Does he bite or just lunge?  Is he neutered? 

I am dealing with an aggressive rescue bunny right now as well.  Good thing he is addicted to apples. That occupies him enough for me to clean his cage and feed him.  I give him avenues to take out his aggression like toilet paper rolls to throw, sticks to chew, and towels to dig, throw and move around.   My girlfriend’s rabbit was straight from the streets and she was mean starting out but now she is the absolute sweetest rabbit ever. 

It is testing you to see if you are going to abandon it. 

http://www.rabbitsanctuary.org/residents/remarkable_gabe.php

BunntMomma, first I don’t think that you are a dumb sap.  You had no idea you were adopting a hybrid rabbit-dragon and had very good intentions.  However now you need help working through the aggression part of this bunny which can become more tame, with patience and time, which is what I think we should focus on now.  Especially since your phone calls have not been answered.  That is a very interesting article on the rabbit “testing” you as well.  When the rabbit lunges at you, you said you have gloves on, but what do you do when it happens?  Have you tried placing your hand on top of him and gently pressing his head down?  This usually works quite well in calming a rabbit down and I am also assuming that this fellow has not been neutered which will also offer up a really tempermental hormonal rabbit.  Have you put him in a quiet corner by himself and played some classical music to soothe him?  I know this sounds funny, but it does and can work while they adjust to their new space.  Also, do you think that he could be sick?

Here are some articles on aggressive rabbits, which are often misunderstood:

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

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/2008/10/Rabbit-sneezing-aggressive.htm

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/2-2/mean-rabbit.html

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/2-9/rebel-with-paws.html

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/4-1/HRJ4.1_Letters.html

http://www.wisconsinhrs.org/Articles/The%20Biting%20Rabbit.htm

http://www.mybunny.org/info/aggressive.htm

For even more reading I would recommend reading this to help you understand how is he feeling from his body language (sorry for so many links – there is a wealth of info on this topic):

http://language.rabbitspeak.com/rabbittalk.html - “The Language of Lagomorphs”

Also, if you feel you really cannot take care of him, please contact a local rabbit rescue as a shelter will surely put him to sleep because of his lack of adoptability from the aggressiveness he displays.

I was reading the articles you posted.  Very interesting.  I read this and have a question on it.

Is it true that a after a spay it takes 6 months for the females hormones to die down?   Does it depend on the age the bun was spayed?

I really don’t have any personal experience to add- but I really enjoying reading the articles linked above. 

I also know (from my experience with parrots) that it is hard not to take a lunge or bite personally- even when obviously the bunny is not reacting to YOU personally- but the scary situation he is in.  He was obviously never shown what true love between a pet and owner is- otherwise he would not be where he is now (given away).  But the good news is- he was given away- and you got him rather than someone who decides to let him go or throw him outside in a hutch rather than work with him.

So keep you chin up and your hopes up!  You know everyone here on Binky Bunny is cheering for you and will be here to offer support and advice!

Julie

Well, you definitely will have an ongoing support group in us! I know that it will improve for you! Keep us updated. Hopefully just settling in more to a new environment will calm him a little. And look at it from this perspective – he probably developed the aggressiveness from bad care and you’re providing him a better life! Who could ask for more?

I have a rabbit named Pepe who is a lunger and biter. He was a stray that someone found.

I had a terrible time with him when I had him in a condo and he currently has run of my house away from the other rabbits and that has made a difference but he still lunges and bites. I find that he is very anxious and excited about food so I have to be quick or distract him when I’m feeding him and he has the whole house practically.

It’s a challenge with him that’s for sure but he can also be very sweet too and will sit next to me on the couch and then of course bites me…I sometimes think he’s bi-polar.

I did end up keeping him instead of adopting him out because of he is so prone to biting and being aggressive. I do think his aggression is from sudden movements and he is aggressive about his food. But his food aggression I find to be more of a joyful aggression if there is such a thing. I don’t think he’s mean though and he is happy to relax and wander about the house and explore.

I have not been able to stop the biting – it’s hard to anticipate this to be honest.

I think he’s a smart and curious rabbit which might explain his aggressiveness. He also a bit of dental disease and I wonder if that might have something to do with his aggression and propensity to biting.

I think he’s about 4 or 5 years old now and he has been neutered.

It is a challenge and honestly I’m not certain his behavior is going to change – I’ve had him for about 3 or 4 years and he’s always been this way. If I had the time I would try the clicker training – I was wondering if that might work.

