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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR 6 years on and still hates me …

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    • SophiaLouise90
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        Hi Everyone,

        I’m a little stumped with my female rabbit, Chester.

        I’ll try and keep it short and simple as her behaviour since she’s been born has NEVER changed. So I’m trying not to take it personally, I’m just seeing what people’s thoughts are hehe.

        So Chester is 6 years old and not desexed. She hates me and my partner, and any other human really. She doesn’t get along with other animals either. She did have a sister that passed away last year that personality wise was the complete opposite. Peanut was very affectionate and wanted everything to do with me.

        Now I can stroke Chester on her nose and THAT’S it. She frequently lunges at me and bites, she throws feed bowls across her room, and yes she has a whole room to herself and access to the rest of the house so she’s never not got any space to run around. She is an inside rabbit. She doesn’t binky, or show any other signs that she’s happy. She’s got a perfect record of health and is a little plump.

        What have I been doing wrong all these years? Or is this just her? I love her dearly like all my other pets but her behaviour drives me mad! She’s like a brat.

        We have thought of a friend, but she hated Peanut, and I’m not confident at all she would bond with another male or female. We’ve given toys to perk her up but she doesn’t seem to want anything.

        Thank you,
        Sophia


      • Asriel and Bombur
        Participant
        1104 posts Send Private Message

          To be honest it’s because she’s not spayed. Unspayed females tend to be aggressive and territorial. I also wouldn’t bond if she’s not spayed because most likely the bond will not work out. Especially with females they need to be spayed in order to bond.

          I’m just curious as to why you never spayed. Unspayed females have a high risk of reproductive cancers, which require emergency spays. 


        • Nutmeg
          Participant
          594 posts Send Private Message

            I am leaning towards agreeing with A&B with this one – as you got along well with Peanut, so its not like you don’t know how to bond yourself to a rabbit (sitting on the floor with them at their level, ignoring them and letting them come to you – that sort of thing)

            My first rescue bun was not spayed when I got her and she was SO Territorial about her “area” … and if she is free roam she will see that whole room as her area.

            Spaying calms that right down usually – and as A&B said – removes the high risk of cancer.
            If Spaying is not in the cards for her then this is just who your little fluff monster is personality wise.

            Its not you!!!


          • Bam
            Moderator
            16964 posts Send Private Message

              I think this is a lot about her personality. That doesn’t mean you can’t improve your relationship. I’m currently doing a MOOC (massive open online course) on cats and dogs, from the royal vet school of Edinburgh. In one lecture, a dog trainer explained how he bonds with a new rescue dog. Those dogs are obviously often not very trusting of humans. He said he only gives above 30% of the dog’s food in the bowl, the rest he has in his pockets and distributes randomly to the dog while they are out walking or just hanging out. It doesn’t have to be given as rewards for especially good behavior or performance (although it shouldn’t be given when the dog performs unwanted behavior, you don’t want to reinforce unwanted behavior). Randomly distributing smallish bits of food just helps the dog focus on the human and strenghens the bond between the dog and the “food-automat” (that this trainer aims to be). Food automat may seem a little crass, but the point is to make the dog percieve the hum an as a provider of important resources. Dogs are often highly food motivated, As we all know, buns tend to be very food oriented too.

              By “dropping” a pellets or two when you are near her could perhaps make your bun start seeing you as someone potentially pretty nice to hang out with. Just remember to subtract the pellets you give from the daily pellet ration or you (obviously) risk ending up with a little fatty.


            • SophiaLouise90
              Participant
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                Thanks guys for your responces.

                To be honest it was never thought of my end as I never had any intention of breeding my girls, and when I have spoken to my last vets about desexing they have never told me that and didn’t really push it either because of that reason. As she’s now 6, would this surgery be more risky now? I’ve been told she is under the category of a senior rabbit now.
                I would always consider the better option health wise, meaning if it lowers cancer risks and her chance or surviving the surgery was high then of course I would have her done.


              • Coco
                Participant
                78 posts Send Private Message

                  I had a boy bun for 9years, unfixed. Never even knew that was an issue. But then rabbits were an Easter thing, not an actual pet for long term at the time. He was my friend for the whole time. Now that I have my girl bun I have learned of the issues. Thank goodness we have sites such as these to help us learn more about our sweet bunny friends


                • Coco
                  Participant
                  78 posts Send Private Message

                    Might be risky at her age from what I see. Just love her as usual. And know that she doesn’t hate you, she just has her hormonal issues. Not your fault, just as I didn’t know to fix my boy bunny back then.


                  • Bam
                    Moderator
                    16964 posts Send Private Message

                      ETA: Mood can be improved with spaying, and this is especially important when a bun’s adult personality has changed from sweet and cuddly into grumpy/aggressive. That can (and often does, I dont know enough about frequency to say how often) have to do with excess production of sex hormones. Over-production of sex hormones are implicated in cellular changes to the uterine lining. Cancer starts with cellular changes. The risk of cancer in unspayed middl-aged does is high.

                      Getting a 6 year old girl bun spayed absolutely has its risks and I’d like to discuss the pros and cons with a good an experienced rabbit vet. Pre-anaesthetic blood work can be done to check liver (and sometimes kidney) function.


                    • Taloan7
                      Participant
                      138 posts Send Private Message

                        I had a dog who wasn’t neutered and my vet highly recommended neutering him to reduce the risk of testicular cancer, but at this point he was 12 years old and they wanted me to sign a waiver acknowledging that being put under could kill him :/ I opted not to get it done because to me preventing a possible risk wasn’t worth the real potential for him to die. That being said, I have no idea what the risk is for a bunny the age of yours and I’d definitely discuss it with your vet. I think the treat dispenser idea is some good advice whether you get her spayed or not.

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                    Forum BEHAVIOR 6 years on and still hates me …