is omi neutered? well i’m trying to get my bun neutered. because it could be the aggression thing.

Cookies’ question is the first thing I would ask too – has Omi been neutered yet? Aggression is not uncommon in unaltered rabbits, and will likely go away once he’s neutered. I am sorry to hear he’s biting you.

If he is already neutered, then something behavioral is going on – it’s likely he is either scared or has some kind of trauma in his past.

Binkybunny- maybe there should be an option in everyone’s Profile where we can indicate the names, ages of our rabbits & IF THEY ARE NEUTERED. Would save us all alot of posts- since that seems to the be the question that arises on 1 out of every 2 topics.

my bunnies used to nip like urs. one moment they are all cuddley and the next thing you know *nip* then they are cuddly again and then * nip* but usually within longer periods of time. then now that i spayed them. no more nips for me. not even one. =) so happy. mochi is running around doing binkies. emo… no nips but still hormonal ….=/ she will be back to normal in no time. =)

xliddobunnyx- I don’t want to burst your bubble.. but your bunnies still might bite you, even after you got them both spayed. Though getting them fixed was the right thing to do, they are still animals and will react. Different thing like odd, unfamiliar smells or sounds might set them off. Fujoe has drawn blood on myself and my bf more times AFTER the sugury than before. So it’s really good that the hormones have died down (for mine it took 7 weeks), but don’t expect perfection.

omisanh- I’m not going to mention the getting your bunny fixed thing because that has already been asked..

When you say that he’s attacking “everyone” does that mean people who aren’t around him often, that just come over, like friends? It could be their smells.. I have a friend who Fujoe will just hide from, though he is really friendly with everyone else.

Also when you pet him, do you notice that he turns and nips you when your petting him after touching a certain part of him? I can’t pet fujoe’s butt- only a few strokes per petting sessions otherwise he’ll bite me. Try just petting his head and see if that helps. Also, if he starts to become uninterested in the petting (like lifting his head) then stop. Don’t continue. Also try to let him come to you for pets. Though this is difficult, it might help with the biting when being pet. I found this to help with Fujoe. I won’t pick him up and start petting him anymore- he’ll get pissy and will nip.

let us know what happens

Ok- i know how to fix your problem.. my Fujoe was the same way. If you need some sort of inspiration read my thread “paint, plaster, oil based clay?..” you can search it, I started it about a year ago..

ok, it took my bunny about 7 weeks before he calmed down- so just letting you know that. he was totally aggressive and nippy. He would distroy everything in sight (seriously, look at that thread)

situation #1-
We had a few places that Fujoe wanted to go and would get REALLY aggresive- like in the bedroom, esp. under the bed. he would be there for hours!!! and he would growl and lunge and attack- really awful stuff. Anyway, we had to totally block off the bedroom. So he’s going to the shoe closet? then I suggest you totally bock it off. If he really wants to get in there, he will. And I wouldn’t be worried about him pooping and marking. My bunny LOVES leather (i know, odd) and he had chewed on a few boots, and I would KILL HIM if he went after any of my heels.. so just keep that stuff out of his reach. We need to make sure there are no shoes that we care about on the floor.

situation #2:
he likes to go into my room…. you need to block it off. I know, it’s odd. We can’t let Fujoe in the Bedroom or studo. We have pet gates up. One I found on the street and one I found at a thrift store (if you decide to go the pet gate way, make sure you get the metal wire ones– bunnies will chew through the plastic and wooden ones like nothing). It might sound harsh to block off the room, but the bunny won’t die or anything. My two bunnies have full range of the living room and dining room and they are fine. Also, think of it, he might think that the room is his and is like, “hey! how dare you kick me out of my room! *nip*!” just keep him out.

situation #3
I don’t really know how to deal with this one.. first of all.. don’t grab him. That’s a big no, no because he now sees you as a threat- your hand is doing a bad thing, therefore YOU are doing a bad thing. This might lead to him biting you when your peting him. You MIGHT be able to train him by saying NO loudly and then spriting him with a water bottle until he jumps off. After doing this a few times, you might be able to give him a treat when he jumps down by himself when you say NO. I have trained Fujoe to get out of the bathroom if he goes into it- we usally keep the door closed, but if I’m getting ready, I’ll have it open as I go from the bathroom to the bedroom… So I say, “Fujoe OUT, OUT, OUT..” The first like 2 dozen times I had to push him out with my foot (no grabbing, just nudging) and then he finally got it. I still have to give him a nudge every once and a while, but he gets the point.

