I have just got a lionhead rabbit, she was very docile but gradully becoming an absolute mare. She lots of time running around either outside or in the house depending on the weather, she is relatively good at being groomed and handled but over the last few days she has got a real temper on her and is growling and going to bite me. She is only 6 months old and not yet been done which I wonder is some of the problem? Any suggestions?
2006-11-16 22:06:22 · 12 answers · asked by Lou C 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
There are a couple reasons it could be.
Probably the best reason is due to you letting her run around. If a rabbit is given too large of a cage for instance, and you can't get your hand all of the way to the back of it. The rabbit knows it can get away from you and it will get back in the corner and act defensive or mean sometimes. Not all rabbits will do this but many will. That's why when I build my rabbit cages I make sure that I give the rabbit enough room to be comfortable but keep it small enough that it can't get back in a corner where it feels it can get away from me. Letting her out and being able to run around could instill almost the same thing. She was probably always kept caged up (part of the reason she was docile at first)and the more you had her out the more mean she became mean. Just keeping her caged up won't stop the aggression once she's started it, although it may help keep it from getting worse.
The second reason could be due to hormones. Once a rabbit reaches 4-6 months old it is hitting puberty so-to-speak. This puberty period exhibits itself much more dramatically in the behavior of females than males. Sometimes the female will get very aggressive. If this is the case, she may not stop her aggresiveness until she has had a litter of babies, allowing the hormone level to drop.
If your rabbit is very hungry it will also tend to bite. But if you see increasing aggression, it is not due to food it is due to something else such as hormones or letting her out.
Suggestions:
1.) Stop letting her out to run so much.
2.) Pull her out of her pen to pet her. The pen is HER territory and she will defend it. By pulling her out of her pen you put her in neutral territory or your territory.
3.) After you get her out pet her like crazy and do this often (on a daily basis). Pet her between the eyes on the forehead. This has a calming action to rabbits. Always allow the rabbit to see your hand coming towards them when you go to pet them. Never come from behind because it can scare them, leading them to be more defensive.
4.) Never ever hit or smack your rabbit. Rabbits respond negatively to spankings as punishment, it only makes them meaner and the problem worse.
2006-11-17 01:17:05 · answer #1 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, rabbits growl. Didn't know that. Anyway, think of it this way, rabbits are wild animals and they are used to running around in the wild with other rabbits. They are not really a domestic pet, although we all try to make them on. It's the same with most wild animals, monkeys, iguanas, aligators and so on. People think they're cute or cool to have. The animals just want to be free.
2006-11-16 22:15:48 · answer #2 · answered by BIZ Z 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
believe it or no longer maximum rabbits don't love being picked up! attempt to incourige her to go back to you with treats yet do not approch her! attempt to resources her lots of interest yet no longer through choosing her up. And is she nuetered? Beacuse if she isn't that's an illustration of sexual materity it really is a straightforward situation. she will be able to quickly warmth as a lot as you back basically be pateint. a mind-blowing position to look is the rabbit welfare assosiation information superhighway website which has lots of significant records! (Sorry about my spelling)
2016-10-16 09:16:46 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabbits get agressive when in pain. Take her to the vet to check her out. Dont try to stroke her in her cage. Let her come to you when she is ready for her TLC. Get her a partner, maybe she is depressed, because she wants a mate. Maybe she had a traumatic expierience, that scared her. Did you trip over her or stepped on her? Try to bribe her with treats and start bonding anew after the vet made sure she doesnt suffer from anything like tooth abcess etc.
2006-11-16 23:31:40 · answer #4 · answered by sannyspain 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you have the answer right there. She is maturing and her hormones are raging, which means it's time to get her spayed. Not only is the right thing to do from a behavior standpoint - think of it - she is always wanting sex - how frustrating is that? It is also the right thing to do for health reasons. Unspayed females run a high risk for uterine cancer and/or other diseases of reproductive organs.
Be sure you take her to a rabbit savvy vet to do the spay.
Here are some links that might help.
Neuter/spay http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabrefs.html#spay
Selecting a rabbit savvy vet: http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/vet.html
Vets: http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabvets.html
2006-11-17 04:08:39 · answer #5 · answered by Martha G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never heard of rabbits growling! I have a rabbit and she tries to chew on my fingernails, Rabbits love to chew. Buy her a toy or something safe to chew on.
2006-11-17 11:42:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
She likely needs to be spayed. Rabbits are very food oriented. Each time she sees you try to give her a treat. http://www.rabbit.org
2006-11-17 00:24:57 · answer #7 · answered by sugarcarat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's looking for a partner...... at the same time she thought you're body is a food......
2006-11-16 22:11:12 · answer #8 · answered by bugi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
she's fighting for the right to rock you
2006-11-16 22:12:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its not tryin dear... it is bittin u... run away frm it before it kills u ;)
2006-11-16 22:16:01 · answer #10 · answered by srikanth t 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