Suddenly Biting!

[bklynbun]

My bun, Lola, came to me in early Dec. 2014. She is 1.5-2 years old, lionhead mix. She is spayed. Her personality is a bit timid unless she’s in a diva mood in which case she’s all princess. She lives free in the living room (bun safe) of my apartment most of the time save if a guest is on the sofa for the night or she’s not snacking on enough hay for my liking – then I close her in her xpen with her litter and water, etc. So really 98% of the time she’s free range in the living room. It’s just she and I in the house, I don’t live with anyone or have other animals. She’s a big eater, healthy girl, with proper diet.

Two weeks ago I started volunteering with shelter bunnies once a week. When I came home from the first night, even after washing up, she lunged and bit me. The behavior has continued since then. When I come in from the shelter I changed and showered. Even on days when I don’t go to the shelter and am not around other buns/animals this random biting behavior continues. It’s usually like this: We’ll be sitting together, on the sofa or floor. Maybe I’m giving her a treat(have always hand fed her for treats) or maybe I’m just petting her. Out of nowhere she lunges and bites. Another scenario I’m seeing is when I come into the house from being away she’ll come out to greet me, check me out with a little sniff then move on. If I move to pet her when she comes to me she may bite at me. Other times as I’ve moved around the room she’s lunged at my feet, chasing and biting me.

The coordinator at the animal shelter said she’s just being a jealous bun. But the problem happens even when I haven’t been at the shelter that day/am not wearing clothes that have been to the shelter/am cleaned up. I thought maybe it was a territorial thing, she’s become territorial of the living room. But she’s never territorial about things that are very much hers (litter box, cardboard hut, inside her x-pen) so I feel like that’s probably not it.

When she does bite I give a loud “OW!” and immediately turn my back to her and give her ‘the back’. She seems to get in the moment that she did something wrong but the problem has persisted. Ideas?!?! This is quite unlike her!

[Tessie]

Oh dear, that’s not nice!

Ummmmm I’m not too sure what to suggest really….is there anything else that has changed besides the animal shelter?
But I’m sure someone else can help better than me!

[Author]

Messages