lexoli
Member
Hi,
I need some advice with a bun I have taken in.
He is approx 11 months old and is a minilop. He was bought from a breeder along with another male from the same litter by a friend of mine. She started moaning 3-4 months ago that he was getting aggressive, attacking the other rabbit, attacking her etc.
I told her that he and the other (also male) would need neutering, and that they needed calm, sensible handling. She has 2 young childre (6 and 3) who are both a bit overactive, along with an adult labrador and a puppy labrador - not exactly a serene environment.
A few weeks ago she decided that she couldn't cope with him any more, and asked me to take him.
When he came home, last friday, you could tell he was terrified - very nervous of any noise, contact, etc. Over a couple of days he started to relax. We've got him in an indoor cage in the living room so he can get used to being around us but still have his own sanctuary. I have been letting him out every day, handling him, etc and he seemed to be improving, would sit and be petted and even come of his own accord to sit on me and lick my chin.
Yesterday though, he turned psycho. If I tried to pick him up, he would bite (bite, not nip) - he got my shoulder and later my throat, then yesterday evening I was sat on the settee and he was pottering around. He ran upto me, up my chest, as he has been doing, but instead of settling down, or licking me, he lunged and took a chunk out of my cheek. I wasn't stroking him, petting him, or anything else, just letting him do his own thing!
I have had rabbits for about 15 years and have never had one go for me like that! I am now incredibley wary of even picking him up.
The frustrating thing is that I firmly believe it isn't the bun's fault, he wasn't like this when he was first homed, it was only several months later that she started experiencing these problems.
I know he needs neutering, and that this will probably help a lot (I'm hoping to have him done early next week) but what else can I be doing to calm him down, regain his trust and stop him from being vicious?
I need some advice with a bun I have taken in.
He is approx 11 months old and is a minilop. He was bought from a breeder along with another male from the same litter by a friend of mine. She started moaning 3-4 months ago that he was getting aggressive, attacking the other rabbit, attacking her etc.
I told her that he and the other (also male) would need neutering, and that they needed calm, sensible handling. She has 2 young childre (6 and 3) who are both a bit overactive, along with an adult labrador and a puppy labrador - not exactly a serene environment.
A few weeks ago she decided that she couldn't cope with him any more, and asked me to take him.
When he came home, last friday, you could tell he was terrified - very nervous of any noise, contact, etc. Over a couple of days he started to relax. We've got him in an indoor cage in the living room so he can get used to being around us but still have his own sanctuary. I have been letting him out every day, handling him, etc and he seemed to be improving, would sit and be petted and even come of his own accord to sit on me and lick my chin.
Yesterday though, he turned psycho. If I tried to pick him up, he would bite (bite, not nip) - he got my shoulder and later my throat, then yesterday evening I was sat on the settee and he was pottering around. He ran upto me, up my chest, as he has been doing, but instead of settling down, or licking me, he lunged and took a chunk out of my cheek. I wasn't stroking him, petting him, or anything else, just letting him do his own thing!
I have had rabbits for about 15 years and have never had one go for me like that! I am now incredibley wary of even picking him up.
The frustrating thing is that I firmly believe it isn't the bun's fault, he wasn't like this when he was first homed, it was only several months later that she started experiencing these problems.
I know he needs neutering, and that this will probably help a lot (I'm hoping to have him done early next week) but what else can I be doing to calm him down, regain his trust and stop him from being vicious?