I had a rabbit like this too – Pepe – he was also an abandoned rabbit and he always attacked me. I let him free roam and that really helped but he was always aggressive. I knew he was smart. Now Pepe had alot of medical issues including dental problems and it turned out he had an enlarged heart – I now wonder if his medical problems contributed to his aggression. I don’t think he hated me but I put up with his aggression but I was afraid of him. I don’t think he hated me but he sure did act like it. I tried the cooing to him and talking to him when he was aggressive – I’m not sure if it worked but I felt better. In the end, I just had to accept this was the way he was and I knew he didn’t hate me….I never could figure him out though. I don’t know what your rabbit is thinking but I don’t think he hates you. Sometimes it seems that our aggressive rabbits bite the hands that feed them…I really don’t believe they understand “hate” and that is an emotion we put on them because we hate being bitten.

It does hurt and being bitten is not fun.

I ended up just ignoring him – I always cared for him because we were at the vet’s alot due his terrible teeth. I don’t know if his poor physical condition caused his grumpiness but maybe it did. I pretty much enjoyed his company from afar. I did love his spunky behavior but was wary of him too. I think he was happy but just didn’t know how to behave.

So, he’s perfectly fine with your boyfriend and any other humans, just not you? Have you attempted changing your scent in case that is what is setting him off? If he likes your boyfriend, you could try wearing your boyfriends shirt, or using his body wash/soap and see if smelling more like him can settle the bun. My Stickers is more fond of my partner than she is of me, so when she’s being very bratty with me, I wear his shirts and wrap her in one if it’s for medication or something, keeps her from scratching me to pieces when I pick her up.

Great idea Sticker – definitely that would be worth a try.

I don’t know if rabbits are like this, but I’ve heard of dogs who had been abused associating scent with the abuser. Makes me wonder if your bun was mistreated and the person who mistreated him wore the same cologne or used the same soap/body wash that you use.

I read somewhere that bunnies actually identify people by scent before sight — i.e. bun can smell you coming even before you get within his sight. I haven’t noticed a difference in my bunnies reactions to me when I’ve used a different body wash (although I always use the same base brand), but I have when I’ve used different hand soaps.

Definitely think Stickerbunny may be onto something here. I’d be all over Stickerbunny’s suggestion if I were you.

JackRabbit – I have noticed the same thing about Lola. We buy a variety pack of hand soap for our home and she is fine with all the different scents but if I go out and wash my hands at say a restaurant or something as soon as she gets a whiff of that strong soap smell (especially the antibacterial stuff) she won’t come any where near my hands. She doesn’t run away from me or attack but she won’t let me touch her at all.

I would suggest watching your behavior with your bun as well, because you are afraid now you might be moving your body or giving off fear vibes that may be making your bun scared. It must be horrible but try and relax or look at something, ignore the bun and go about your business, and if he bites or anything try to ignore it. Your bun might even be scared that now you are covered in all this material and it all smells and looks and tastes weird too. Maybe instead try and hold a soft blanket that your bun knows and just block the bun with it as best you can rather than putting on all that armor.

I’m really sorry this is happening to you, Dutchess will be grumpy and bites sometimes at night when I have to catch her to put her to bed, but when I snuggle with her she is over it. I realize you wouldn’t want to do this now, but if things improve maybe just lay on the floor and pretend to sleep for like 30 minutes when bun is free roaming, and do this a lot until maybe he gets more used to you and can approach and retreat as he likes on his own terms.