Excessive nipping?

[Kelly]

Gus is almost 3 months old (still a young rabbit, I know), and we’re running into the issue of lots of nipping and some digging at clothes. We have his first vet exam scheduled for this weekend, and I will definitely bring it up with the vet, but I thought I’d ask for guidance here in the meantime.

Basically we are still working on litter training Gus. He’s in a huge dog crate with an x-pen attached to the front of it and is doing pretty well with using the litter boxes when he’s in his space (some stray poops on the floor and using the boxes for 95% of pees). But whenever we try to expand his area, even with litter boxes, he pees and poops EVERYWHERE. So he stays in his space most of the day and we visit and pet him in the x-pen. But for the last week or so, he’s been incredibly nippy. Mostly biting at clothes, but more and more frequently nipping skin on hands, arms, etc. It’s not painful but is definitely uncomfortable. He is also digging at our clothes.

Gus is not neutered yet, but we will be discussing/scheduling that at his vet appointment, so I’m not sure if things will improve after his neuter? Could it be a hormonal thing this early? Will he grow out of it, or is he just a bossy rabbit? I feel like part of the issue is that he needs more exercise, but it’s hard to give him more space before he’s not litter box trained. He has a phone book, fringey paper towel tubes, plastic parrot rings, a wicker ball, and wicker sticks in his area. All the hay he can eat, unlimited pellets. I think he would also really like some large fleece pieces to dig at, but I’m hesitant to give him any because of all the chewing and with him not being litter trained. So I don’t think the nipping is because he’s bored.

To discourage his nipping we’ve tried making loud squealing noises (doesn’t bother him one bit or deter the behavior) and have tried gently pushing his head away and saying NO. I’ve also tried distracting him with hay or a toy. He might stop for a few seconds and is then right back at the clothes biting.

Any suggestions for what to try or words of encouragement? This is our first rabbit and I so want to do everything right by him. It just never crossed my mind before that a rabbit could be so mouthy!

[Anniesmom]

It’s probably hormonal, although I’m not sure since he’s younger than my Annie, but I imagine even at three months the hormones could be kicking in.
Nipping, refusing to use a litter box and marking, and digging are all hormonal signs and should improve after he’s fixed.

The peeing and pooping is marking territory, and it makes sense he would try to mark when he gets access to more space. That will improve as he gets older, more comfortable, and fixed.
The nipping is also hormonal, and my Annie has a bad nipping habit too. If she starts to nip I usually make noise and push her head down to the floor, and hold it down for a few seconds. Not hard, just enough to assert dominance and make her sulk. And if she bites hard enough to draw blood, she gets her head pushed down, and then she is immediately put back in her cage alone. She didn’t respond to the high pitched noises either.
Also, make sure your clothes are clean without any scents if you have other pets or have been cooking. I swear Annie can smell it on my clothes if I’ve handled fruits or veggies, she goes nuts trying to eat my pants.

It’ll definitely get better. Neutering will help. How long have you had him? Is he fully adjusted to your home?

[Jessica]

I started to see nominal behaviors in Amelia when she was 11/12 weeks old. For her it has been primarily digging and general crabbiness/moodiness. To keep her from digging our furniture, the carpets and tiles I made her some tied double layer fleece blankets. I placed them in her favorite spots and she now sleeps an digs thems. In fact she throws and play with them all the time, they have turned into one of her favorite toys.

Now we have found Amelia acts out when she want attention, she will do things that she know will get my attention, her yelled at, or picked up and moved. She will be 16 weeks tomorrow and she has just figured out to nicely ask for attention. But anytime she does she gets all kinds of attention and she gets a bit of a treat. It also likely helps that she just mimics what the dog does.

The other thing that I’ve found helps is behaving like a bunny with her. She always grooms/kisses me before I pet her, she’s been like that since I fought her home. But when she act out I’ve found if I gently hold her head down with one hand and let her kiss my other hand she calms right down. The other thing she likes I’d for me to use her almost like a pillow. If I’m laying on the couch or floor she comes over and nuzzles she head under my head/neck

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