bun becoming territorial after 2 years?

[DaisyAndRoo]

So I’ve had my boy Roo for about a bit under a year and a half, hes 2 years and some odd months old.

When I got Roo he had never really had human interaction and was terrified of people.  Absolutely petrified of everythnig really.
He hda no idea what to do with the toys I gave him, it took him months to take eat a treat I left in his dish.  A few more months before he’d take one from me.
Now hes a real mommy’s boy.  He still isn’t the biggest fan of other people and doesn’t trust anyone else, but he’ll go over to people for treats and head pats then run back to me.  But boy does he love and trust his mommy lol.

Well, hes bonded to my girl Daisy, whom I’ve had for 4 years.  Shes always been the dominant one, and is very demanding.
In recent times though Roo has become somewhat of a bully.  Hes started to become protective of his food and even more protective of me.

He chases her away when I give them pellets in the morning and greens at night, he chases her into their house or just away completely when I say hey guys want a treat!
I had to hold him this morning for about 20 minutes just so Daisy could eat some pellets.  

Hes also become very protective of me.  He’ll chase Daisy away if she comes near me, if I’m petting her he’ll run over and bite her then box me and then look at me thinknig hes going to get a head pat.  Usually he gets a No Roo!  Thats mean!  then pick up Daisy so I can pet her without him intervening.
If she grunts at me or boxes me or anything along those lines he’ll run over and go after her. “don’t you dare growl at my mommy!”

If Daisy ever wants to cuddle or get pats I either have to lock him in their pen or keep pushing him away.  I have to trick him or hold him away if I want to give Daisy a treat.  Or throw a few on the floor for him then pick her up and take her to the other side of the room to give her one.

 

But thats it.  She can play with any toys she pleases, they run around and play together, he lets her have all the good napping spots around teh house or in their pen, he grooms her and lays with her.

I don’t know whats going on, and I hate having to do those things to him to be able to spend time with Daisy or to let her eat.
Any ideas as to why hes changed like this?  Or even better, what I can do about it.

any help is appreciated.

 

 

[Beka27]

hmm. well, my bonded pair are new, less than 6 months… so i’ve not experienced anything like that. i know that some people have to feed their pairs separately… so one in the cage while they eat, one out to eat. another member had a weird occurence with her pair breaking up and it was due to some territorial-like behavior. now they cannot be caged together at all. have you tried holding his head down when he comes up to chase her off?

[Sarita]

Makes me wonder if he’s chasing you away from Daisy to protect her instead of the other way around.

Have you tried petting them together to see how he reacts?

[DaisyAndRoo]

They’ve been bonded for a bit over a year I’d say. 

I haven’t tried holding his head down.  usually by the time this all happens and I say Roo no! he just stares at me like what’d I’d do wrong.
Would I have to do it while its happening or can I do it immediately after?

I’m going to try feeding them seperately from now on.

I hope I don’t have to seperate them.

 

Maybe I should ignore Roo and make him not love me so much.
Just kidding!

[DaisyAndRoo]

Posted By Sarita on 12/05/2008 7:31 AM
Makes me wonder if he’s chasing you away from Daisy to protect her instead of the other way around.

Have you tried petting them together to see how he reacts?

 

I haven’t thought if it like that. 

I can pet them together, or pet him then pet her for a split second then he gets mad and chases her and comes back to me for head pets. 

If hes sitting with me and she hops over he’ll put his ears back and growl and lunge.

I don’t see why he’d be protecting her.  He looks like hes angry with her, he growls and has his ears back and will chase her until I stop him.

[Sarita]

Another things that comes to mind is he suddenly aggressive because he’s not feeling well if this has come on suddenly.

[DaisyAndRoo]

They both just had their teeth done about 3 weeks ago.  The vet gave them a clean bill of health.  His teeth don’t grow too quickly, he gets them done every 6 months or so.  Daisy gets hers done every couple of weeks.

Hes eating normally, dinknig, pottying normal.  Playing with his toys, he was just running the bunny 500 and binkying up a storm the night before last.  So I didn’t think too much about him being sick.

No discharge, his eyes are clear, nothing in his ears, no lumps I can feel or visibly see.  His nose isn’t runny, he hasn’t been outside or in contact with other buns.

 

[Sarita]

I just thought of that because my rabbit with dental problems suddenly becomes “aggressive” when his teeth hurt and I’m just now figuring that one out. He bites more – I guess he’s trying to relieve the pain but it doesn’t sound like that with Roo so maybe it’s just a new behavior seeing how far he can go with you.

