Attacking objects but not people or animals?

[GardenBunny]

Hi there! My French lop, Theodore, is about 6 and a half months old right now and is on the list to get neutered in April. I’ve had him for about two months and so far he’s a sweetheart but he has one weird quirk: he is extremely aggressive towards objects. He lives with me, my roommate and her kitten and aside from the occasional spat, he and the kitten get along just fine. He does, however, attack brushes, moving clothing, cat toys (though not his own), baby wipes that I use to dab at any food stains he might have gotten into and occasionally food (although he eats out of my hand and his food aggression is at a normal level from what I’ve heard). If he attacks an object and hits my finger, he instantly lets go as opposed to when he gets the object and he tries to tear it up like a pit bull in a fight. I’ve had a rabbit before but it was a mini lop and wasn’t nearly as scary as a 9 pound fluff ball lunging. I’m sure he could take my finger off if he misses one of these times. I suppose I just want to know if this is something I need to take seriously or if it’ll go away after the neuter. I don’t want to leave it for almost a month and let it become a bad habit if this is something besides hormone aggression. Has anyone dealt with this before? I’m fully prepared to work this bad habit out of him over months if necessary, I just would like to know what I’m up against.

[Hazel]

You said he has accidentally gotten you finger while attacking an object, so are you moving the object around in front of him when this happens? They have a blind spot right in front of their face, something moving in and out of their blind spot can startle them and trigger a defensive response.

[LBJ10]

Hmm… you mention objects, but then talk about him accidentally biting your finger. I agree with Hazel in asking if the objects are moving when he attacks.

[GardenBunny]

Usually it’s moving in his eyesight but about a foot or two away from him. For example, I was waving around a cat toy near the kitten, about a foot away from him and he grunted and lunged. Another example, I was sweeping up hay bits about two feet away from him, to his side and he ran at it and yanked it right out of my hand.

[DanaNM]

Does this happen everywhere, or mostly in his area? What is his set-up like? Does he have his own pen that is his safe-zone, or is he free-roam?

The sweeping up motions and low motions tend to be somewhat threatening to rabbits. They can’t see very well right in front of them or low. I would try to minimize cleaning and sweeping areas while he is in them or near them (even if it means using a barrier to clean his pen), and playing with the kitten nearby might also just be a bit scary for him (especially in his hormonal state, his territorial urges are in over-drive).

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Bam]

I had a bun who would always attack the broom while I was sweeping. He seemed to interpret it as some sort of live being that invaded his space. Interestingly, he always stopped growling and put his head down when I pet his head with the broom. It is the top bunny that put its chin to the floor 8n a demand for grooming by the other bun, so my guess is he took it as the broom was being

My bun was neutered, but he was young and full of energy. He could growl and lunge at me, then immediately put his chin against the floor and demand a headrub. Similar behaviour can be seen in cats. In cats its explained as being a conflict between the wild and the domesticated within the individual.

 

[Author]

Messages