3willowsbunny
Well-Known Member
We brought home our 11 week old Flemish Giant Saturday and he has been very good with potty training and letting me pet him and feed him out of my hand (some of his pellets) but has tried to bite on occasion. I noticed he was a bit "mouthy" at the breeders but he didn't actually bite just little nips, almost like teething tasting or something. I think I am to blame for the one time I did get a little nip on the finger and the time he tried to put a hole through my jeans, I was "in his turf" (we have a huge dog crate and an x pen attached, I was sitting in the x pen, just watching and petting him). Mostly he just nudged me for the past day or so. Yesterday I thought I would try to pick him up, it went okay till I stood up, he got scared and nearly bit my neck, he got put down carefully but fast. I read that if you hold a rabbit away from you, hand under front legs, other hand supporting butt he would accept it better, well he was fine until I tried to put him down. He ran into his cage and thumped at least 5 times, glaring daggers at me! The only reason I want him to get used to me holding him is for nail clipping. He has no problem with me touching, or even rubbing his paws and feet but to clip them I would have to puck him up. I'm actually getting a little afraid of him as he is going to be a huge rabbit, and a huge rabbit that bites would not be good at all. We are getting him neutered soon, but I need to learn how to be patient and not ruin my bunny....
I was giving him a half of a baby carrot but only if he climbed on my lap, kind of a reward for trusting me. Have I killed the trust by trying to pick him up?
Does he have too much "turf"? I folded up the x pen and he is now only in his ex large dog crate. I think he is a bit aggressive due to me being in his space. I though t I was doing fine with him until today, please tell me I didn't ruin my bunny!!
I was giving him a half of a baby carrot but only if he climbed on my lap, kind of a reward for trusting me. Have I killed the trust by trying to pick him up?
Does he have too much "turf"? I folded up the x pen and he is now only in his ex large dog crate. I think he is a bit aggressive due to me being in his space. I though t I was doing fine with him until today, please tell me I didn't ruin my bunny!!