Peeing on your neck

[Nath]

So, there’s been a week since someone gave my Dexter to me. He’s about 6-8 months old and not neutered. He doesn’t like being touched much but I think he express his affection sometimes by licking my face for minutes long when I lay down on the floor next to him. In a day he learned that he should pee in his cage, not outside, he only peed on the floor once. His cage is always open so he can go in and out when he wants, including night time, but most of the time he stays in. That being summarized, here’s my issue: first time I’ve put him on my bed he peed on it almost immediately. After that he learned to jump to my bed all alone and he did it three or for times, explored it a little and went back to the floor a minute after. No peeing. After that I’ve put him there two times and he peed almost immediately both of the times. And yesterday I’ve decided to try again but with him on top of me. He explored a little for about 30 seconds then came to my chest, looked directly to me and right after turned his back and peed on my neck…? It was… hurtful. I reacted immediately by taking him out but I couldn’t shout NO because there were people sleeping and I was in shock so I did a time out for him, for about 20 minutes, but I’m not sure he understands it. I’m a little concerned because I felt it was a personal attack? Like “I don’t like when you put me here and your behavior is unacceptable so I’m gonna pee on your face”. I felt guilty and hurt, I gave him a little treat after his time out. Today he seems normal since he doesn’t like being touched in general so I’m doing it slowly when he eats or do something he likes and not for too long so he understands I respect his space. This peeing on my neck is really concerning me… Anybody can help?

[jerseygirl]

I think it more to do with him marking territory. Like the first time he was on the bed, he peed to mark new territory. Beds and sofas can be problem areas as rabbit strongly associate them as being our territory.
He must have felt he adequetely marked it the first time if he didn’t do it again the other times he chose to go up on the bed. (Lucky you! – normally they’ll continue to mark for a while).
The times he then peed there again are when you are on the bed with him? In that case, he is re-establishing territory and even marking YOU. Rabbits might urinate on or spray another as a way of claiming another. Sort of a compliment but not one we want to encourage!!

If you find it easier to hang out with him while he’s up on the bed, try laying a shower curtain or vinyl table cloth on the bed first and put a litterbox up there also. But if he keeps marking, you may have to make the bed a no-go zone for him.

He doesn’t like being touched much but I think he express his affection sometimes by licking my face for minutes long when I lay down on the floor next to him.

Wow! That is quite the compliment. He is grooming you. He obviously trusts you a lot. : )

[tobyluv]

After Dexter is neutered and a few weeks have elapsed, he should stop all that territorial peeing.

[Nath]

Thank you both so much for your answers!! I still have the impression that he was pissed, I can’t understand why he had to do it in my face’s direction? But reading your messages made me feel a lot better <3 He didn't groom me today though.. but there's only a week since I got him so I hope we can get closer as time passes

[Mikey]

I think it was a mark as well. When we first got my Bombur, i was his favorite thing to mark. He would explore a little, cuddle a little, nap on me, then explore a little more before coming back to my lap and, well, marking me As flattering as it was, it was also very gross. He marked everything he liked up until about a month and a half after he was neutered

[Q8bunny]

You said he’s not neutered. Unaltered buns pee to show that stuff is theirs and that they love you. Chewie started spraying me when his hormonal overtures of affection reached a peak (right before his neuter). Usually while he was on top of the sofa, by my head. He would give my hair a “rinse” and then turn around for kisses. Yep. Bunnies…

[Author]

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