*snicker* the part dragon thing made me laugh out loud, i’m not going to lie.

but this is a serious matter. your first step is getting him in to be neutered. is this something you plan on doing? working against hormones are not going to be easy. we can’t guarantee that neutering will “fix” the aggression, but it might make it a little bit better and then you’ll be able to deal with him without the added hassle…

rather than putting him away by himself, my suggestion is to make him front and center in your home. the more he sees you, hears you, smells you, the more that might help him settle down. even if you’re not directly interacting with him, watching you on the couch, or hearing you talk on the phone is going to let him see you’re not a threat.

Ditto all the great advice and support. We’re all here for you to help you and the dragon-bunny figure this out.

I’m confident that he’ll soon realize you’ve rescued him and start to appreciate you. He likely is aggressive from his ‘passed life’ in the garage, possibly mishandled etc.
PLEASE do not return him to them even if they will take him back?

Anyways, feeding him through the cage is an excellent start. Next, make a vet appointment and get that baby neutered.

He’s likely SUPER frustrated, a combination of being cooped up, un-neutered with horomones a-raging, possibly mishandled or neglected and having no way to get his energy out. Rabbits are very smart and he’s likely quite upset about all of this.

I love the idea of playing some soft classical music for him. Also see if you can pick up some ‘rescue remedy’ its from the bach flower essense line and it’s very good. You can put a couple drops in his water or on his head, and it will help soothe him. You can pick it up in vet offices, and some pharmacies, you may want to phone so you don’t waste time driving all over. http://www.bachflower.com/

We’re here to help so let us know what’s working and whats not and we’ll keep making suggestions for him. I LOVE the idea of naming him Donnie Darko

Good heavens, it sounds like you have your hands full with the dragon/rabbit. I ditto everyone’s suggestions, especially about having some music or a radio on, mine love audio books and talk radio.

…..and since he’s not neutered yet, maybe a stuffie for companionship and recreation?

Who is mama to Velvet & Dancer?
Cause I remember her saying that Velvet was a very mean “unadaptable” rabbit when she first started to Foster her. Then mama figured out that the more space Velvet, got the nicer she became. And now – with patents – Velvet is super lovable!

I remember having a cat that was terrified of being picked up – he would clay and bite if you tried. But he loved to sleep curled up next to me. He came from a shelter – and was just scared!

I agree that your rabbit / dragon sounds frustrated, was more than likely mis handled and to put him somplace where he sees you and gets use to you.

Good Luck

lol Sarita a bipolar rabbit.   Aggressive rabbits are difficult on their owners. You try and you try with them.  Hopefully things will work out and he will adjust to being loved and cared for properly.    I know it tries  your patience  You have all this love to give dragon bunny but he doesn’t understand that just yet.  Seems like. 

I hope you can remain patient with him and can get through to him. I know it’s hard.

After his neuter you can be real attentive to him comforting him and petting him.  hope that he won’t bite you while he is groggy from pain meds. It might make a difference if you can do that.  I know it did with Laith.  He tooth purred for the first time and was friendlier afterwards when he was healed from his neuter. 

Laith was not an aggressive rabbit I should have mentioned that.  He was just real shy. He still was after his neuter but he was more trusting of me afterwards. I don’t know if was from hormones dying down or finding out how much I cared for him  AFter he kept up with the tooth purrs too.

can you put him in your bedroom then, where you spend a good deal of time?

Bunnymomma, I am glad the articles helped you and others enjoyed them as well. Like KatnipCrzy mentioned it is really hard not to take it personally when they lunge at you and/or try to bite. I am wondering, have you been able to take him to the vet for a check-up? Sometimes rabbits will get aggressive if there is something else other than hormones getting them worked-up.

I think that maybe it is best to keep your guy that you are working on away from the dogs and other rabbit for now and work with him one-on-one. You could try it but I hate to see him put through additional stresses. He just sounds terribly territorial and I don’t think it would bode well. If you do move him into your room, be aware that he might be very noisy and so if you are a light sleeper he could keep you up and so you may have to do additional things like cover the cage, take out any noisy toys and make sure that the door doesn’t rattle too much.

Bunnytowne – Yes it can take up to 6 months for hormones to settle down in a female. I think that is the worst-case scenario though and as for the age part, it is hard for me to say because I can think of a couple of for/against arguments on both sides. On the one hand the young bun has a super-charge of hormones and it gets taken away which would be really tough to get used to and on the other, maybe it is faster for a younger bun to get used to the change. Then for an older bun, hormones levels decrease with age (if a female is too old though, about 6 years, surgery becomes risky and is not recommended) and it might be less of an adjustment for them since there are less hormones, but on the other hand, her body has grown accustomed to a certain level of hormones all her life. I think if I had to make an educated guess, it will take the young bun less time to adjust because generally I would say it is easier for them to bounce back from things.

