HELP with increasingly aggressive bunny behavior

[Gergo]

We got a bunny in spring this year, he’s about 9 months old now. I work at home so he’s always around me. Lately, he’s been aggressive towards my girlfriend. When she’s around him he always running at her feet, scratching at them and sometimes nipping her ankles. It’s gotten to the point that he’s randomly biting her hand and any other part that’s in range if she’s siting on the floor or crouching. It’s getting pretty bad considering from what I read bunnies aren’t aggressive unless they’re defending themselves, so why is he attacking her unprovoked and constantly? Really need help before this gets even worse. Why is he doing this and what can we do about it?

He was neutered in June

Thank you

[Wick & Fable]

Has anything changed with your girlfriend, whether it be the soap she uses, having/interacting with other animals (dogs, cats, other rabbits….), and/or is she entering a new space she hasn’t in the past with your rabbit (ex. you moved your rabbit to a new spot in the house and she’s entering the new territory)? Has he always been aggressive to her, or is this a definite new behavior. If new, for how long?

Post-neuter/-spay rabbits sometimes are “reset”, in terms of needing to start over in developing a relationship. Hormones really change things! I would start at the basics with bonding your rabbit to your girlfriend because, regardless of the specific reason, he does not see her as someone to interact with gently. There are many different approaches and considerations to look over here: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Behavior_FAQ

 

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Gergo]

No nothings really changed. And since we live together any soap or whatever would also apply to me. Its definitely new behavior, started maybe a month or two ago and its getting worse over time. He just runs at her feet full on sprinting whenever she’s around the area with his ears back looking pretty aggressive. He also nips her ankles and feet.

He has one room to himself with a cage but when Im working hes with me mostly in my office right next door.

[DanaNM]

Is he fully free-roam? We’ve had a few members with free-roam bunnies that became overly territorial. They had some success with penning the rabbit to a smaller area part of the time, so they became less possessive over the rest of the house (also is a nice option for if he’s being crazy when she’s over). Having the bun have a smaller area that is their space alone can also help them feel safer, so they don’t have to defend a huge room from “intruders”.

Some other things to try, when he nips at her, have her squeal loudly (mimicking the sound of a bunny screaming.. it’s a terrible sound to hear but google it if you haven’t heard it before). That lets bun know that he’s actually hurting her. Try not to retreat or let the bun “win” with his attacks, but that does let the bun know “HEY you’re hurting me!”.

 

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Gergo]

He used to be free roam but after he got neutered ironically he started to chewing everything. Before that he didnt touch anything, not he tries to eat everything he sees. So we restricted him to a room with a cage but when were there he comes to other rooms with us.

We live together so its not like he doesnt know her. And everything was fine until about a month or two ago. He just runs at her feet full on sprinting whenever she’s around the area with his ears back looking pretty aggressive. He also nips her ankles and feet.

[DanaNM]

I know a few moderators have had experience with aggressive buns, going to alert them so we can get some more input.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Gergo]

Thank you!

[DanaNM]

In the meantime, this article might have some helpful info (the last section especially):

https://rabbit.org/faq-aggression/

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Gergo]

We will check this out thank you

[Wick & Fable]

I feel like building positive association with her feet might be helpful… I know that sounds odd, but remember that humans have really big bodies and I doubt rabbits 100% make the association, even though our entire body (ideally) smells the same. Feet are the first thing they see, so they are the “invaders”, “bringer of food”, “things that sometime  (gently) punt us”…. For one reason or another, her feet are now not liked.

If she wears boots or something, does it still occur? Like, her feet/ankles are well-disguised. What if she’s wearing a pair of your socks/shoes/pants?

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Gergo]

We will try to see what happens with footwear. How would you go about the positive reinforcement? She also feeds him and stuff so not sure why he doesnt like her.

[Wick & Fable]

Be careful not to unintentionally reinforce the behavior. You can perhaps present food/pellets by her feet… Again, I know it’s weird. Also, just generally more feet exposure without her approaching him might be good too.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

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