Pet rabbits are hormonally driven animals. A lot of Rabbit Behavior is influenced by their hormones. This means that some amount of rabbit biting or agressiveness is also attributed to their raging hormones. This will correct most of their hormonal drives like biting, marking etc and the result will be a more docile version of your bunny.
Pet rabbits are active creatures. They love to run and hop around. For this reason it is recommended that you provide them with a lot of play space. Other than this you should always provide lots of toys or things your bunny can play with.
If a rabbit feels satisfied with its environment and feels safe in it, then the rabbit is less like to show any destructive behavior like biting. Even though rabbits look incredibly cute and cuddly but that does not mean that we can handle them as we please. Remember that pet rabbits like any other pet deserve gentle love, care and respect. All of your actions will influence the behavior of your bunny. So be as kind as you can with your bunny. If your rabbit is still nippng or biting you there are a couple of ways you can change their behavior.
Even if it takes some time, nippng and biting can be stopped. This one always works for me. Every time your rabbit bites or nips you just shout the word NO at them. Usually the bunny gets scared and runs away after this. Most rabbits bite to get your attention but if you just leave the room or put the bunny in a cage then eventually they will realize that biting is the reason why they are being punished so they will stop biting. If you have a rabbit or two that bite or nip then do share your thoughts on how to stop rabbit from biting in comment below.
Remember to share this article with other rabbit parents as well. If you would like to learn a bit more about pet rabbits then check out one of our featured articles. I love pet rabbits and have been living with them since I was a kid. I started this website with the aim to share what I have learned about pet rabbits over the years. Biting should be discouraged but nipping and nibbling are perfectly normal behaviors. This means that a rabbit bite is unlikely to lead to infection.
Following that, apply an antibiotic cream and a bandage to the wound. The bite left a deep puncture wound or is bleeding profusely There is swelling, redness, pain, or oozing signs of infection You have any worry about the possibility of rabies in the animal that bit you Your tetanus shots are not up to date How to Stop Your Rabbit from Biting If biting is a regular habit for your rabbit, consider taking the following advice from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to stop it:.
Spay or neuter your rabbit. Rabbits that have not been de-sexed are more likely to display aggression and find it harder to create loving bonds with their owners. Spend more time each day interacting with your rabbit. This way, your bunny will become more comfortable with your presence and stop seeing you as a threat.
Choose a rabbit hutch that lets your rabbit enter and exit easily rather than needing to be picked up. Creating a lasting emotional bond with your rabbit takes time, effort, and persistence. The rewards of doing so are tremendous for both human and rabbit, making it a worthwhile endeavor. Follow basic first aid steps to clean the wound, then consider why your rabbit felt the need to bite you in the first place.
Even a fully bonded rabbit may bite at its owners if they touch what a rabbit deems as its own. Reaching inside the hutch or cage for the bunny will likely cause it to bite you in warning.
The same goes for stepping into the enclosure to clean or change out the litter box. Likewise, pregnant or nursing rabbits will be very defensive of their nests and young. A pregnant doe passing through the final days of gestation will build a nest. We would suggest a third type, which is a combination of both. During the nest-building point of gestation, females can act defensively. A sudden bout of biting can also be sparked by the bunny reaching sexual maturity.
Should it be unable to expend said energy, it will channel it through destructive and potentially aggressive acts.
These include biting you. Likewise, the rabbit may now believe itself to be the dominant individual of the household. To test out how much space this new sexual maturity has bought it, it may bite you. The nipping could be sudden and seemingly without cause. It may grow defensive of its cage or toys.
Consider the age of your rabbit. Nearly all breeds will reach sexual maturity at between months of age. Once the rabbit is 4 months old, it is old enough to be neutered.
Boredom causes a number of problems and destructive behaviors, one of which is biting. A rabbit that feels unfulfilled will become bored and depressed. It will turn this unspent energy to available stimuli and act out. This may result in spraying, chewing on furniture, and aggressive behavior.
As intelligent animals with no small amount of energy, rabbits need plenty of enrichment and exercise. Resolving boredom requires reassessing the needs of your rabbit and meeting them. Certain breeds have lots of energy and love to play.
Others are more laid back, but still need enrichment. Once you know how much playtime and exercise your rabbit needs, you can adjust its environment and playtime. You can start by:. Defensive, territorial, and warning bites are all concerning. Always ensure that the rabbit is aware of you before getting too close. Doing so will allow it to register the presence as you and not a threat. Once the rabbit acknowledges you, you can approach.
However, if the rabbit is in its cage or enclosure, allow it to approach you instead. There are two steps that you can take:. Taking these steps prevents the rabbit from solidifying these places as its own and only its own. You can also move the rabbit to a separate room as you clean. In that case, you may be forced to approach regardless of the biting.
Just be sure to wear protective coverings on your hands. Speak in a calm voice and try to move in slow, methodical movements. Getting your rabbit neutered does more than prevent any unwanted litters.
It can prevent many undesirable behaviors, including biting. Once your rabbit is old enough to be neutered, you can reach out to your vet. Once the operation is performed, your rabbit will need a short recovery time. After this, you should notice the pet growing more docile and less prone to biting. Be aware than dwarf rabbit breeds will occasionally be neutered at a slightly later age. This allows the rabbit to grow further and put on more weight. As such, it decreases the chances of complications during surgery and recovery.
During this time, the rabbit may act differently, and you should keep it separated from rabbits of the opposite sex. Be warned that rabbits may still exhibit biting and other unpleasant behaviors for a short period after being neutered. It may also become worse before it gets better.
Discuss this with your vet beforehand if you are concerned. Food aggression is surprisingly common in rabbits. Biting and food-guarding go hand in hand.
A food aggressive rabbit may bite you or other pets that approach its food. Applied Animal Behavior Science notes that concentrated food supplies may promote aggression in captive-bred rabbits. This is because the rabbits may feel that nutrients are limited.
They need to protect what they can. Likewise, set feeding times and feeding too much high-value food, like pellets and treats, can motivate territorial behavior. The method for taming down food aggression is multi-fold:.
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