I think you are doing a great job!

Aggressive bunnies have a special place in my heart. My avatar is of little Ella, two pounds of dwarf fury. When we first got her, we needed oven mitts to go near her!

Neutering is a great first step. Get those hormones under control. Rabbits are also extremely terrotorial so Darko may not appreciate you sticking your hand in his cage when he is in it – best to do all cleaning and leaving of food whe he is not in the cage. His behaviour in this department is actually quite normal.

Remember, he is still very new to you and chances are he is very nervous and unsettled. Who knows what sort of life he had before? No interaction, improper handling, who knows? it will take time for him to trust you so don’t give up!

A great thing to do is to lay on your tummy on the floor and be perfectly still. Let him come up to you and explore you and sniff you from head to toes. This way, he gets to know you on his own level and won’t feel threatend. Have a treat in your hand as a nice surprise! Talk softly, praise him and slowly, trust will be built. I did this with my little Ella and now whenever I do it, she runs over to me and searches my hands for treats and then jumps up on my back!

Darko may never be the sweet cuddly bunny you want, but he can definitely improve. But it will take time and patience and love. But trust me, when you start to see the improvement, it’s all the more special because of how hard you both worked for it. Good lucK!

You found something  that may very well work out. Great. 

I wonder if he attacks cause you smell like the other bunny?  Probably not though.   I know when I smell like another uneutered male Cotton attacks me like mad.  Kind of gets scary.  So I understand how you feel trying to feed him and care for him. 

Keep up with what  you are doing ,  putting him in the living room by the xpen that just might calm him with playing in there and exploring.  He should be getting more comfy soon.  We are all pulling for you.  And for Dragon bunny too. 

donnie darko is one of my favorite movies.  I love the creep psychotic bunny.  I know when I first got Jessi she was very aggressive.  I could not get into her pen for feedings or cleanings.  I had to use gloves b/c she would bite me so bad, I would bleed something awful.  One Easter, I needed stitches!  I followed all the instructions listed here…the pushing on the head was a major thing b/c I was really terrified of her, but I needed to show no fear.  Binky also suggested use of the clicker to get her in/out of her cage, so I didn’t have to attempt to touch her to get her back in the cage.  I also used a big piece of cardboard to block off her from where I was to clean the cage.  It usual cut down on the assault, as she wasn’t really out for  blood in the long run.  B/t behavior mod and getting her spayed, she became a sweet pea…atleast to her papa not to her mama.  We just tolerate each other.

Cotton doesn’t like hubby either. Cotton has never bit him he just runs off real quick. HB likes everyone. Ruby I dont’ know yet.

I don’t know if anyone said this before but my bun Josefina was an attack rabbit (also part dragon) and it turned out to be an abcess on her rear end… she was so sore that it was making her mean. So find a brave vet and get him checked out too.

Sounds like he’s doing a lot better. Hang in there

Great job Bunnymomma! Small victories count especially when you are dealing with an aggressive rabbit. Building your confidence is something else too and I am amazed you found the bravery to scratch him on the head and he was just fine with it. Amazing. Keep up the great work and keep having your little sessions with him and everyone has lent some great advice.

Good job on your progress!

I think one of the reasons you are having so much difficulty is because agressive rabbits are probably the most territorial and likely to attack when you are in THEIR space, meaning when you are reaching into their cage. I also have an aggressive bunny, and she is that way because she is blind, so I agree with what the others say about getting him checked out at the vet.

Have you thought about ways to get him into a carrier? I have a bunny that refuses to be picked up, so my husband will “trick” him into his carrier. He will open up an expen ouside Henri’s cage, and then, once Henri gets in the ex-pen, he will put a carrier full of hay and a few treats in the expen as well. Next, he will slowly close the space in the expen until Henri doesn’t have much of an option but to hop in the carrier!

I think you’re doing an awesome job! I’m very interested in your updates-keep em coming

Have you tried hand feeding this bunny? If you hand feed the bunny s/he will probably trust you more and your mom will probably be trusted more.

Erbear makes a great point too…I was talking to a chiropractor who also does acupuncture and asked him if he did those on animals (he didn’t) but he brought up a great point about perhaps there is an injury or tender area that could be causing aggression…I never really thought about this to tell you the truth, but it makes alot of sense to me.

