	AllExperts > Rabbits
	Search

About Mirella Brown
Expertise
I have 4 house rabbits and experience with rabbit pregnancy, babies, bunny bonding, litter training, behavior training, cage and cage-free living, bunny proofing your home, basic health and diet, spaying/neutering, bunny talk, and bunny fun. I have neutered and spayed my rabbits and have dealt with amputations, broken bones, holistic pain management with rabbits so i can give you advice for surgery aftercare, BUT I am NOT a Veterinarian and cannot give you in depth answers on health, biology, or medicines.

If you suspect something is wrong with your rabbit please do not wait - go to the vet immediately. Signs include bleeding, broken bones, watery diarrhea, no poop for more than 12 hours, not eating/drinking, un-responsive/lethargic/listless behavior, screaming, constant LOUD teeth chatter. Be safe not sorry. Go to the vet!

I love rabbits and am here to help you have the best bunny experience you can with your pet. I deal only with pet rabbits and do not endorse hobby breeding/breeding for fun. I do NOT support breeding operations regardless of their purpose. My rabbits are valued members of my family. They live cage free.

Je parle français.

Experience
With four house rabbits I have experienced everything from false pregnancy, to real pregnancy, obesity in rabbits, cold/dead kits, nursing baby rabbits and raising them to adulthood. I am also involved in the rescue rabbit rehoming project in my area. We help rescue rabbits find loving homes. I have come in contact with a lot of rabbit situations through this association.

Organizations
Rescue Rabbit Rehoming Project - Ontario Chapter
I'm a volunteer at my local Animal Shelter /Spec. Rabbits

Education/Credentials
I have two un-related bunny degrees. B.A. in Political Science and a B.F.A. in Graphic Design

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Veterinary Medicine > Rabbits > My male rex rabbit has started to attack me

Rabbits - My male rex rabbit has started to attack me

Expert: Mirella Brown - 10/25/2009

Question
I have brought a male rex rabbit from my local pet store a couple of months back now... He gets fussed twice a day one in the morning when I am cleaning him out and once at night to check all is ok. I was told he was about 6 months old when I brought him and that he wasn't neutered. I didn't have a problem with him at first but then he started to grunt at me a lot, then it went on to lunging and just today he has started to bite. I want to like my new rabbit but he is making it very difficult for me.
I have looked at other peoples questions and answers about this matter, Him maybe being territorial over his hutch, or threatened by my company. Which I can understand, but I would like some advice on how to stop it. If it helps to get them neutered or add a ginepig into carm him down. I'm not the sort to give in I just don't like being hurt, it puts a downer on things and ends up upsets me for the rest of the day.
(I have read another page on here that gives advice on this matter giving a 3 step process but only states 2, I'm interested in understanding the 3rd one, as I would like to give that a try.)

Answer
fussed?

I suspect you have one of those cages which has a 'god' window - The opening from above? A rabbit has a blind spot above its head and you could be freaking out your rabbit by the hand coming out of nowhere from above syndrome. If this is the case and your cage does have the opening from above - your rabbit will always fear your hands are going to pick him up. People dont know that rabbits really do not like to be held. Rabbits in the wild who experience being held are rabbits that have been caught by a predator and have 'lost the game of life' if you know what I mean. Rabbits instinctually do not like being 'caught' and therefore will become defensive against your hands if thats what he thinks your hands are there to do.

You need to get a cage that has an opening on one side - so that your rabbit can get out and have some free run time while you clean the cage (also means your rabbit will not be around the cage when you clean it -so you will not get attacked) and use the end of play time be a feeding time (when you fill up the pellets or offer fresh hay) so the rabbit has a reason to go back into the cage on its own.

Are you giving your rabbit any free run time? You need to give your rabbit excercise time too. Make sure there are no wires out or any places you rabbit can run and hide and get away from you and start to develop a relationship with your rabbit outside of the cage. Let your rabbit come over and smell you, touch you without fear that you will always be picking it up. You can get toys to play with your rabbit and you can toss soft small stuffed animals to each other or plastic balls with bells on the inside. The inside of toilet paper rolls works well too as a toy.

When you rabbit is over a year old you can start offering treats - a slice of apple or a slice of banana - a peice of carrot (one only a day) this will start to associate your hands with good things.

In the meantime wear gloves and long sleeves so that you are not afraid of your rabbit lunging at you. There is a chance that you have a very possessive rabbit who doesnt like it when you touch 'his' stuff - which is why I suggest cleaning the cage when the rabbit is out for a run in the room or make sure there is a hiding spot in the cage so your rabbit has somewhere to feel safe (protected from you) when you are there cleaning the area or giving food. A hiding spot could be a cardboard box small enough to hide in or a little rabbit cottage or hay tube.

Neutering is a good idea for other reasons - health, litterbox training, and then after 4- 6 weeks you can get your rabbit a female rabbit friend (who will also be spayed!).

If you are seriously considering a guinea pig there is more information here about it but I would consider first working on your relationship to your rabbit before adding another pet into the mix. A Guinea pig is not going to 'calm him down' its only going to give him a companion to play with - which is nice. Do neuter your rabbit as well. More info on rabbits and guinea pigs:
http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/gpfriends.shtml

More on rabbits and aggression with tips:
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/2-2/mean-rabbit.html

Good luck.

Add to this Answer Ask a Question