my bunny is the devil i sware!

[commander_BunBun]

I dont kno if everyone from here has seen or heard of family guy, but my bunny is stewy and im lois. I sware he secretly plots to hurt me. He is always biting me, and boxing me, he doesnt let me pet him or go near him. Im not even allowed to give him fresh water without being boxed. We think the previous owners beat him. Cause hes really sketchy all the time, and hates humans. How do we get him to come around its been 3 months, and still no progress…maybe i should send him to a wild animal farm and get one that isnt so mean, plz help me train him to be nice. Im thinking about declawing him so i dont have scars all over my hands.

[rabbitsmba]

I have a little Netherland Dwarf who we call “Ella From The House Of Monster” – she is a bitter grouch – on her good days! She came from an abusive home and when we first got her, we had to use oven mitts to handle her. But she has come a long way….

How long have you had your bunny? It can take rabbits a while to adjust to new surroundings, and ones with “issues” may take even longer. Firstly, respect his territory and don’t go in his cage when he is in it. Wait until he hops out before you go in to clean or replenish supplies. Even the sweetest of bunns can go ballistic when a human enters their territory.

Secondly, use patience. A great exercise is, when the bunny is out for some run time, lay down on the floor on your stomach and sit perfectly still. It may take a while, but let him come up to you and sniff you from head to toe. This way , he gets to explore you on his own terms, at his own level. Don’t move! Perhaps have a treat in your hand and wait for him to sniff it out. Talk sweetly to him. Over time, he will get used to you and a strong level of trust will be built. I’ve been doing this for three years with Ella. At first, it took her forever to come near me – now she runs right to my hands and when she doesn’t find a treat, she jumps on my back to declare her dissapointment and victory!

Remember, not many bunnies are all that cuddly or even loving. Some are frisky and friendly while others may prefer no human touch at all. It is your job to read his body language and personality to figure him out and find some common ground. With enough understanding and patience, I am sure you will see improvement and he will learn that you are a human who is not out to hurt him. For me, it is the most difficult ones that capture my heart the most, because watching them grow, emerge and overcome is truly rewarding.

Please don’t declaw – declawing is inhumane and unneccessary. And don’t give up on him – he needs you to show him what love really is!

[Beka27]

have you given any consideration to clicker training? i have decided to try it and there’s a book you can get that walks you thru step by step. as far the aggression, it might take time. and the rabbit may very well never be the cuddly type. i believe your bun is still young, right? bunnies go thru a “teenager stage” and they will usually mellow with age.

as far as the declawing, i am sure you must be joking. declawing is absolutely inhumane and i doubt you’d be able to find a vet who would agree to do that anyways.

[Deleted User]

As Rabbitsma said, not all bunnies are cuddle buns. Great advice about lying on the floor and “ignoring” him. Given his situation, you have to understand rabbits have long memories and you have to prove you are not a bad person. I had gotten to a point I could pick my guy up but after his neuter and giving him his meds, I have to start from scratch (sorry)

As Beka said, age can be an issue, they all go through their brat stage. Is he neutered? If not, that accounts for a lot of the territorial behavior.

My guy, 9 out of 10 times Shadow does not mind me in his cage but that tenth time he will charge at me and growl and box me.

Please don’t give up and please no declawing, it is cruel for cats but..it is not the same for rabbits its worse, it really could cripple him.

[Vinnie D.]

If your bun is from an abusive home all you can really do right now is show it extra love, care, and understanding. It takes patience to do, but don’t be too forward. Eventually you can teach your bun that not all humans are bad.

Earning a rabbit’s trust is hard enough but an abused rabbit is even harder since that trust has been broken before.
Here’s some things you can do.

Give your bun an alone space. A little hiding hole it can go into. Like one of those igloos if it can fit in one. Never reach into this space and only clean it when your bun can’t see it. Knowing it has its own place to be alone and that you respect that space and won’t invade it is a big step for a bun.

As you already know, you shouldn’t strike a rabbit but if it does approach you and bite let out a loud high pitched yelp or scream. Much like a rabbit’s scream when they’re hurt or afraid this will let your rabbit know it’s hurting you and will usually release.

Switch to an outside the cage water bottle that hangs off the side. These straw type bottles seal off the water and keep contaminants from falling in so they’re good for the rabbit’s health as well as giving you a way to refill the water without invading your bun’s space. Refilling the food dish might be harder but the rabbit should eventually learn that you are the food source. You could try refilling it while your bun is out of the cage or in a different part of it, so it can’t bite you, but can see the result of your hand being there is a bowl full of food.

Lastly communicating with your bun is important. One thing that helps is to kneel or even lay down so that you’re face to face with your bun. Putting yourself on rabbit level makes you look a lot less imposing. Most animals probably look at we humans all high and mighty as we are and think “you silly human, what are you doing all the way up there? Walk on four legs proper.” To a rabbit though it’s more like “OMGHESGONNASTEPONMEHESGONNASTEPONME PANIC!”

You have to remember a rabbits instincts are to never trust anything that isn’t another rabbit. Cats and dogs have evolved to see humans as a source of easy food, but rabbits have not, so every case is a new experience in animal diplomacy.

I can not stress enough to be patient. It could take months, it could take years. but your bun should come around and learn that maybe not all humans are bad.

[Gravehearted]

Is he neutered yet, I don’t remember. Intact bunnies are often more aggressive, so if he is not neutered, please do that!
do you notice him being territorial at certain points? Like when you try to put your hand in his cage?

have you tried laying on the ground with him? hand feeding him veggies?

as others said – it is not humane to declaw a rabbit

[Bunstheboss]

Hello! Whatever you do, please no declawing!! Give him time and love. He may or may not end up being a cuddly bun, but I would respect that. I hope you can at least win him over to become less aggressive. Everybody has already given you great advice. Good luck!!

[skunklionshow]

Trust me I know it’s hard, but if you really follow the advice & suggestions on here it will get better!  Jessi used to bite, claw, and attack me on a regular basis.  I couldn’t even clean her cage w/o being bloodied.  The basic behavior suggestions, patting her head to show dominance, making a loud yelp, & respecting her space made alot of difference.  Also once she got spayed she stopped making me bleed every chance she got.  Adding my sweet little Leo to her abode, also calmed her down.  My wounds have healed, though I still have scars. 

Can you give us more information, especially about the age & neuter status?  Also, what makes you believe that he came from an abusive home.

[Beka27]

yes… do you have proof he was abused before? he may just be acting like a bunny and it’s his personality. all buns are different.

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