Help! Aggressive female rabbit

[sin91]

Hi All,

I have 2 Netherland dwarf bunnies (1 boy and 1 girl) who have both been neutered. They have been living together for 18months without issues, however recently the girl always grunts and attacks the boy. I know this can be a sign of dominance, however she has established her dominance from the beginning. This morning for example the boy when to groom her, and she grunted and chased him away. Thankfully its not a matter of fur flying, its just grunting and chasing. But the boy is always shaken up by it. Is this normal behavior?

Thanks,
Sin

 

[zuppa]

Hi, how long ago were they neutered? They can still be hormonal a few months after, or you are just lucky and it's just her personal rudeness also can be seasonal, even neutered rabbits can have mood changes.

I have one neutered 1year 6 months old girl she was spayed about one year ago and still acts sometimes and she also pees outside their pee-box pretty often. Her pair is a freshly neutered boy (neutered 14th May) he is now all settled and I am happy he stopped spraying/humping her, but he was always VERY good with his toilet even wasn't neutered until recently but really very tidy rabbit. Well, except when he's got her as his pair it was insane he sprayed so intensively it all was so stinky and sticky I've almost started hating him. He is 1 year and 2 months now. I don't know how he tolerates her she keeps peeing everywhere and thumps a lot as well.

 

[sin91]

Hello !
They were both neutered about 18months ago. But it's really like someone turned on a switch and she's turned agressive to him almost on a daily basis.
Your bunnies sound so cute!

 

[zuppa]

Hello !
They were both neutered about 18months ago. But it's really like someone turned on a switch and she's turned agressive to him almost on a daily basis.
Your bunnies sound so cute!

18 months ago and she just changed now, interesting. Were there any changes made recently maybe in their setup or maybe some new pets or something? Honestly I don't know what could trigger that maybe other members had experience with that.

 

[sin91]

No changes other than us working from home. This means they have access to more areas to our apartment. So maybe it could be this

 

[Button]

Use a tooth brushes and pet her with that instead of your hands. Your bun will eventally know that it’s ok to be pet. Then pet with a glove on. After used to a glove you can use your hand.

 

[Blue eyes]

Use a tooth brushes and pet her with that instead of your hands. Your bun will eventally know that it’s ok to be pet. Then pet with a glove on. After used to a glove you can use your hand.

They're talking about the female being aggressive with the male, not with them.

 

[Blue eyes]

No changes other than us working from home. This means they have access to more areas to our apartment. So maybe it could be this

Increased space can cause territorial issues, especially if it is a lot of space all at once.

 

[JBun]

Another thing to consider is that sometimes unusual changes of behavior can be caused by an underlying health condition. Basically the rabbit feels unwell and so responds negatively to their bunny companion. I would suggest looking for other changes that might indicate if there is a health issue going on, such as changes in eating, peeing, pooping, acting unusually lethargic, etc.