Chewing and Biting?

[The Rabbit]

Two questions. My bunny *loves* to Chew. I don’t think he’s ever dug anything, except for in his litter box. I can never get him to stop chewing. I’ve tried everything. He was resistent to sprays. I’ll tell him no, and give him a time out, but later he’ll go back to chewing. He loves to chew paper, and cardboard. I usually give him paper, and he knows what is okay and what is not. When he’s caught chewing something naughty (a book, my blanket, wrapping on yarn, different papers) He;ll look very guilty and quickly hop away before I can catch him. He also occassionaly chews the carpet. He did this a lot when he was very young, but he’s been doing it more often now.  His best friend, my cocker spaniel, hurt her leg last month and couldn’t climb the stairs to see him. He went insane, chewing everything, and boxing people. She’s back now, but he’s still being a little bit naughty.

 

any ideas?

 

Also, the other day I was sitting on the floor, reading. My Bun came up to me, and I pet his head. For some reason he decided to bite me, very hard (enough to cause swelling) in a very sensitive place. I actually screamed, (not at him) but in surprse and pain, and he ran off. I put in hin timeout, and when he came out he bit my side. He’s never done that before. He’s given small nips maybe once a month when he feels i’m not petting him enough but never that hard. what could have made him bite like that?

[Sarita]

Some rabbits chew all their life and sometimes as they get older the need to chew diminishes. It could be due to boredom as well. So maybe you could divert him to something different but he obviously enjoys chewing.

As for the biting, hopefully that was a one time incident. Rabbits do sometimes nip to get attention.

[Elrohwen]

Well, chewing paper and cardboard is extremely normal – I would just try to keep these things away from him. I don’t leave anything on the floor or near the floor that I wouldn’t mind teeth marks in. That’s just part of having a bunny. They might learn that furniture and carpet are off limits, but they can’t understand why that book is not ok to chew while a phonebook is ok.

As for carpet, does he pick one spot? If there’s a specific place he goes, you can try covering it up with something appropriate, like a grass mat or cardboard that he is allowed to chew. Or just blocking him off from that spot.

For biting, I would try a high pitched yelp every time he nips. This is how bunnies tell each other that a bite is too hard. Otherwise, I’ve had success using the ignore technique – if he bites, turn away (or walk away) and don’t give him any attention. He probably doesn’t want you to leave, so he will think twice about biting.

[Monkeybun]

I discovered thumping at Moose when he is being bad works too, he’s a sensitive boy, he doesn’t like any disapproval aimed his way

[Elrohwen]

LOL, Monkey. I’m laughing imagining you thumping at your bunny. Do you do it with your foot, in true bunny style?

I’m also assuming this technique doesn’t work with Monkey. She doesn’t seem to feel shame

[Monkeybun]

Nope, doesnt work with her majesty. She just glares and me and the turns and flicks at me.

Sometimes I do it with my foot. Depends on if im standing or not. If im on the floor, i usually use my hand

[The Rabbit]

Lol. I’m used to the chewing by now. I’m sure he’ll never grow out of it. The biting really hurt though. Usually I keep  everything up from him, but sometimes i’ll forget, or he’ll knock something down.

[Author]

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