New bunny is acting up

[Trissythelop]

Hi all!
I just brought my new bunny home today, he’s neutered and around 4 months old. So far he’s being aggressive and territorial, which is strange to me as he’s neutered. I’m keeping him as a house bunny, and he’s already done his business outside of the litter box twice, even though I’ve put some pee-soaked tissues inside the litter box. I’ve tried to approach his food and hay rack to replenish the hay, but he lunged at me twice with his claws. Also, when I sit around in the “bunny room”, he runs off to hide in his hideaway. Oh, and I stuck my hand near him to clean up his “accident”, when he kept moving his head towards me. I was scared that he’d bite, so I removed my hand immediately. I’m usually not scared of bunnies biting me, but based on his prior lunging, I backed away. He nipped me a few times when I went to visit him, but I was assuming that this was just to investigate.If I’m observing him from a distance, he seems pretty happy, loafing and binkying too. I saw his previous living quarters, which was pretty small and kept with an unspayed female, and he seems to have little scabs near his toosh, possibly from the female, but they seem to be healing well. Also, the breeder said that he was a Netherlands dwarf, but he seems much bigger (although his ears are pretty small). (And just to clarify I searched for bunnies in my local rescue, but they only take in dogs and cats, and sometimes mice and rats). So my question is:
Are his naughty actions a common behavioural issue with young bunnies, or should I call the breeder and ask for a refund? I don’t want to give up on him, but he’s proving to be way more of a handful, and naughtier than I expected.

[Asutt]

I’ve heard that it can take a few weeks/months for a neutered rabbit to calm down so perhaps give it some time. Also, if you’ve only just got him he might be slightly stressed out at the move and separation from the doe. My rabbit gets grumpy when he’s moved and he’s normally pretty friendly/placid. He might be a false dwarf, basically a dwarf with normal size genes resulting in them being bigger and out of proportion compared to true dwarfs. Netherland dwarfs are known to be highly strung and independent which might partly explain his behaviour too. I’ve never had a rabbit with those behavioural problems and I have had several very young rabbits so I wouldn’t say it was typical… but I’ve never had a Nethie so I couldn’t say whether it’s typical of the breed at that age.

I would recommend ensuring he has somewhere to escape to if he doesn’t want to interact e.g. A tunnel or house, as that will give him a sense of security. Also, I’d recommend sitting on the floor with him with some treats in your hand and trying to encourage him to take them, if he’s too nervous then place them near you and gradually reduce the distance. I would say give him time before considering returning or re homing him.

[Brambino]

If you have only had him a day he is probably absolutely terrified. He has been taken away from his home and a companion bunny whom he may or may not have been bonded to. He’s likely feeling incredibly alone and incredibly frightened.

I have no doubt from your description you will be offering him a much better environment with a lot more love and care. It sounds like you have got everything right but he just needs more time. This could be days, weeks or months. I don’t think you can judge him and his personality properly until you give him chance to settle in and realise his new home and you aren’t going to hurt him.

Good luck and I hope he settles down soon and is the companion bun you were hoping for. Xx

[Brambino]

Oops, forgot to say. Netherland dwarfs are very highly strung! They don’t react well to change and stress easily. They are also very wary of strangers. This is likely amplified if he previously had a bunny buddy to help make him braver.

They are not as a breed aggressive though, just anxious. My Bramble is a nethie and she is an absolute softie but she gets very stressed very easily. New noises, new people, moving furniture, they all send her into freak out mode!

[Trissythelop]

Thanks guys! The info that you’ve provided is helpful. Whenever I sit in the little area that I set aside for him, he huddled in the corner of his box and seems to fall asleep, and doesn’t seem at all curious. Also, he’s started to make little wheezing sounds when he loafs. Not all the time (it’s not constant) but just sometimes. Wheezing and it looks like a bit of sneezing and teeth grinding too. I’m not sure if I should be worried or not, or if it’s just because of dust.

[Author]

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