When I adopted Moreland I had good intentions to save a rescue bunny. found one that was the most calmest sweetest he let me hold him for two hours while i walked and toured the rescue farm visitng all the other animals he just sat there like a good bun. well i got him home and he did a complete 360. he was bunnicula. attacked me, growled, bit, even chased me!!!! i was in for it. i nuetered him and worked with him. i am still dealing with agression however, he is turning out to be a very good bun. it has only been 3 months. so just think in a year he should become a good boy!!! im excited! just patience and nueter are key!

I forgot to mention in my last post, one of the bunnies I have currently was also very aggressive when we first got him, and now he is one of the most intelligent, smart, friendly, sweet bunnies we have I really think that if you continue to take the time to get to know him, and gain his trust like you are now, that you will form a very special and close bond with him!

Oh yes, acupuncture is amazing for animals!
One of the awesome bunny vets here has found it really helps buns with everything from pain, Head Tilt & behavior.
A great thing to look into!

Keep up the good work – and the updates!

how are things coming along?

You’ve gotten some great advice for the Dragon Bunny!  And two thumbs up for Donnie Darko!

All the advice you received is the greatest, neutering, patience, trust, little treats, quiet, soothing music.

Allow me to add to it.  Don’t be afraid of him, he’s afraid of you, and slow, calm movement will calm Also, you must devote at least half an hour every day to spending time with him, more would be better.  Most people don’t realize that bunnies are smart, sensitive, opinionated, and potentially stubborn, because they look so sweet and timid.  This in my opinion is the BEST thing about rabbits.  Your Donnie is doing exactly what he was taught to do by his previous human owners, so don’t feel it’s his fault.  If all he knew was neglect and abuse, that’s all he’s going to expect.  Unfortunately, you;ve inherited these problems, but believe me, if you stick with it, he’ll be a great companion.  I’m not saying he’ll stop biting completely, but he’ll become better once he learns that humans can be his friends.

Get a rabbit playpen and set it up around your bunny’s cage.  When you want to clean, simply let him out into the pen.  Hopefully, you have a cage that opens on top too, then you can clean the cage while he’s in the pen.  He’ll need some exercise once in a while, but make sure you never disturb his cage while he’s in it, he needs to feel safe and secure in his cage, it needs to be his personal space.  Don’t force him back in either, just close the door when he goes back in on his own.  Keep feeding him treats through the bars, that’s the ticket, but don’t put your hand inside the cage to give him treats, again, you’re invading his personal space, and he’ll lunge.

Give him treats in the playpen area, too, through the bars.  He needs to learn about ‘safe zones’, places where he can go in a room that are considered strictly his, where you can’t touch or pick him up without an invitation.  I have little rubberbacked red carpets for kitchens that I have put in my rabbits’ favorite places-under the litterbox, next to the water bowl where they like to snooze, and in front of our media rack, their favorite place to watch us watch TV.  When a bunny goes onto a red carpet, that is the safety zone.  No one may pick up, move, or touch bunnies, or step onto a red carpet when one of the bunnies is on it, unless the bunny gives the signal for attention, such as a headbutt or lick.  This works really well, our rabbits roam all over the living room,and when they feel unsafe, they jump onto the red carpet, immediately letting us know that they want to be left alone.  That’s how smart rabbits are.

Donnie is going through a hard time too.  Imagine always being locked up and ignored, passed on from one person to the other, afraid you’ll always be alone, always be forgotten.  Bunnies do feel these things, and someone has to step up and teach him that he can be wanted, that he can be loved, that he can be a friend.  He may not ever trust you completely, but if you are gentle and CONSISTENT, he’ll be fine, and you will too.  If this is too much for you, there’s no shame in saying so… do what’s right for the rabbit first, and everything else will fall into place.

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I was curious to how the little bunny/dragon is doing? Hopefully good news… I couldn’t help but laugh at one of the above posts from Angelina about the bunny chasing her LOL I can just picture that

Awesome!! I’m so glad your doing so well! Fantastic!

wonderful! congrats on your new bunny actually becoming YOUR new bun! have we seen pics of him yet?

“make love, not war…” LMAO!

I’m so glad to hear that things have really worked out between you and Dragon-bunny. Please do keep us updated!

BunnyMomma,
have we seen a picture of this monsterous-lionheaded-dragon-bunny-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks/turned-around-by-love Darko yet?

I think it’s okay for you not to expect your bun to let you hold him…my bunny is incredibly affectionate but he will NEVER let me pick him up. He won’t even sit in my lap, unless he’s attempting to steal an apple that I’m trying to enjoy.