AAAARRRRGGGGHHH! I messed up!!!

[iriswarrior1]

Thank you all for your advice from the last time I was here with my ‘bunny woes.’

I screwed up big time, though!  I have an 11 month old neutered male dwarf Florida White, Smokey, and we bought a mini Dutch mix girl, whom we named Zeva.  Zeva was only 2-3 months old when we got her, and we are not seasoned bunny owners.  We got her in a pet store, and when we asked the clerk if the rabbit was male or female, she said, “I dunno.”  Never again with pet stores.

Anyway, Zeva is now 5 months old, and we have changed HIS name to Fang!  He and Smokey have always gotten along from the start, but he is in the height of his ‘hormonal frenzy’, and is driving everybody nuts!  He wasn’t socialized at all by the pet store, and all our socialization training is useless when he’s feeling even more agressive because of his puberty.  Hence the name Fang.  If he isn’t biting or scratching someone, he’s covering them in –well, you know!

We have him scheduled to be neutered right after the new year, but until then, how do we keep him from ‘you know-ing’ and biting  everyone?  Smokey is starting to go bald from the little critter’s attacks, and we’ve had to separate them once in a while.  We can’t predict when he’s going to be sweet, almost friendly, or when he’s going to swing over to the Darkside.

We realize that it’s not his fault, all his troubles were caused by humans, including us.  So, while we wait to get his little bunny butt neutered, any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

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[Deleted User]

Cute signature!!!

I think the best thing you can do is just keep Fang separated and give him his own space and playtime for the safety of your other bun. Until the New Year really isn’t that long and any bonding you try to do now probably won’t stick while these hormones are raging!
When Boston was going through this stage, we gave her a stuffed monkey to hump. Whenever she started humping us, we redirected her to the monkey and that worked pretty well for us.

Good luck!!!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Ohhh that’s not a big mistake-when I saw the title I thought ‘ooopsy pregnancy’

If he’s territorial about his cage, try to let him come in and out without lifting him or picking him up out of the cage. You may have a stuffed animal you can give him, then he can show his ‘love’ to that instead of your arms and legs Dont’ worry many of us have bougth stuffies for our unneutered males while waiting for the neuter appt.

[iriswarrior1]

I would try that on a normal bunny, but Fang has a character deficiency. Not his fault, we realized after we got him that the folks at the pet store spent absolutely no time at all petting or grooming him. I mentioned in my last post that the only human contact he had was when grubby little kids reached into his pen at the store to grab him. As a result, he nips any human hand that comes near him, he does not like being touced or petted, and he will not curl up with anyone. The exception is that he likes to sleep on our end table, where he can see all of us as we sit on the sofas watching tv. I can’t figure out that one, he hides from us everywhere else, and we’ve had him for 4 months now.

There have been several times when we just wanted to call it quits with him, but it wouldn’t be fair. He’s nasty, disagreeable, antisocial, and he’s a biter, but that’s just how he is, and we have to accept it. He always wins our hearts back the same way…..

Our apt is on the 2nd floor, and we have a screened lanai. The weather is perfect for rabbits at this time of year, cool and clear at night. Fang is tiny, only 1 1/2 pounds, but he’ll hop out by himself at night onto the lanai, and stare at the moon and stars. He’s so tiny, in such a huge world, but he has no fear! We have owls and ospreys on the grounds, and when he goes out at night, they see him, and fly by the lanai and shriek, wishing they could eat him. As long as he’s out there, they scream, so we limit his night outings, afraid one might swoop too close and scare him.

You can’t imagine what it’s like to go out on that porch, and see that tiny rabbit looking up at the night sky like he’s making a wish, completely unafraid of the predators calling out for him. It makes me cry. He’s a little bastard, but his life has meaning, and if I wait long enough for him, he’ll let me know someday what it is.

[Deleted User]

“He’s nasty, disagreeable, antisocial, and he’s a biter, but that’s just how he is, and we have to accept it. He always wins our hearts back the same way…..”———-I love that you see all this and are still giving him a chance. I bet if you continue to be patient and let him do things on his own terms he will eventually show you his true, unscared self! and show you the love that you give him! He is a truly lucky bun to have found you guys!!!

