How to discourage grunting?

[Pooklelove]

Pooks is a female bun, just under a year old. She’s spayed, and has free roam around my bedroom 24/7, so she has more than enough space. I have a baby gate across my doorway, so she can’t get out but I can leave my door open for the majority of the time. The gate is a home made job with a wooden frame and chicken wire covering the main body so to say.

Pooks often chews and pulls on the chicken wire as though she wants to get out, and I do let her out to explore the house every now and then. When she is pulling at the cage, the sound can be pretty annoying so I often go in to distract her by petting her or drawing her attention to one of her toys.

When I did it today, with a toilet roll (which she usually loves throwing around and playing with), she grunted and boxed at me, which she never normally does. I got a fright, but went back in with the toilet roll and she did it again. I said ‘No!’ loudly, and she stopped and ran under the bed.

Was she just grunting because I was annoying her? She never usually responds like that, and the online search results have only yeilded causes of grunting to be invasion of space like cleaning housing while the rabbit is still in there or housing that is too small or unspayed/neutered aggression.

Any suggestions on how I can stop her from this behaviour in the future, without making her too mad and grumpy at me?

[BanditCamp]

If she honked she probably was excited. If it was a grunt and you were in her space (cage) she might just be telling you that ‘this is my safe space go away’ always clean or do maintenance when their away from their space so there isn’t a problem.

[Pooklelove]

Hi BanditCamp!

She has a separate cage in the corner of my room where I can close her up if need be, it is also where her hay, litter box, water and pellets all are, and I never invade that area, I’ve let her know it’s clearly ‘hers’ – I won’t bug her with pets or reach in or anything when she’s in there. However, this was in the open of my bedroom, an area I’ve tried to let her know is ‘communal’ as such.

She was also definitely not excited – i apologize for using the word honking, it was definitely more of a loud grunt, accompanied with ears back against the head and a lunge at my hand.

Do you have any suggestions on how I could discourage her from doing this again without frightening her? Perhaps I had just startled her in the first place?

Thank you for taking the time to respond!

[BanditCamp]

On that case you may have approached her in the wrong way. Remember that rabbits have nearly 360degree vision except in the front of their faces and a small area behind their head. She might have gotten nervous and scared, always ensure that you approach from the sides so she can see you and then do things. I’m also unclear why you approached with a toilet roll was it because of bar shaking?

I know bandit grunts with treats and boxes me sometimes but I think he just doesn’t want to work for his treat and gets frustrated.

[Pooklelove]

I approached her with the empty loo roll because it is one of her favourite ‘toys’ – if I’m holding one while sitting on the floor, she’ll come bounding over and grab it from my hand, and we’ll play fetch (with her throwing and me catching, haha ) for ages.

Normally when she’s rattling the gate, approaching her with a toy will redirect her attention and she’ll be far more interested in whatever new thing I’ve presented her with. It was very unusual for her to react so grumpily with me in this case, hence my post!

In hindsight, I must have approached her from beyond her feild of vision, and given her a fright, the poor thing!

I will be more mindful of this in the future, for sure!

Thanks!

[Pooklelove]

I approached her with the empty loo roll because it is one of her favourite ‘toys’ – if I’m holding one while sitting on the floor, she’ll come bounding over and grab it from my hand, and we’ll play fetch (with her throwing and me catching, haha ) for ages.

Normally when she’s rattling the gate, approaching her with a toy will redirect her attention and she’ll be far more interested in whatever new thing I’ve presented her with. It was very unusual for her to react so grumpily with me in this case, hence my post!

In hindsight, I must have approached her from beyond her feild of vision, and given her a fright, the poor thing!

I will be more mindful of this in the future, for sure!

Thanks!

[Limit]

My bunny will do this at objects that come at him too fast, or if he’s in a grumpy mood he will fling toys away if they’re in his path with a loud grunt of disapproval! It may well be that your bun was just a bit grumpy and the toy annoyed her, usually when the ears go back suddenly it’s a clear indication that their upset/grumpy with whatever is annoying them (It’s how I know with Monte when not to reach down for his bowl). She looks stunning from your profile pic x

[LBJ10]

Bunnies can just be grumpy sometimes. It may have had nothing to do with you initially, but then the toy annoyed her. She may have been feeling frustrated for example. I know Leopold can get frustrated if he really wants something and he can’t make it happen. He’ll even throw a “temper tantrum” and go on a toy flinging destruction spree.

[ThorBunny]

My bunny can be quite grumpy sometimes as well! Its likely that she was just annoyed that you were stopping her from her favorite activity (destroying the gate

). My girl will grunt and box if we take away a toy or interesting object while she is engaged

[Pooklelove]

Thank you all so much for the feedback! I think it was just because she wasn’t in the mood for interruptions – she’s since come booped me for head scratches so I think we’re friends again

[Author]

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