Bunny with attitude

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 4sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 1 month ago by jerseygirl.

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- 01/03/2011 at 5:50 PM
  mommyof3pets
  Participant
  1 posts
  Hi! I’m new, My family and I have 3 pets, not counting our 2 goldfish! We have a hamster, a guinea pig, and our bunny, “Bunnicula”. We got him 6 months ago from a local fair. He is a mini holland lop, at least that’s what it said on his papers. He is white with black spots, and very cute, he was very sweet when we held him at the fair, however, once we got him home, he showed his true colors. When we take him out of the cage, he will let us pet him, but everytime we try to hold him, he bites, all the time, for no reason, he even draws blood, hence his name, LOL! Is anyone able to give me any advice as to why he’s this way?
- 01/03/2011 at 6:19 PM
  Lintini
  Participant
  3329 posts
  Welcome!
  
  This is very common, please read this link and I think it will help you a lot!
  https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/BunnyGoneNutty/tabid/191/Default.aspx
- 01/03/2011 at 6:24 PM
  LoveChaCha
  Participant
  6634 posts
  Hi and welcome!
  
  Lintini directed you to the right page! sounds like bunny is becoming a teenager and will remain one unless he is neutered he’ll calm down so much after being neutered!
- 01/03/2011 at 6:38 PM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  Alot of bunnies do NOT like being held, its just not in their nature to want to be held up in the air. As prey animals they prefer to keep their feet firmly on the ground. It may help to just hang out with him on the floor, on his terms
- 01/03/2011 at 8:36 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Welcome
  
  he will let us pet him, but everytime we try to hold him, he bites, all the time, for no reason,
  
  There is a reason. They are a prey animal and are scared to be held. By biting, it probably resulted in him being released which was the aim. Now he would know that is the quickest way to escape. Completely normal and common for our rabbits. They are not hold and cuddle pets. You may know of someone with rabbits where this is not the case. Most rabbits dislike being held. Many rabbits learn to tolerate it to a degree. A minority may actually enjoy it. Absolutely spend time down at his level on the floor. If they have a 4 paws on the ground they feel more secure and may even stay for a floor snuggle.
  
  At the fair he was likely handled alot. May even have been too petrified to react (?) Was he a baby? Baby rabbits are ok with being held, especially if the breeder has done this from a young age, socialised them. But they grow out of that baby stage. As mature rabbits, the truth is the times of those long periods of been held are over.
  
  Avoid picking him up. Allow him to come and go on his own terms and eventually he will build some trust. Also, as mentioned, look at getting him neutered if he hasn’t been. This can also help with unwanted behaviours.
  
  I hope you’ve had a chance to browse the site. There is a ton of useful information and lots of members wanting to help make things better for you and your rabbit.
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