[DaisyAndRoo]

if hes seeing how far he can go, then hes got a clearing.  These two get away with so much lol.

 And my girl gets a bit more grouchy when it gets closer to the time she needs her teeth done.  So I understand that one pretty well heh

 

thanks for your help, I do appreciate it

[bunnytowne]

I found Cotton would herd Ruby away from HB.  HE stopped after realizing Ruby only wanted to attack HB on sight.  Also if I small like an unaltered male bun Cotton will sit on my lap smell the other male and jump up and attack my face. HE will get my hands too once he notices. So I have learned not to pet any intact males at the pet stores.  I want to volunteer at the humane society but they never called me back. Also if I do get to I would have to be real careful of  handling male buns.

I would be better at computers. Safer for me hehee.

Sounds like your boy wants you all to himself. Cotton hasn’t done that with Ruby.  He will run over to get himself in the middle of everything if I am petting her on the couch.

HE will also run off or give me bunny butt if I pet only Ruby too. So far he hasn’t hurt her.  HE likes her.

Also like your male Cotton only likes me.  HE does not like hubby or anyone else for that matter.

[jerseygirl]

I wonder if something happened to break his trust in her? A Bun Tiff , so to speak. Just thinking if it took such a long time for him to trust you, maybe the bunny bond is still in progress, even though it’s been a year. Like, your interaction with him is most likely predictable to him, but Daisys may be a bit more uncertain depending on changes in her own health or rabbitude. Sounds all a bit to psychological doesn’t it?!

Another thought is the sheddding factor – been realising that can effect buns behaviours recently, from some of the other members posts!

[bunnytowne]

OH yeah   glad you remembered that shedding bit.  Could be.  Buns just surprise us with strange behaviors

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

You know, sometimes rabbits are just aggressive! It doesn’t mean anythings seriously wrong or anything, here’s an article I LOVE ! From rabbit.org

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.

[DaisyAndRoo]

thanks for the replies everyone!

On another forum someone mentioned to me that it could be like with a child, how when their parents are splitting they act out becasue they’re afraid.  My boyfriend of a long time and I split a few months ago and moved out of our house.  The buns have always been okay with moving, they take to new surroundings pretty well.  My only problem is my girl whos blind in the one eye, she takes longer to memorize the outlay of the house. 

But she was really attached to Ron and she was very obviously upset when she didn’t see him anymore.  She came to me for comfort and I gave her all the love she could handle, and I wonder if beacsue of all the turmoil Roo is now worried he won’t be recieving the same amount of attention and love he was before.  While Ron was around Daisy wanted nothing to do with me unless she was scared or I had food lol.  She was in love.  And so Roo, who doesn’t go to anyone else or trust anyone else really always came to me and got extra love from me becasue I had the time since Daisy dumped me. 

Do you think that could be it? 

[DaisyAndRoo]

Kokaneeandkahlua, I loved that article.  Thanks for sharing it with me.

But I sort of took it as you saying that I’m expecting too much of him, which would make me feel like a bad bun parent if that were the case. And if this behavior hadn’t started almsot two years into him being with us, I could see that? I guess.  After everything I’ve been through with Daisy I don’t expect anything from buns, I just learn how they are and accept it.  Daisy is an extremely agressive rabbit towards people and other animals.  She was great for Ron and great to Roo, good with me but still nippy.  Anyone else she’d go for the throat so to speak.

It came out of nowhere with Roo, everyone always loves him because of how sweet and gentle he is.  And its a trait I’ve always adored in him, but when your sweet, docile bun suddenly becomes mean towards his lady…you worry! 

[jerseygirl]

I think the change in your living circumstances could really be the key to this! Hope others will post either with more knowledge or personal experience.

[DaisyAndRoo]

anyone?

[hooty22]

Oh that could totally be it! My boyf is currently in the process of getting the go ahead to move from Canada to the States. He comes down to visit periodically. Sometimes he stays for a long weekend, sometimes he’ll stay for a week. Felony totally acts differently. When he first gets here, Felony gets really territorial and poops on everything that is his. Sometimes he’ll jump up on the couch and sit between us and sometimes he gives my boyf a nip or two. Then after a day or two, Fel warms up and stops pooping and lets the boyf pet him.

Once the boyf leaves, Felony spends a day or two pooping everywhere and head butting my ankles at least 12 times a day. I would say that change definitely had an effect on your buns! Plus I think that animals are very intuitive and maybe he feels that he needs to protect you right now and give you extra loving…

[Author]

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