Aggression – should i keep my bunny?

[luluV]

Hi, im sure you all may have heard this before, but im really confused. I have my first bunny, who is not neutered yet. He bites so much when he

is in his cage, i now pet him with the end of a cloth, and I know thats not right. Also, when I let him out of his cage, which is now a hard task, he

starts to poop and pee all around the room. Because this is my first rabbit, he is really starting to put me off having rabbits at all, and I am even

considering giving him away. The main question is, will neutering really solve all of this, or atleast make it so that he doesnt bite me all the time?

He is two now, and he is just getting worse. I have seen so many videos and pics of people having their rabbits around them and hugging them,

but if i did that, I would probably end up needing stitches. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and this really could be advice that makes me

wanna keep my rabbit.

[jerseygirl]

Absolutely neutering should help these issues. It would also pay to have him checked out to see there aren’t any other health issues causing his aggression also. For instance, a rabbit with molar problems may get somewhat cranky.
I cannot say tha having him fixed will get rid of all problems 100% but it is a BIG factor in improvements. Rabbits are really not cuddly pets but there are ways to interact with them and show them affection. I really hope you’ll give yourself and your rabbit a chance, so definately look at getting him fixed – it’s not too late!

[BinkyBunny]

What you are going through is a very common reaction. Most people think their bunny has just gone nuts. Then unfortunately, they give their bunny away, and it becomes at  risk for being euthanized if someone else doesn’t know how to deal with it, so I am so glad you came here for answers. This is exactly what we are here for.

How old is he? If he is 3 months to 8 months as this is when some real hormones are raging! Though it can be a nightmare for much longer;

My very first bunny was a baby and when he reached a few months old, he changed completely. He would grunt, spray, was messy, be destructive and just all around harder to deal with. he never bit me, but he would bluff it! One of our other forum leaders, Beka, also had a bunny that became a complete nightmare! So we have experienced what you are going through. We both found that altering our bunnies solved the majority of the problem. BIG difference.

So yes, by all means, get your bunny neutered with a rabbit-savvy vet. One thing to keep in mind is that it takes about a month for the hormones to die to down, so he won’t be instantly different. It is VERY important to find a rabbit-savvy vet because rabbits react differently to anesthesia, pain meds etc. They cannot be treated the same as cats and dogs.

Here is a link on how to find a rabbit-savvy vet –http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/vet.html

Keep us updated.

[MooBunnay]

Neutering is one stop of the equation, but also the second step is figuring out if hormones are the source of all the issues or just some of them.

What kind of diet does your bunny have? Sometimes if a bunny isn’t feeling well it can cause them to act uncharacteristically.

What kind of cage does your bunny have? If it is too small he may just not be getting enough exercise, or maybe he is just very territorial of his cage.

How do you spend time with your bunny? It is very rare for someone to be able to hug their bunny. I have 8 great bunnies, but I let them have their own space and spend time with them on their own terms. Though bunnies are domestic animals, you do have to remember that they are naturally a prey animal and see you as a big scary potential predator, and they do not like to feel trapped.

It is very normal for a bunny to be protective of their cage, so when you stick your hand in, it is very natural for him to be frightened or territorial and defend his cage. Instead, just try sitting next to his cage and talking to him, or reading a book next to his cage so he starts to learn that you are not a threat to him.

[bunnytowne]

Definitely neuter.  In about 4 weeks his hormones should be gone and this territorial behavior will stop.

A bunny in new territory will mark with poop scattered til he is comfortable in his new area.  What you are describing as his behavior he definitely needs a neuter.

Also you can lie on the floor watching tv or reading a book and he will get curious and come up to you to check you out. He may bump with his nose or climb on you.  Let him be.  Then after a couple of times offer him a treat then start to pet him.

I cannot stress enuf on the neuter tho.

[Beka27]

Like the others suggested, I would neuter first (and wait a month or two for hormone to settle) so you are dealing with the real personality of the bunny instead of hormones. After the neuter, there may still be some behavioral things that have to get worked out, but it will be SO MUCH EASIER to work with him then. Most problems can be solved with patience and some creative thinking, and we can definitely help you with all of that when you’re ready.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Like BB said-its extremely common! They reach maturity and their behavior is no fun to deal with. Beka is spot on-after the neuter give him a few weeks for horomones to settle down. If you don’t wait to neuter, those bad behaviors start to become habit (I’m talking years not a few weeks though) so you’ll want to neuter sooner then later
Do you have a rabbit vet picked out yet? That’s your first step.

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