Very strange behavior…Nipple biting(human)?

[The Rabbit]

I’ve been a bit embarrassed to ask about this but…My male neutered rabbit, Pixel, bites nipples. I have to be very careful. He loves to snuggle up against my chest, and several times he’s reached out and bit me, directly on the nipple. It’s rather painful. I usually make a sound of pain and put him in his cage. It’s not often, and I can usually tell when it will happen because he started licking the area determindly. I thought it was just if I wasn’t wearing a bra, but he did it once with it on.Until recently I was the only person he’d let hold him.  My boyfriend came to stay,  and he started using him as a means of comfort when our new bunny, Zelda was acting up. Yesterday, he hopped on his lap, and began to snuggle him. Then he reached up, and bit his nipple rather hard.

 

as you can see this is a bit of a problem, and really, really embarrassing. He did this in front of my mother once. She thinks maybe it brings out feelings of his mother, or maybe he associates me with his mother. I have no clue, and I’d really like some help

 

Thanks guys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RabbitPam]

That does sound painful, and I understand your embarrassment. Not to worry, though.

You probably need to make the habit unappealing. He gives you indications that he’s about to, which is good, because that’s when you need to stop him before he does it. My thoughts on a few things you can try:
High pitched squeal from you when he bites sounds like a bunny in pain, so if he chomps, definitely do that. Not loud, but high. Your boyfriend can do that too, if he gets bitten suddenly. Then take him off of your lap.

If he starts to kiss you (the licking on your clothes or skin), gently turn his face away and even move him around on your chest so he faces away from you, rather than allowing him to continue to touch your skin. You can then give him face rubs, but with his back or side to you. I am thinking that if you both distract him from it, and reward him for being in a different position, he will learn that facing away will be rewarded, but licking you will not.

They don’t react well to punishment, so a firm “No” when he licks you may stop him, but nothing more serious than that. You can then reposition him.
His motivation is irrelevant as he gets older, so you just want to stop unwanted behaviors and substitute better ones. He wants to cuddle and you do too, so he needs to be redirected.

Another option is to shift him up to your shoulder when he starts to seem interested in your chest. Get your hand firmly supporting his backside while his paws rest on your shoulder. Your chest will become more of a platform for him to stand on, rather than a source of interest.
Of course, wearing a shirt and trimming his nails will be less painful as well.

[PrincessCharming]

Kai used to do this too! I always think he was just a pervert hehe.

[kralspace]

ouch! I know how you feel, my Lola is a Boob Biter, big time. I guess she had figured out that was a really effective way to get someone to put her down. When we picked her up she’d snuggle for just a few seconds, then whip that head around and nail you, sometimes hanging on and shaking her head like a dog….lol. My son thought it was really funny until she got him!

Like RabbitPam suggests, we now hold her differently with her facing away from us, although she’s pretty determined sometimes to squirm around and get one in. I also have a canvas apron I put on to protect me a bit.

You should see us do her nails, it’s like a combat game. My son puts on a long sleeved denim shirt backwards, then the apron and sometimes my gardening gloves and keeps her against his chest, facing outward so I can trim the nails. We’re cooing and petting her and she’s trying to attack like a rabid raccoon….lol.

awwww, bunnies, such timid woodland creatures….

.

[Sarita]

Well obviously rabbits don’t know these are nipples and usually you do hold them at this height so you have to learn to hold them away from you.

It does hurt but I don’t think they are trying to injure you – it’s there, they are perturbed you are holding them and then they bite.

[bunnytowne]

Rabbitpam that is excellent advice.  I did that with Ruby til she learned to stop biting me. 

The Rabbit yes that is rather embarrassing isn’t it.    Reminds me when I had a little kitten.  I would sleep with it.  I woke up a couple of times with it biting on my nipple.   He was put on the floor and I didnt’ sleep with him til he got older and stopped this annoying behavior.   He was small and couldn’t jump onto the bed yet so sticking him on the floor worked good

[The Rabbit]

Thanks guys. I feel so much better. I thought I was alone, lol. I’ll take your advice.

[Mother-of-Bunnies]

Minx, and before Minx, Bubby did the same thing. BUT!!! I wasn’t holding them. They will run up out of the blue and bite my nipple. WHY

[LBJ10]

Welcome to BB! I just wanted to let you know that this is a very old thread (11 years) and the OP has not been active for a very long time. If you read this thread, you will see that this isn’t an uncommon issue and that the rabbit probably doesn’t understand what they are biting exactly. I’m going to lock this thread so to not cause confusion for others. If you would like to start a new thread to explain what you’re experiencing and ask a question about it, you’re more than welcome to. 🙂

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