Aggression and shedding? can bun behavior change?

[Ali925]

Does anyone’s bunny ever seem to act out more/show more aggression when shedding??

 

My little Blu has always been more jumpy and scared than Oreo when it comes to interacting with us, but lately he’s been a bit more aggressive than usual and I know he’s going through another shed (seems like it never ends!).  All of his habits are normal, so I don’t think he’s ill or in pain… and he’s always been like this to a certain extent.  Fortunately I know how to read him, so I’m usually able to detect when he might do it.

 

He doesn’t run at you in attack mode or anything, and I can approach him, pet him, etc with no issue…I can even reach inside his cage (where his pellets, litterbox are) when he’s in it and he’ll never lunge or anything.  But he decides when he wants to tell you go away…even if it’s in the middle of a head rub that he’s clearly enjoying…  He’ll be totally relaxed and content and then decide, enough, I think I’ll try to nip you to let you know I’m done.  Haha.  Or if you’re in his way…even if he can go around you…he’ll give you a little ankle nip (or nose bump which I prefer haha)

 

Or it happens when giving him food, which I guess he’s just excited.  But it happens more to my husband.  He’ll growl a little (it’s kinda funny to hear it come from such a little thing) and then nip…  or try to at least.  He doesn’t hurt really, but yesterday he nipped my husband when he was trying to give him his salad..nothing serious, just barely broke the skin.  Now the whole family thinks he’s nasty!  I stick up for him of course… 

 

It’s not that this is completely new either, it’s just been a little more obvious lately…

 

We’ve had him since he was a baby, so I know it’s not bc of a bad home or anything that he acts out or seems very skittish around us…and mostly it’s when he’s being active.  When he’s in sleep mode he’s very receptive to pets.  He also never liked being touched at ALL for the first few months we had him, so that was something that was very different from Oreo from the start…  So is it possible for him to ever change?  And could he be worse right now bc of shedding and being uncomfortable??

 

Thanks guys, sorry this is so long…

[Sarita]

I don’t think anyone can guarantee a change in his behavior – shedding or not. Some rabbits are just grumpier than others and no matter what don’t want to be petted. There are always things you can try but never ever any guarantee that he will enjoy pets or that he won’t swat at you. Maybe speaking to him to let him know you are going to do some will alert him that he is going to be handled and decrease the stress which might make him less aggressive.

It sounds to me like it’s just part of his personality. He may mellow as he gets older – he is very young right now.

[Ali925]

Thanks Sarita…I think you’re exactly right…but some days he’s just a little more nutty than others so I just wondered if it were related to something.

He has always been this way, and I was hoping it wasn’t anything we did.. He wasn’t spoiled the same way Oreo was since we had her already when we brought him home. But I did make sure to spend a lot of time with him, just not as much up close time since he liked to make us think he wanted to be left alone. Like I said, he’s gotten so much better just with us petting him, so hopefully over time he’ll start to ease up a little. It’s also not like he’s in constant fear or anything, he’s just jumpy. I can lay my head right on top of Oreo and she loves it, but I wouldn’t try it with Blu…he’d probably just nip my head..haha. And I know all bunnies are different…he’s the entertainer and she’s the cuddler…

Oh and you’re right with him being so young…he still seems very juvenile even though Oreo is only 4 months older..she’s more of an old lady.

I guess this also concerns me with bonding since I know he’s got a tendency to nip and be more aggressive…that’s why I sort of put it off for a while since the first time I tried, with the hopes that he’d calm down a little.

Thanks again…

[Sarita]

He may not act this way with another rabbit though…so don’t let his grumpy behavior with you prevent you from trying with Oreo. Sometimes having a friend helps an aggressive rabbit feel more secure.

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