me with his nose.

[Elrohwen]

Is it possible that she just nose bumped you pretty hard? My buns often feel wet around the mouth/nose area and if they shove me with their nose I can feel the wetness. Mine also charge for treats, though I think aggressive/fear charging is different once you know the bunny well and can read them.

I know what you mean about being nervous about nipping. I don’t feel that way with the bunnies, but I did feel that way with my gerbils sometimes and they were even smaller.

[Author]

Messages