Does your rabbit bite you or nibble your hand when you approach the cage? Does he show his teeth or growls when you offer him your hand for a sniff? Does it chase you and reach towards you? Specimens that behave this way seem like hopeless cases, but with a little care and caution there are ways to calm your long-eared friend.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Handle an Aggressive Rabbit
Step 1. Let him know that it hurts when he bites you
Make a sudden scream or scream this is a sign that you are in pain and may associate it with having bitten you.
Soft clamps may be just a way to warn you to go away or that you're bothering him; he's probably not going to hurt you, he just wants to tell you he doesn't want to be touched or handled. This type of "warning" is typically not painful and is not accompanied by aggressive behavior. The actual bites instead represent a wrong attitude that should not be encouraged or praised; they hurt and the rabbit may not let go when it bites you
Step 2. Grasp it correctly
If you handle it incorrectly, you could cause him pain and in that case he could act aggressively; be sure to grab it by the hind legs and avoid shaking it; you have to be gentle and support it from the back.
Wrapping him carefully in a towel is a safe way to restrain him, limiting his movements if he behaves aggressively and you have to pick him up instead, for example to give him a drug; make sure of course that he can breathe and that his nose is not covered
Step 3. Approach with great caution
If he bites you when you get close, it could simply be because you scared him. Rabbits do not see very well up close, while they have excellent distance vision; therefore, putting your hand right in front of his muzzle may surprise him and he may feel the need to defend himself.
- Stroke it from above. Don't put your hand right under his nose, but let him associate it with something positive, like a loving gesture.
- While caressing him, speak to him in a delicate tone of voice; this helps him relax and he shouldn't feel the need to get defensive.
Part 2 of 3: Make It Feel Safe
Step 1. Be nice to him
You should never hit him, scold him, or force him to be affectionate with you. If the animal shows aggression and violent tendencies, hitting it does nothing but scare it and stress it even more; you have to earn his trust and you have to make him feel comfortable around you.
Step 2. Create a safe environment
Place the rabbit and its cage in a small room, such as the bathroom. close the door and open the cage door. Sit on the floor with your little friend, but let him decide when to get out of the enclosure. Ignore it as it sniffs you and hops around the room, don't grab it and don't stroke it; it remains inert like this for a few minutes. Eventually the rabbit gets used to your presence and no longer sees you as a threat.
Step 3. Take some time to socialize with your little friend
Instead of rushing to hug him and pick him up, give him some time to get used to you and get comfortable. This technique is also valid in the relationships that the rabbit establishes with new people (as well as with other animals) that he meets in everyday life. If you allow him time to familiarize himself with strangers by respecting his pace and without forcing it, he feels much more relaxed and interested in interacting.
At first you can wear gloves to protect your hands when you grab it; but after a few sessions of getting to know you and not being aggressive or violent, you can take them off
Step 4. Avoid putting him in stressful situations
Pay attention to him and see what can cause him to react violently; it could be some noises, like the garbage disposal installed in the kitchen (if you have one) or the hair dryer or maybe it is something that moves too fast. Once you have identified the factors that seem to you to be the triggers, you must make sure to avoid them.
Stress can make rabbits aggressive; this is their way of defending themselves or protecting themselves when they feel threatened. If you're working hard to avoid putting him in situations that make him anxious or feel threatened, his aggression and violent behavior should be reduced
Step 5. Teach the children to interact correctly with the rabbit
Children sometimes do not understand the proper way to grasp animals or how to relate correctly to them; the rabbit could therefore bite if it is not held in the hand in the right way. Encourage children to touch him gently, talk to him kindly, and avoid frightening him.
Part 3 of 3: Finding the Origin of Aggression
Step 1. Have him spayed or neutered
One of the main causes of aggressive behavior in rabbits is the hormone level. Specimens that have not undergone this treatment have a greater propensity for violence when they become adults, usually around 3-9 months of age, but this veterinary procedure greatly limits behavioral problems.
Some rabbit owners think that breeding females has the same effect as neutering, but that's not true; coupling is not an alternative to the surgical procedure; any changes that may occur during pregnancy are only temporary, but aggressive character traits recur once the puppies are born
Step 2. Take him to the vet
Aggression or violence can be a reaction to pain or some disease; therefore, if your friend exhibits this type of behavior - especially if it occurs suddenly - have him see his doctor to make sure he is not suffering from any ailment or injury.
- When in the vet's office, find out about the general health of the rabbit. Ask your doctor what techniques you can use to correct your pet's misbehavior and if he has any advice or recommendations for your particular pet. If some things are not clear to you, ask questions and get all the information you need.
- You can do a quick home check yourself before going to the doctor; some signs of illness may be runny or watery eyes, raised or lowered body temperature (the best way to test is to touch his ears) or even loss of appetite. Any of these symptoms can be a sign of a problem; therefore, if your little friend exhibits some or a combination of these signs, have him examined by the vet.
Step 3. Know that rabbits are often territorial
Avoid taking your specimen out of the cage; do not deprive him of his toys, food bowl or any other object inside. Wait until the rabbit is out of the enclosure when you decide to clean it; if he bites you when you approach him, he is likely to do so to protect his property.
