i brought a floppy ear rabbit for my daughter, anyway it has biten me a couple of time but not my daughter yet is there anyway i can stop it from biting and clawing?
2006-12-21 12:40:38 · 9 answers · asked by Pudgee 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
cook it for dinner
2006-12-21 12:42:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
First off, are you doing anything the bunny might not like, such as trying to pick it up? Bunnies will often bite if they feel threatened. Second, have you gotten it neutered or spayed? This procedure often lowers aggressive hormone levels, among other benefits.
If that doesn't sound like what your problem is, then you'll need to do some behavior training. Start by patiently letting your bunny come to you. Don't be too invasive, let them come to you. Try letting it sniff your hand. If the rabbit does so peacefully, reward it with a small snack such as a raisin. Next, move up to petting it gently on the forehead. If it does not bite you, reward it. Again, be patient and don't force anything on the rabbit. If the bunny acts aggressively, tell it "No!" sharply. NEVER hit or physically punish your rabbit...this will not work and will only make it frightened and/or more agressive towards you.
Hopefully this should create a bond between you and your daughter's rabbit, thus decreasing the likelihood that it will bite you in the future. Just remember to respect the rabbits space.
2006-12-21 14:14:04 · answer #2 · answered by Kotori Shizukesa 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It may be in how you are picking it up or handling it. If a rabbit feels unbalanced it will kick and claw when you pick it up. Us humans kind of do the same thing when we loose our balance. We grab onto things and stick our hands out to regain balance. Rabbits try doing the same thing too.
I recommend wearing an old thick jacket till you get used to handling the rabbit. That way you won't get bit or scratched nearly as bad while you are learning.
Proper technique for picking up a rabbit.
One hand goes under the chest of the rabbit. The other goes on it's rump. Lift the rabbit with both hands supporting about 2/3's of the weight on the rump hand. The chest of the rabbit should be slightly higher than the rump as you are lifting to rest more weight on the rump. Bring the rabbit's head up to the armpit of your arm that is holding the rump. Then tuck the rabbit's head into your armpit to give it a place to feel like it can hide. If the rabbit tries biting the side of your body, press your arm halfway firmly against its head so it can't turn to bite you but not so hard that it tries to start pulling out its head from your armpit.
Once you have the rabbit secured in your armpit, and held against you. You can remove the one hand from underneath the rabbit's chest and use it to pet it on the forehead between the eyes. This will help calm it.
When getting the rabbit out of the cage, if it acts mean, you may have to use one hand to get and hold the rabbit's attention/focus while grabbing the rabbit with the other. If you watch snake handlers on tv, it's pretty similar to what they do. It's the way I've kept from getting bitten from over 24 years of handling rabbits.
The more you handle the rabbit and get it used to you handling and petting it. The better it will act towards you. Never spank a rabbit. It will only get meaner if you do. Mean rabbits consider their cage as their territory. If you get the rabbit out of its cage and set it on a table or something with a carpet mat on it to pet it. You'll find that it will be much more behaved. The area outside the cage is Neutral territory or Your territory. Use that to your advantage.
2006-12-22 01:25:45 · answer #3 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is this female or male? What age?
What scent of fragrance do you use that your daughter does not? Something that could be enticing to a rabbit to cause nibbling??
Reprimand bunny by saying "NO". Try not to tap bunny on the head, this can instigate a "challenge/duel" and just encourage them to fight back.
Make sure you are feeling comfortable handling the rabbit, if he/she senses this, he/she will take advantage of the situation by doing just these rebellious type of things.
2006-12-21 12:45:41 · answer #4 · answered by Lotsa Lops 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a French Flopped Ear rabbit and I just got her! I had to treat her with respect for the 1st couple days because she just came from a home that they didn't really care for her! Treat it with respect and show it love and care!
2006-12-21 13:58:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
YOUR RABBIT IS NOT TRYING TO HARM YOU, HE IS SHOWING AFFECTION. HARD TO STOP, MY FRENCH LOP CIRCLES AROUND ME GRUNTING AND BITING MY PAJAMA BOTTOMS, HE OCC BITES MY LEG AND IT HURTS! GIVE CHEW TOYS AND TAKE TO THE VET TO GET CLAWS CLIPPED. ALSO GET A LARGE CARDBOARD BOX FOR HIM TO HIDE AND HE WILL CLAW THE HELL OUT OF IT AND NOT YOU
2006-12-23 05:26:18 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Also, is it neutered? Neutering and spaying help keep them less agressive and help with some health risks.
2006-12-21 13:50:52 · answer #7 · answered by pigs003 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Train it, goodly.
2006-12-21 12:42:30 · answer #8 · answered by Kyle S 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
next time it bites u, beat it.
2006-12-21 12:42:06 · answer #9 · answered by ▐▀▀▼▀▀▌ ► Pogo ◄ ▐▄▄▲▄▄▌ 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