Correcting nipping

[DallasDelight]

I’ve never had to deal with a rabbit who likes to nip, but the newest addition Demi is very interested in it, lol. She doesn’t BITE – it really doesn’t hurt me, I just want to get her to stop before it turns into biting instead. She likes to lick, but then she will also start up with these nips. Sometimes she won’t lick before, she’ll just start nipping.
Given her history of abuse, I am worried about how to correctly get her to stop without scaring her or making her distrustful of me. Anyone have any ideas how to go about this?

What I’m doing right now is saying “no” in a louder voice when she does it, which then she’ll stop, but usually tries it again right away. I give her 2 tries to “get it”, and then get up and leave. Because she’s such a love-hungry bunny, she follows me desperately and hates it when I get up and leave. I think it’s the best way I can get through to her that nipping is not okay, that she will stop getting attention because of it. It’s what makes sense in my head…I just wanted to get others’ opinions!

[Michelle&Lolli]

I don’t have any suggestions cause I have my own nippy bunny who’s just a bossy bossy bossy little boy.

But….if your bun is nipping while licking, it could just be little love bites. Eddie does this to me all the time while he’s grooming me. it does get annoying cause it hurts a bit. And saying no doesn’t help either. I just get looked at too and then he starts up again. lol

I read in another post that rabbits nip each other to communicate. So this could be a possibility.

Eddie freaking bites me all the time. To get out his way. When he wants something. When he doesn’t like something. Eddie is a very sweet boy. He’s just EXTREMELY bossy and I’ve spoiled him too much so he’s gotten into his head that nipping/biting is an acceptable behavior. Nothing I have done has made a bit of difference though. This is probably due to him thinking he is royalty and I am pretty sure I’m just another female subject that brings him food. LOL

[BinkyBunny]

Actually, in my opinion, you are handling it well so far. It may take her some time to get that nipping keeps you from staying, but after a few months, this should set in. Some bunnies nip to make you groom them. It sounds like the “NO” is working, but another method for this situation that might work is a high pitched squeal. Rabbits recognize that as a distress or pain call. And since her intention doesn’t seem aggressive in the sense of trying to hurt you, that squeal might communicate to her that she’s doing something that hurts, and hopefully that will make her stop.

Also as soon as she approaches you WITHOUT nipping, give her positive reinforcement with pets. That will help solidify in her positive behaviors.

Good Luck and keep us updated.

[wendyzski]

Pepper was pretty nibbly when I first got her.  I used the techniques from The Language of Lagomorphs (squealing, then thumping, and finally giving her the human version of The Bunny Butt.  Once I put things in terms she could understand (oh did her eyes get all big when I first gave her The Butt) we sorted things out pretty quickly – less than 2 weeks I think.

She will still nip if provoked – during ear drops, etc.  But she doesn’t even bruise or break the skin now -  mostly she just needed to understand that she needed to be especially gentle with the big pink naked rabbit she lives with now.

[jerseygirl]

She likes to lick, but then she will also start up with these nips. Sometimes she won’t lick before, she’ll just start nipping.

Because she’s young it could be her grooming style, her playfulness. I agree, you;re handling it well. Just act like another bunny as if you were being groomed. Stay for nice grooming, balk if it becomes rough. If you suspect it’s more dominant type nipping, try pushing her head down briefly.

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