What exactly is an osprey?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Some rabbits are just aggressive, and he’ll likely calm down after his neuter but may still require some patience and time. I really really love this article it’s found on rabbit.org and I thought it’s sort of appropriate-it’s not “on” aggressive rabbits, but it touches on it Hope you like it!  I just found the peice about the aggressive rabbit Megan so heart warming

People who haven’t lived with rabbits often ask those who do if rabbits make “good pets,”
and if so, if they are more like dogs or cats. Most house rabbit people don’t quite know how
to respond to these questions, not only because we have transcended such mundane matters in
our own relationships with rabbits, but also because the chauvinistic nature of the questions themselves
makes us feel uncomfortable.

It seems that for most people, an animal is perceived as a “good pet” if she shows affection in ways human
beings can understand without much effort (e.g., lapsitting or coming when called), if she participates
in games humans easily comprehend (“catch,” “fetch,” or “chase the string”), or if she makes an obvious
effort to communicate vocally (barking to be let in or out, mewing for supper).

People usually seem fairly sure these qualities cannot be expected in a rabbit, and hence, that rabbits
would not make “good pets.” Alternatively, some people expect such traits in all rabbits and may be
disappointed in one who is unwilling or unable to comply with their expectations.

The second question, “Are rabbits more like cats or dogs?” is a natural to follow the first. My usual response is,
“Are people more like fish or cockatoos?” After all, rabbits are, first and foremost, like rabbits, and the only
way to find out what they are like is to live with one or more.

You’ll find that rabbits share a few characteristics with dogs, a few with cats, and a few with humans.
They probably even share a few with fish and cockatoos. But mostly they’re like rabbits, and learning
what rabbits are like is part of the joy of living with them. The fact that this question, like the “good pets” one,
is asked at all makes clear the human position that in order to be considered of value in our world,
other species must conform to our notions of what is “good.”

The other day I sat on the bedroom floor returning phone calls. Megan, our overweight and very aggressive
New Zealand (who, paradoxically, adores being petted), gallumphed up, grabbed the notebook out of my hand,
bit a hole out of the corner, and stomped on it. She lunged at my hand as I retrieved the notebook, grazing
it with her teeth, then shoved my leg and settled down against me. I grinned at her and stroked her head
(as I had just been commanded to do). The caller was telling me about her rabbit, who wouldn’t let her pick
him up, who lunged and bit when approached, and who seemed to “hate” the family. The family dog, on the
other hand, loved the children and played with them all the time; they were disappointed in the rabbit
and wanted me to find him a new home.

I looked at Megan, her head pressed to the floor, eyes closed, ears relaxed, fat body spread out
behind her. No, she doesn’t act like a dog. If a dog lunged and bit you’d be justified in getting worried, because
human-canine relations are completely different from those between humans and rabbits. But Megan and
the caller’s rabbit both act very much like rabbits, each in their own ways. The difference, I realized, is that I
accept Megan’s aggression (and even revel in it!), while the caller seemed to resent her rabbit because
his behavior did not conform to her idea of “a good pet.”

The implication that some animals (usually dogs and cats) are simply “better pets” than others
rests on the assumption that in order to fit into our lives, all animals should resemble those to whom
we are already accustomed. Such an assumption removes the responsibility for the relationship
from the human being and places it solely on the animal. Although the rabbit is expected to comply with
human expectations, all too often the human being never even considers complying with hers. But in almost
every case, a wonderful new relationship is forged when you begin complying with the expectations of a
rabbit. Megan accosts me and I react in a way she finds appropriate, even though to me it seems odd at
first. After a few weeks, Megan trusts me, likes me, and has me pegged as savvy but she still nips my foot if
I venture too near her parsley!