So my theory is that, yes, it’s because you’re not letting him be in the spots he wants to be in- but by totally getting rid of the option of it, it might help. good luck. Let me know if you want to see pics of some ‘alternative’ pet gates.

Poopy,  that is an excellent suggestion!   We are working on making more options in the  profiles and we were hoping that would be made available on our next software update, but I hadn’t even thought of adding the neutered part.   A definite do!  Thanks!

omisanh – you’ve gotten some excellent advice from Fujoe! (way to go Fujoe!)

He is very bossy with his territory and it seems he is willing to fight you for his prized places. That may decrease a bit as his hormones die down, but he also may have established some bad habits.  Fujoe’s advice is great.

I have another option you can try for the couch if the water bottle doesn’t work or ends up getting your couuch wet if he refuses to move right away.    When you go to gently push him off, wear a thick glove.  This way he has zero power when he turns to bite you.He’ll realize that biting has zero effect.   While he’s getting ready to jump off and as he jumps off, say the word "off" and then offer a treat WITH the same gloved hand when he lands.

You’ve gotten some great advice and tools to use.  Keep us updated, and know that this takes time so you have to be consistent and persistent.

When Edward was a baby he would bite and box if he felt threatened (backed into a coner or something), we’ve had him 2 1/2 years now and he knows a grunt and a thump is enough to get us to back off. When our bunnies get some where they souldn’t be we bribe them! Their favorite treats are raisins.. Josephine is very fond of hiding in the wardrobes and has learnt how to open the sliding doors (cleaver bunny!) so we offer her a raisin and say “do you want a raisin?” (you will feel silly) and only give it to her when she comes out the wardrobe. Now when I want them to do some thing like follow me to the bunny room or get in their pens I just have to say those magic words! Bunnies will do anything for food! Also it might help with you and him bonding as he will associate you with something yummy rather than a toe up the butt! : )

Posted By fujoethebunny on 05/02/2007 5:08 PM
xliddobunnyx- I don’t want to burst your bubble.. but your bunnies still might bite you, even after you got them both spayed. Though getting them fixed was the right thing to do, they are still animals and will react. Different thing like odd, unfamiliar smells or sounds might set them off. Fujoe has drawn blood on myself and my bf more times AFTER the sugury than before. So it’s really good that the hormones have died down (for mine it took 7 weeks), but don’t expect perfection.

i understand that and i am not expecting a perfect bunny but there were times where she was very moody and would nip me. but i suspect that if it is no longer the hormones, i must have did something wrong. as for now, she hasnt niped me yet but i know that if i did something that bothers her i know she will nip. (she will nip when i cut her nails) but before she would nip me for no reason. she would be eating something from my hand (i would hold a basil leaf out to her, not putting it in the palm of my hand but holding it with my two fingers, the way she usually takes food from me) and she niped me. i try again and she takes it and asks for more. i didnt see anything wrong becuase i tried the same thing and she didnt nip so i figure it is only agression.

Mochi has improved greatly. she only leaves 3-5 pellets around her litter box throughout an entire day so i figure she is getting better. as for Emo….. she is still moody and likes to attack (hump and nip if she tries to run or fight back) mochi on sight so i have to rebond them once emo’s hormones die down a little more and she doesnt chase mochi. wish me luck!

 thanks for what u said though. there are some people out there that do believe that their bun should be problem free and perfect after fixing them and i agree that light should be shead on all individuals. so i am very glad you said that to me. =) hopefully lots of people see it.

Trigger, the therapy bunny, began nipping me after spending spring break at our head pet therapy clinic.  I can’t even put my hand into his cage to get his food bowl.  He lunges and bites immediately.  Thankfully, he does not do this w/ the kids.  Per Binky Buds, I got him a stuffed bunny to release some of his "tension" until he gets fixed.

W/ Jessica, she often bites or lunges at me, when in or out of her cage.  I tap the ground before I pet her.  I try not to startle her or attempt to grab her.  When she does lunge at me, I put my hand on her head and say "no"!  At this point we are training each other!