Bossy Little Bunny

[Jessie1990]

I have had my bunny, Ash, for almost a week. We have had snow days almost every day since I got him, so we have had TONS of bonding time. I am beginning to notice that Ash is very bossy when it comes to people being in his play area. He likes to run circles at break neck speeds around the entire area, doing multiple binkies as he goes. If I am laying in the middle of the floor on my iPhone reading these forums or other sites and my leg happens to be in his race track he will come nudge my feet until I move them out of the way and then proceed to race around. The last couple of days he has started making me move my legs into tunnel shapes. He even nipped me once because I didn’t move… so I bonked him on the nose and he hasn’t nipped since. It didn’t really hurt, but I don’t want him to get into the habit of biting. If I put my legs into a tunnel shape (legs tucked to chest but slightly out so he can go under) he will race in circles around me. He also goes behind me and nudges my back out from the wall to make another tunnel. Does anyone else have a bossy rabbit, or is my rabbit just strange?

[LoveChaCha]

Some rabbits can be very territorial of their space! I have a lady bun who does not go into her condo often, but when she does, she does not like when I try to rearrange things.

How old is your bun? He may be near the age where he needs to be neutered. It is not unusual for rabbits to be territorial of their stuff especially around the age the hormones start breaking out.

[Amys Animals]

A lot of rabbits are bossy. Marley doesn’t like me lying on the ground in his running space. Valentine nudges me all the time to get out of her way. It’s just a bun thing. IMO I don’t agree with bonking on the nose but some people do it. I prefer the spray bottle if they are doing something naughty. It gets the point across and doesn’t make them think I am a monster for bonking them. Since he is just a baby nipping is likely to come with him as he matures until you get him neutered. Like I said in your intro thread I am not an expert on babies so I am sure someone will chip in here.

Your bun isn’t strange. Just a bun. =P

[Deleted User]

Your bun isn’t strange! I promise. It’s a normal bun reaction. When my little girl was younger she would give me three warning nose bonks to move before she nipped. Skipper lovessssss tunnels. Her favorite thing when she was a baby was to race around and squeeze herself in between the space of my back and the wall I was leaning against. She, also, loves to play under blankets. I’ll prop my legs up while sitting and drape a blanket over them. I’ll lift up a corner of the blanket to let Skipper under it and she’ll tunnel under the blanket for hours.

If your little guy loves tunnels BB sells a great tunnel. My little ones go nuts over it.

[Jessie1990]

Skipper does exactly what I was trying to describe Ash doing! I think I will get out a blanket for him to play under tonight after I finish this PowerPoint I am working on. I was also looking at tunnels to buy so I will have to check out the one you are talking about. Also, I will have to set up a date with my vet for a checkup to find out the little guys age and when she thinks I should get him Neutered. Luckily we have a rabbit vet in this small town I live in and I don’t have to drive a large distance. This vet is pretty awesome too lol. Two years ago I brought a mouse in to be looked at because my friend was too embarrassed and she gave it something by mouth and it was better by the end of the week. She seems to know a lot about small animals so I trust her.

[Bam]

My bunny is bossy. I get the impression bunnies are bossy as a species. If my dog does sth she’s not supposed to do I tell her “no”, and she stops. That method has absolutely no effect on the bunny. If his mind is set on sth, it’s set. He just stares at me defiantly and keep doing whatever he’s doing. It’s amusing in many ways but sometimes frustrating. He rules the house. He pretty much seems to regard himself as the master of universe.

[RabbitPam]

That’s not strange, it’s adorable! He is playing and getting exercise, and wants you to both pay attention and participate. They like a good running course, and you are providing a fun and friendly way of being part of his play time. I definitely know bunnies who tell you – often with their mouths – how they want you to be in their game.

Baby bunnies haven’t learned to control their mouths yet, so can nip and hurt. Adult bunnies have learned to use their teeth like another hand, so they touch and pull with them but do not actually bite. It is rare that any bunny will bite and draw blood, and if it happens, it is almost always a very young bunny who hasn’t mastered control of their mouths to communicate yet. If you are ever bitten hard, it’s possible that your bunny is ill and should be checked out by a vet. A bunny who is sick or in pain may bite badly. But in this case, he is tapping you on the leg with his face to get you to do what he wants.

Bunnies can’t talk – but they communicate what they want very well, don’t you think? Enjoy him!

[Jessie1990]

My bf is addicted to buying stuff on Amazon.com so we had some large boxes laying around. I made him a cardboard race course with a bar jump and two tunnels. He loves it! He has nipped a couple more times, but not hard. He did nip my bf on the back and he jumped up super fast because he wasn’t expecting it, but I just explained that he wanted him to scoot away from the wall. My bf LOVES that rabbit, which is surprising because he usually doesn’t like small animals. Anyway, just thought I would update on the situation.

I am now allowed to groom the bunny I offer to groom by putting my hands out two feet in front and he will put his head down and move forward. He then waits for me to pet his head. He likes to be rubbed up his nose between his eyes. He is not a fan of his back being touched though, and will run away if I go back there. So I just rub his head. I am so excited that I can communicate with him!

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