Nippy

[lwayne]

Ever since Arduina got spayed last month she has been a bit nippy.  She is 5 months old, is this just her hormones dying down?  Arduina can be all sweet, but when she wants something (like to dig under the carpet under my feet or to get at the wall where I am sitting) she will nip us (never any blood).   When she nips I will yell out OUCH! and discipline her by tapping her head.  I think part of it is she likes to chew the clothing.  I can’t tell if she wants attention, wants to chew/dig in our clothing, or just wants us out of her way.  Arduina is quite friendly and will follow us around the house and lay down for nose rubs, but how do I get her to stop the occasional nip?  Or better yet, how do I figure out what she wants?

[mrmac]

Does she have any toys to chew on or a diggy box? It may still be her hormones, but when she does it a clap and an “OUCH!” or “NO!” will help to discourage her. A squirt bottle when she does it or a jar or something to shake too, just throwing out some ideas!

[lwayne]

yeah she has everything! I put a cardboard box on it side with a phone book in there for her to dig in, she does use it. She also has another cardboard box (upright) with packing paper in it, she love the packing paper. She has lots of willow stuff (the tent in her cage where she sleeps), she also chews on a wooden futon we have in the living room (rather that then any other furniture). Plus she gets apple tree branches occasionally. I don’t think she is limited to chewing and digging. She also has lots of blankies, the floor of her cage, plus some other towels I leave around the room for her, and the cotton rug. She doesn’t really respond to the spray bottle (she likes to run into me when I am carrying her water bowel so that I spill it on her… silly rabbit!)
I hope it is just her hormones, how long after a spay do they take to wear off?

[Desma]

Hunny Bunny used to nip me accidentally when she was trying to grab a piece of my clothing. When I would raise my voice and say ouch, that eventually stopped her from doing this. One time when she was laying next to me on the couch when I was laying on my side, she accidentally nipped my nipple through the clothing! YIKES!

[Adalaide]

I’m sure that didn’t take a contrived ouch to get her to stop. I can imagine I’d yelp loud enough to scare the daylights out of Freya if that happened to me.

[RabbitPam]

Try a very high pitched yelp next time she nips. Bunnies express pain with a squeal, so if you squeal, they think they’ve hurt you and will try not to.
They do set their teeth like a hand to get you to move though.

[lwayne]

I think that partly she wants attention, and partly is she likes our clothing. Sometimes she does it to get us to move, like if we are sitting up next to the wall and she wants to run the perimeter of the room. My significant other usually yells OWW and lightly pinches her back when she nips at him. Hopefully she will get the hint that we don’t like it. Other than the occasional nip, she is quite a sweet and friendly bun.

[Deleted User]

My spayed female rabbit nips me every time I visit my trio. I am positive it is her way of getting my attention. As soon as I start petting one of my other two rabbits she will come up to me for nippings! It hurts but that’s her point I believe. She loves pettings and cuddles and wants them all for herself. I have tried different high-pitched noises to show her it affects me negatively but her deal to me remains unchanged: “pet me or I’ll nip you!!” She is not a recent spay and not a teenage bun so I guess I will accept it.

[RabbitPam]

Another thing you can try in “bunny language” is to turn your back on her when she does it. You can glance at her over your shoulder to make sure she’s watching you, then turn away again. That is what a bunny does to others when it has had enough. You are saying “I am so done with you now.” She may come over and try very gentle kisses to make up with you.

[Deleted User]

Posted By RabbitPam on 10/17/2009 03:44 PM
Another thing you can try in “bunny language” is to turn your back on her when she does it. You can glance at her over your shoulder to make sure she’s watching you, then turn away again. That is what a bunny does to others when it has had enough. You are saying “I am so done with you now.” She may come over and try very gentle kisses to make up with you.

 

I tried it on my boyfriend. It didn’t work…

[RabbitPam]

LOL No, it’s too subtle and advanced a form of communication for boyfriends. Only works on bunnies.

Boyfriends need you to take their car keys and the remote if you want their attention.

[Deleted User]

RabbitPam, you are a very wise woman…

[lwayne]

Thank you for all of your advice I will have to try both (for the bunny and the boyfriend ;-))!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

You guys are cracking me up!!

I agree-sounds like she’s trying to get your attention.

Kahlua will come up and nip-and thats her way of saying chase me. Obviously I dont chase her scarily, but slowly and clumsily and with my hands out “I’m gooonnnnna GET ya!” and she really likes that. Fast bunnies love chase-she may be asking you to play.

[Author]

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