Aggression

[naturestee]

Also see:
Communication and Language
Spaying and Neutering
Shy Bunnies

What is it?
From Susan Davis
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/aggression.html

Aggressive rabbits can be scary. Rabbits bite hard, kick hard, and move fast, so it's not unusual for owners to get intimated, or start dreaming of dumping Boopsie at the pound. So before you even approach Boopsie, convince yourself of the following principles:

1) Rabbits aren't born mean. Ninety-nine percent of aggressive rabbits have a behavioral problem, not a genetic one. Behavior can be changed, so give your bunny a chance.

2) Your rabbit doesn't hate you. There may be a slight chance that Boopsie has taken a personal dislike to one person. More likely, she's afraid you're going to hurt her.

Nevertheless...

3) You're the only one who can solve the problem. Boopsie won't wake up one day and say, "Gee, maybe I should be nicer to Jane." It's the humans who have to figure out what's wrong and initiate new ways of interacting.

4) You can't hit a rabbit. Some people try to "teach" their bunnies not to bite by swatting their noses or even hitting them with newspapers. This will only aggravate the problem. You need to reassure your rabbit that her environment is safe.

Articles
Listings in Rabbit References: Understanding Aggressive or Shy Bunnies
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabcare.html#aggbun

Aggressive Rabbits
http://www.cottontails-rescue.org.uk/aggressive_rabbits.asp

Taming the Aggressive Rabbit
http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/agressive.shtml

Rabbit Behavior Advisory Group (UK)
http://www.rabbitbehaviour.co.uk/

RO Threads
Upset and Confused
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=7995&forum_id=1

Getting Frustrated
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=2761&forum_id=1&highlight=aggressive

How to Handle Nasty Bunny
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=10857&forum_id=1&highlight=aggressive

Abused Bunny/Behavior Issues
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=10359&forum_id=1&highlight=aggressive

He's Got To Go.. (Mod note- I think he improved after neutering)
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=9063&forum_id=1

Nipping Is Getting To Be A Big Problem
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=7877&forum_id=1&highlight=aggressive

Bad Bunny
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=7122&forum_id=1&highlight=aggressive

Tale of an Aggressive Rabbit
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=19961&forum_id=1

Ivory
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=31442&forum_id=48