What makes bunnies aggressive

There is no quick fix for this, it will take your rabbit time to completely rework their feelings on interaction with people. You'll need to be patient and understanding during the process - remember your rabbit might be acting tough but really he or she is frightened.

Try to avoid putting your rabbit in a situation that triggers their instinct to defend themselves or their territory. Grabbing, reaching towards, touching, and chasing your rabbit for example to catch it may all be considered aggression actions by your rabbit. Try to avoid these confrontational movements, as your rabbit may react aggressively in retaliation or defence. For example, don't reach into the cage to lift your rabbit out, encourage them to hop out themselves.

If you need to access to the cage, for example to clean, remove your rabbit first. Once your rabbit is safely contained elsewhere then go ahead.

You can entice your rabbit into a pet carrier by putting some food in and waiting patiently. If you stick to a routine, your rabbit will learn when feeding, exercise and bedtime is and what action you expect of them. Make sure you meet your rabbit's need for exercise and mental stimulation.

Rabbits that are bored and frustrated are more likely to be tense and that can increase aggression. Give your rabbit plenty of exercise time and things to do. Ideally connect the living and exercise space together so they can move between without your intervention. If that's not possible, you can use a pet carrier to transport them to avoid a confrontation over picking up. Usually with a rabbit that is fearful of people, you would sit or lie on the floor and let the rabbit investigate you in their own time, so they could learn there is nothing scary.

With an aggressive rabbit, you need to do the same thing but also avoid putting yourself at risk of injury. There are several ways to do this:. Wear an old item of clothing and then give it to your rabbit to investigate, this allows your rabbit to get used to your scent in a non-threatening setting.

It's likely to get nibble marks so pick something old. You could put a few treats on top to associate your scent with something positive i.

You can repeat this several times to refresh the scent. Sit next to your rabbit's cage or pen, so you are nearby but safe from injury. Your rabbit needs to get used to you being around them; the more time you spend nearby with nothing bad happening the more relaxed your rabbit will be around you.

Don't make it so the only time you get close is when you are going to invade your rabbit's space or pick them up. Have treats ready so that when she does approach and is calm she can be rewarded for this behaviour and also so she starts to associate you with treats something very positive! Allow your rabbit time and space to explore outside their normal environment, so if they spend most of their time inside with you or are kept in an outside rabbit house, let them out every day but ensure it is safe to do so.

It is essential that they cannot escape, access toxic plants or be at risk of attack from a cat or dog. This way they can dictate how much contact they are comfortable with. If their behavioural or social needs are not being met this may also be an underlying reason for unwanted behaviour. Please see these links for more information: Bunny Business www. Can you give me some general advice on caring for my rabbits? How do I keep my pet rabbit healthy?

So your rabbit will slowly start to settle down in the weeks that follow. Sometimes rabbits lash out because they are scared of you. Being held can be very scary for rabbits. I have a step-by-step guide for interacting with shy rabbits that can also be helpful in this situation.

Rabbits are not innately afraid of human hands. That is something that they have learned at some point in their lives. So we need to teach them that our hands are are only here to give them lots of love. Instead keep your hand to the side and above their head, so they will be able to see it coming and know exactly who you are. If the cage only opens from the top, you should consider getting a new enclosure that has a large front opening. Rabbits will get bored or frustrated if their enclosure is too small , causing them to act grumpy and aggressive when people come try to interact.

Most rabbit cages sold at pet stores are actually too small for rabbits, so this is a common issue. A correctly sized rabbit enclosure will give your rabbit room for three to four hops along the length of their enclosure. The width should be at least one hop length, and the rabbit should be able to stand all the way up on their hind legs without bumping their head against the top.

In general you should get a cage or enclosure that is at least 2ft by 4ft for an average sized 5 pound rabbit. Keep in mind that if you have a larger rabbit you will need to give them more space. Learn more about how to make sure you have an appropriate enclosure and habitat for your rabbit. If your rabbit is very territorial about their cage, then you will need to let them out to exercise before you can clean it out. You probably also need to wait for their absence before replacing their food, water, or cleaning their litter box.

This is behavior that might decrease with time, as your rabbit stops seeing you as a threat. Let your rabbit have their cage as a safe space, and avoid interacting with them unless they are out exercising. If you are afraid, your rabbit will sense that and continue to do what they can to scare you away. Wear gloves, pants, long sleeves, and boots so you can protect yourself and avoid flinching away from your rabbit.

You should talk to them in a cheerful voice and just gently pat them on the head if they try to lunge at you. If you are new to caring for rabbits, check out the Bunny Lady bimonthly newsletter. I put together a guide that goes over all the basics of rabbit care so you have it all in one place.

Amy Pratt is a lifelong rabbit owner who has been specializing with rabbits at the Humane Rescue Alliance. She helps to socialize the rabbits and educate volunteers on the care and behavior of these small mammals. One of these behaviors that is unique to rabbits is tooth grinding. You might see their whiskers vibrate, You check in on your new rabbit to see how they're doing only to see them flopped over on their side not moving as if they are dead.

When she looks aggravated, stroke her gently from above, avoiding her face except for her forehead, and speak in a soothing voice. Meeting aggression with more aggression will only escalate things. Positive reinforcement and understanding will go a long way towards getting your bunny to understand that you mean her no harm. In this position, the rabbit feels totally secure, but is totally helpless and unable to bite.

Rabbits can be very territorial. The first step to helping this rabbit is to stop dragging him out of his cage; he needs a place to call his own. Open the door and let him come and go on his own time. Would you like someone to come in and remove your iPad, television, bed?

That is all the rabbit has—his cage. If need be, use a treat in a carrier, to entice him out. Keep your hand above his head and then calmly and quickly bring it down to the top of his head. If he lets you touch his head, very softly stroke it.

Tell him what a great big, brave, beautiful rabbit he is. Then let him alone until the next day, when you try the exercise again. Eventually he should associate your hand in the cage with a nice nose rub, not being grabbed. You can try pressing her head down. Many rabbits will learn to nudge your hand instead, or simply hop away. You might also decide that little nips as communication are ok in your household. Piggy is probably an enthusiastic eater.

Feed her on a regular schedule so she can count on chow at a certain time of day. Try feeding her larger treats like Italian parsley or carrots, carrot tops until she gets her aim down some rabbits have to practice. You can a lso try feeding small treats, like raisins or a tiny piece of a banana, with wooden spoons or tongs. That way you can hold the treat steady for her without losing a thumb.