confused- digging/pawing and nipping UPDATE- now just nipping!

[katie, max & penny]

Hey guys. So Max has started doing a weird thing. He has started digging on me and nipping me. At first I thought it was because he wanted me to move, but now he’s doing it when I’m not in his way or when I do move, he walks away. What is he trying to tell me?!

[Furface]

Posted By katiehedger on 06/19/2009 07:17 PM

Hey guys. So Max has started doing a weird thing. He has started digging on me and nipping me. At first I thought it was because he wanted me to move, but now he’s doing it when I’m not in his way or when I do move, he walks away. What is he trying to tell me?!

How old is he? Sounds like he’s doin the, “Hey sexy, How you do”in? thing to me”.
 

[katie, max & penny]

he’s one- he just was neutered a week ago, so he probably still has those hormones in him.
i never even thought of that!!

[bunnycutie]

its probably just his ‘female loving hormones’ that are still in him. don’t worry, they will go away eventually.

[bunnytowne]

I think rabbits just like to do that.  Cotton does that on me I am on the couch he hops up digs smooths nibbles my shirt. When I go to pet him he pushes my hand away and resumes his business of digging smoothing nibbling.  He has stopped putting holes in my shirts  since he turned 1 year.   Which is good.

Then Ruby took over and really put lots of holes in my shirt.  She gets upset when I stop petting her.

I think they just like to do that.

[RabbitPam]

I agree with BT – it just seems to be a bunny thing. It may stem from some instinctive behavior that once had a purpose in the wild, but last night I sat on the floor in the hall and Sammy just jumped over my legs, stopped on each side, dug my pants, pulled, then jumped over and did it on the other side. It’s a kind of playful attention.

[katie, max & penny]

thanks guys! i will watch him tonight (we’re playing right now… well max is jumping around on my keyboard atm) and see what he does when i react playfully.

[bunnytowne]

It is cute when they tug on your clothes too.  Ruby did that for a while.  Was so funny.

Ruby says:  Gee Mum your skin is loose.   Or maybe it isn’t your skin at all.  What is this stuff.  Well I can chew holes in it and dig on it.

[katie, max & penny]

Ok, now he’s just nipping instead of pawing AND nipping… I know he has room to go behind me and stuff and it hurts!! Still just playing??

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Have you tried the squeaking technique? You squeak when he bites you? That worked with Fern.
You squeak high pitched and loud to let him know he is hurting you.

[katie, max & penny]

i kind of do it by instinct! but i will increase the squeak. he’s not trying to show disapproval or anything right? why did fern do it?

[Moonlight_Wolf]

I am not 100% sure why Fern did it, I think she thought I was food O_O. But she did also bite my clothes and through them, me. She just chewed my clothes because she liked chewing fabric. I stopped both things by squeaking. Yea Fern also chewed my shirt when she wanted to go behind me, she wouldn’t bite me, just my clothes, but I found that even if there was space behind me she would want me to move away from the wall a little for HER.

Hopefully you will find your bunny’s motive for this behavior.

[katie, max & penny]

sounds exactly like max. its always my clothes, not my bare skin. i will squeal now thanks moonlight!

[Sarita]

My rabbit Pepe does this on the bed and pillow, not sure why but he seems to enjoy it – luckily he does not do this too me but in the past he did use to intentionally bite me. I think it’s crazy but maybe they are just exercising or relieving stress – Pepe always seem better after he’s had his bed clothes digging and chewing – it’s bad for my sheets but better there than on my skin.

[katie, max & penny]

haha definitely! better the sheets than the skin!

i started squealing and max stops immediately when i do- he’s getting it

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Yay! Thats what Fern did to, she would look at me like, “whats that noise for”

[katie, max & penny]

yes!! thats what he’s doing! he gives me this innocent, “but, but i’m just a baby bunny!” look.

oh lagomorphs. gotta love em.

[bunnytowne]

Ruby nipped for a while too about a week and I would squeak and got loud she finally stopped.  Now she puts holes in my clothes instead. I have 2 Ruby shirts just for her entertainment and saves me from her nails

OH they are little divas

[Quantum]

“Little divas”….that is the perfect description, BT!!

[MooBunnay]

Most of mine have outgrown the nipping stage, except Martin will DEFINITELY nip me if I’m anywhere within 5 feet of where he thinks that he might need to go. The rest of mine only nip if they think they are grooming me, or if I’m wearing shoes for some reason they really like to take a nip out of those!

[parrbear3]

my little bunzle likes ankles and hair. i think she just wants attention but ill try the squeaking thing when she is starting to be a pest because as much as i would love to lay around all day and love on her its just not possible

[Author]

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