Do we expect too much or not enough? I hesitate to tell people not to expect their rabbits to jump up on
their legs, leap into their laps, or lick their hands, because some rabbits do these things. But too many people
expect such behaviors and express disappointment when their rabbits do not comply. None of the rabbits I live
with currently do any of these dog-like things, but over the years I have discovered a range of interesting activities
they engage in that the dogs and cats in our family never even thought about. Megan may not jump into my lap,
and she’s more likely to bite my hand than lick it, but she terrorizes the cats daily, manages to growl in annoyance
while simultaneously cavorting with joy across the floor, and makes demands more effectively than any of
our noisier critters.

No small part of the problem lies in our use of the term “pet.” After all, a pet is “one who is petted,” implying
passivity and ownership. We seldom call other human beings “pets,” and most people would consider it an insult
if we did. By using the term to describe animals we are diminishing their importance in our lives. We are denying
their right to individuality and a lifestyle that may or may not include allowing us to fawn over them. On the
other hand, a rabbit who is a companion is one who like our human friends is encouraged to develop the
personality nature gave her and is appreciated for who she is.

So what should we say when people ask if rabbits are “good pets”? I don’t want to assure folks that they are,
because I know the implications of the phrase. On the other hand, if I hesitate and explain, they’ll think
I’m making excuses. They may be unable to see what is special about rabbits. Perhaps those of us who
know, through experience, what rabbits are like should decline to answer these questions at all. Instead
explain that rabbits make wonderful, exciting, intelligent companions for wonderful, exciting, intelligent
people. After all, living up to the expectations of a rabbit like Megan or Trixie or Phoebe or Bandit takes a
lot of work! Their type of person is adventurous, charmed by evidence of spunk and vigor, and willing to
learn a new language, a new lifestyle, and a new code of behavior. Those who live by stereotyping, pigeon-holing,
or typecasting need not apply.

[bunnytowne]

After the surgery and hormones die down about 2 months he should calm down. Then you can start with him slowly all over again. Lying down out on the oh what was that the place he goes to look at the stars and the  moon.  Letting him approach you.  Giving him treats from your hands so he will start to associate good things with hands not being grabbed at all the time. It will take work but you sound like you are up for it.

[skunklionshow]

K&K:  If I had the clarity to express my thoughts about pet rabbits that would have summed it up.  They are so unlike the cats that I’ve had for most of my adult life, and that excerpt explained it all so clearly.

I have a netherland dwarf named Jessica.  Jessica & I have never really gotten along.  I wanted to do pets, hugs, & bunny snuggles, but she wanted none of that!  She was cute as a dumpling but I couldn’t get anywhere near enough to “enjoy” my new pet.  She originally was 1 of 2 bonded bunnies in my  classroom.  They got along very well until Jessica had an accidental litter.  Her litter didn’t survive and I thought they could go back on w/ their life.  He cagemate attacked her and seriously injured her.  Jessica had to move home permanantly w/ me. 

I hated having to give her the 2x’s a day meds and wound care.  She was sooo mean!  She would bite me so bad that my hands just bled.  One Easter, I had to get stitches.  I couldn’t stand this beast, but she was mine.  Oddly enough she seemed to show a preference for my husband, which meant she didn’t bite him.  She got spayed but she was still a beast w/ me, though she did stop biting me.  I accepted that we would just have to tolerate each other. 

I eventually bonded her w/ one of our other classroom bunnies.  They are in true bunny love.  She & I still tolerate each other, but those two, wow!  I have a great relationship w/ her bonded boy Leo, he’s everthing I wanted in a rabbit.  Watching him love her warms my heart and makes me tolerate my beast even more.

[iriswarrior1]

Osprey.  It lives in coastal wetlands, and is related to eagles and hawks.  They have a weird, high pitched scream, sort of a cross between a sigh and a canary that’s stubbed its toe…?

And they have a hankering for RABBIT….

Sorry, I live in South Florida on the gulf of Mexico, so…a lanai is a screened-in porch or patio, and I know, why didn’t I just say so?

[Deleted User]

Wow..thanks for the visual.
So anyone know why the forum member Osprey picked “osprey” for his name??
Osprey are you out there???

[Author]

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