tips and tricks to stop nips and nibbles?

[cainan]

So little Banner is in that exploratory stage where he’s sniffing and tasting everything – and ultimately nibbling – and sometimes even chomping! (He likes to bite my knee for some reason, but chins my toes – go figure)

Does anyone have any tips on the best way to stop him from biting?  I tried the “Ow” thing and giving him something else to chew on, but I think I need something else.  Or is this something I’m just going to have to deal with until he’s fixed?

[lashkay]

If you’re going to try the OW thing, try escalating it to a high-pitched EEEEEEEEEEEEEI!!!! at the top of your voice, followed by a sharp NO!!. The shreking startles them, lets them know they caused you pain, and HOPEFULLY deters them from doing it too many more times as long as you’re consistent in your shrieking. You could also rub a hard cake of IVORY SOAP over the kneecaps. That’s gotten rabbits to stop nibbling and chewing on baseboards and woodwork as well. No other soap but ivory cake soap though, for some reason, they say. Stinky perfume applied to your kneecaps or whatever other places on your person the little nipper nips, might help too. Let me know if any of this makes a difference.

[peppypoo]

Agreed with lashkay…maybe if you imitate a bunny cry of pain, they’ll understand that it’s unpleasant for you. When I give Peppy my fingers, she licks them like crazy, but when I extend my toes toward her, she bites them, lol. Apparently fingers are for licking and toes are for nibbling! Silly bunny..

[Elrohwen]

The high pitched yelp can work.

When Otto went through this he didn’t care at all if I yelped, so I had to come up with something else. Since he was trying to interact with me playfully (as opposed to fearfully) I would just leave his area when he nipped after telling him “no”. He would look confused about why I was leaving and I would turn my back on him for 30sec or so before going back in to play with him. He actually learned pretty fast (or he just grew out of it).

[cainan]

hmm the turning the back trick…. since he’s running circles around me that might be hard LOL but I could leave his play area and see if that does it.
Thanks for the suggestions, all. I’ll definitely try the yelp – can’t do the ivory though because I’m actually allergic to it!

I hate to quash his curiousity – but he’s nibbling on hems, sticking his head in my pocket and nibbling the fabric there, nibbling my shoes (Merry still does this too) and ow it really hurts my knee I know I have to stop the behavior – the neuter isn’t coming fast enough!

[lashkay]

I’m going to have to remember the leaving his area/turning your back for 30 seconds. I guess in 30 seconds, absence can make the little nipper’s heart grow fonder and he misses you, so doesn’t do the offensive behavior again cause he doesn’t want you to go away again…even for 30 sec!

[Elrohwen]

I definitely had to leave Otto’s pen or he would’ve just followed me as I turned around. Since he wanted to explore and play with me, walking away and sitting nearby, but ignoring him, got through. He’s never cared about the word “no” or yelping or anything and this was the only thing that worked.

Funny, because now that he’s 2 years old he wish I would leave him alone most of the time 😛

[cainan]

Part of me is totally relishing the little guy’s attention because I’m sure it’s going to go away… but now that he’s discovered that my hair is apparently very yummy, I have to just suck it up and give up some of the attention

[Elrohwen]

His personality won’t necessarily change! Otto has never been cuddly and he’s still curious and runs over to me when I sit on the floor – he just doesn’t appreciate touching. At least now he jumps on me looking for treats instead of trying to nibble my knees like he did as a baby. Haha

[cainan]

Fingers crossed that he’ll just end up being a calmer version of himself now and not turn into an introvert!!!

So far I’m not really having success with the leaving of the pen suggestion. His attention span seems to be too short

[Elrohwen]

Whatever method you try, make sure you do it very consistently. Rabbits usually don’t learn things the first time or even the 10th, but all of a sudden you’ll realize that whatever behavior you were trying to stop has just stopped. If you give up too soon, he won’t figure out what you’re asking.

Have you tried the yelping sound? This works better for some rabbits than others (out of my two, it works well for one and not at all for the other).

[cainan]

Something seems to have worked since he’s moved from nips to kisses… but we’ll see what tomorrow brings!

[RabbitPam]

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