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natalieb

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I've read quite a few posts on here but still quite new so apologies if this subject/ topic has already been posted & addressed!

I have a 6 month old female continental giant - Rudey, she hasn't been spayed yet .... Booked in for a few days time!

When we got her she was lovely, would jump up on our laps and sit there for hours having cuddles and being petted, she loved a fuss and was well behaved, lately she's been terrible, she's ate the majority of our kitchen wall and skirting board (she's a house rabbit and has full run of our flat, prefers to sleep in the kitchen where it's a lot cooler), as soon as I walk beside her she makes hiss sort of noises and grunts, if I get closer than she wants she dives at me and bites my legs or anywhere she can get, I have a huge bruise on my leg off her at the minute, it's not playful nips, it's bites which draw blood :(

But she behaves totally different around my boyfriend and I don't understand why, we pet her just as much as each other, and we both tell her no and correct her when she's been naughty so it's not as if she's been put off me for me telling her off, a few nights ago we were sat on the sofa and she hopped in, jumped up on our laps and was lovely for about 20 minutes, then she turned nasty and started nipping and digging/scratching (only me) to the point where I had to get up and move seats, leaving them two quite happily on the sofa!

I've read a few things to do on here such as saying no in a firm voice, tried holding her head to the floor, gave a tap on the bum whilst saying no, nothing seems to be making a difference.
She has lots of toys, plenty of room to move about and is allowed outside as much as we can.

I really don't know where to go from here, or what to try next, more than anything I'm hoping that once she's been spayed she will calm down!

Any advice or tips are welcomed and appreciated!

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I wouldn't even bother trying to discipline her right now. Her hormones are ruling her behavior. She just can't help herself, so no discipline is going to work at this point. Once she's spayed (and had time to recuperate), she should settle down quite a bit.

Once she's had time to recuperate, if the behavior continues (I doubt it) then you can try the holding the head down thing. I disagree with any thing like swatting on the butt or nose. That is done with dogs as a physical punishment to control behavior of a predator species. Rabbits are prey and just aren't wanting to please us. Hopefully, though, it won't even be an issue once she's had time to rid herself of those pesky hormones.
 
Does seem to be the worst. As others have said spaying her should calm her down. I always have to add the warning that she still might be just a tad aggressive towards you. My bad rabbit is never ugly towards my husband but me, her primary care giver, she can be rather nasty to. She just prefers him for some reason. Continentals aren't known for their winning personalities but every rabbit is different.
 
She's due to be picked up from the vets in a hour or so, bought her some new toys ready for her coming home.

When the vet asked if she's friendly to be handled and picked up I said she can scratch a bit if she's unsure, not wanting him to know she can be a nightmare, sure enough she lay in his arms like a little angel! Even nuzzled him to keep stroking her nose!

Thank you to all who replied :) :)
 
Update on Rudey ....

After her op she came home a tad groggy still, put it down to the anaesthetic still being present in her system, so off to bed she went with food and water and some toys for when she was fully awake.
Next morning she hadn't ate or drank anything so back to vets, was given 2 injections and some special recovery feed.

Today she seems a lot brighter and alert, had some food and a bit nibble of hay, her wound is looking neat, no discharge or swelling either :)
 

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