Help Needed- Aggressive Male Rabbit

We got him last July at about 10-11 weeks oldand he was fine until a few months ago. I know some of it can be putdown to the time of the year, but he is just getting worse now andbiting and growling is becoming a greater habit, however he only actsaggressive when he is in his hutch. As soon as I've got him out he isfine again and as loving as ever.

In 2 weeks my exams finish and I will have 2 weeks which I can devoteto him entirely and so that is when I am planning to try and win himaround again, does anyone have any ideas on what needs to be done oranything I could try?

Cheers, Kay.

he might me territoral and he might not likepeople going into his home dont worry mine does that and hes 4/5 monthsold now!!he might have to be nuetered sorry i forgot to ask is?Im doingme exams too lol i finish in 2 weeks too and i cant wait!!Anywyas imsure theres people here always happy to help!! good luck keep usupdated!!

Welcome to the forum!

Do a search on cage territoriality. If he's a sweetie outside of hiscage, he's probably defending his territory while he's in it. Pickinghim up or doing other things while he is in his cage may make him feelthat his space his being invaded- you are in his "bubble." Is heneutered? That will often help with this sort of aggressiveness. I alsorecommend letting him come out of his cage on his own via a ramp orinto a basket or carrying case. You can use treats to bribe him if needbe.

My young female bun is also cage territorial. She is able to hop in andout of her cage at will and has been much easier to handle after Idecided that picking her up to take her out of her cage and put herback in was not a necessary part of her socialization training.

PS Do you have pics to share?

Thanks for the help and the welcome! We haven'tgot him neutered, but I want to try a few other methods before I godown that route, as the trip to the vets might give him the grump evenmore! His hutch is outside on the patio so it is hard to let him out onhis own incase he runs off and the woods is just behind us!

So would it be a good idea to leave his hutch doors open and sit nearhim to give him the confidence to come to the front of the hutch / jumponto my lap.

Here is a pic, he is a lionhead but he lost his mane in the wrong season and there is no signs of it coming back yet!

Kay_zee wrote:

Thanks for the help and the welcome! We haven't got himneutered, but I want to try a few other methods before I go down thatroute, as the trip to the vets might give him the grump even more!

Click to expand...

Neutering really helped my two males who were like this....they'resweeties with me now (just trying to rebond them is hard).

Trust me - even if the trip to the vets gives him the grumpstemporairily it is WELL worth it for the behavior change that happensas the hormones leave.

Peg

Well I spent the last few days just sitting nextto his hutch talking to him and giving him some treats and food. Thenwhen he comes out he gets loads of fuss and a few hours in his run aslong as he hasn't tried to bite or growled too much and it alreadyseems to be working wonders!

The last two time I have tried to get Dylan out he's sat there lookinga bit nervous, but let me stroke his ears and nose and after a fewminutes I can pick him up - no attempts at biting and no growling! Sothings are looking on the up already and I'm surprised how quickly he'schanged.

The only thing that worries me is that I will be away for a week inJuly and he'll get out of the habit or think I've abandoned him and itwill be back to square one, well I really hope not!

Here is another pic.

As far as agression when you enter his cage, try vocally notifying him you are approaching, then approach him from above, if at all possible. A hand from above often is not as threatening looking as a hand approaching him at eye level.

"Think" and visualize good thoughts. There are those of us here who believe rabbits are capable of "reading" our thoughts and moods much more than one would expect, not as extra sensory perception, but supra sensory perception. Always speak in a high pitch using a cooing kind of "baby talk," because rabbits respond well to that.

Buck