Grumpy and Thumping

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 7sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by Booplesnoot.

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- 03/18/2016 at 9:02 AM
  MiNinoJack
  Participant
  226 posts
  So I don’t know if my boy woke up on the wrong side of his twigloo this morning but while he was having his morning pellet snack I thought I would stretch a bit on my living room rug where he normally plays and lounges during the day. He was in his cage and he didn’t like my movement AT ALL and started thumping at me. I stopped and eventually left the room so he would calm down since that seemed to be what he wanted.
  
  I am really sensitive to his anger. I worry when he gets upset because he has freaked out and hurt himself in the past when he’s reached his limit. When I move his maze haven he either gets scared or pissed. I never move anything when he’s out, I always wait until he’s back in his cage to minimize the trauma.
  
  I understand that he thinks the rug is his, but I want to be able to live my life with him tolerant of me in “his” space.
  
  Any advice on how to calm him down when he gets going? Is the a way to teach a rabbit to share? Or is that the impossible?
  
  I’m a new bunny parent and maybe overly sensitive. We are both happy and relaxed 95% of the time.
- 03/18/2016 at 6:05 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  Lay on the rug and pet him if he comes near you. Bribe him to come near you with treats. Is he neutered? Neutering can help a lot with territory issues
- 03/19/2016 at 4:15 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Thumping is usually triggered by their perceiving danger. Be it real or not.
  
  They don’t see that well. We look like can look like a blob to them. So I’m guessing he caught your movement and maybe thought it was something else? He’s probably used to seeing your outline upright. So down low on the floor, he may have thought it was an unknown predator. It’s hard to think like this because we want them to feel safe and secure, but they are hard-wired to react like this, being a prey animal. Sometimes it’s the slightest thing can set them off and we can’t figure out why. Even when we’ve had them for years.
  
  Don’t take it personally. He’s not angry at you.
- 03/19/2016 at 8:02 AM
  MiNinoJack
  Participant
  226 posts
  Yes he’s neutered. He’s actually never very territorial except about his twigloo. But I can’t fit in there anyway. So he’s happy haha.
  
  Thanks Jerseygirl. That’s an excellent point I haven’t thought of. I should learn more about their eyesight to get a better understanding.
- 03/19/2016 at 8:10 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  This fun guide doesn’t go into eyesight, but it does help to understand our rabbits a little better.
  
  The Language of Lagomorphs
- 03/19/2016 at 9:15 AM
  MiNinoJack
  Participant
  226 posts
  I love that website! I’ve tried a few of their suggestions out and I think Jack thinks I’m nuts. Haha. Thanks and congrats on becoming forum leader!
- 03/19/2016 at 9:42 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Thank You
- 03/21/2016 at 3:42 PM
  Booplesnoot
  Participant
  50 posts
  That site is great. I had no idea how pissed off my bun was when I first brought him here, haha. It was all my fault for not following proper bun protocol. I made my bunny amends using that site’s info. My SO thought I was stark raving mad. He now calls me the crazy bunny lady.
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