Teaching Rabbits Not to Bite
This was originally posted as an answer to a breeder who was asking how to help a customer who had purchased a rabbit from them, and the rabbit had started biting the owner. We have found this method helpful, and we usually add a high-pitched squeal to communicate to the rabbit in a language it can understand that biting hurts us!
Rabbits often communicate that they are the boss by putting their head over the other rabbit, and communicate submission by putting their head beneath the other rabbit. So putting a hand over their head is something that seems to communicate effectively to them in their own language. IMPORTANT: Be very careful if the rabbit flails around, as they can actually break or sprain their backs this way. Putting your other hand on their rump may help protect them from hurting themselves if they struggle. Use your own judgement about whether to continue to push the issue at the moment if they are risking seriously injuring themselves.
If a rabbit tries to nip me while I'm holding her, I may also innocently hold the rabbit so that her own paw just happens to be in front of her mouth. Biting their own foot takes the fun out of it for most rabbits pretty quickly. :)
--Shiny Satins Rabbitry
By Judith Ozmer, posted with her permission.
First and foremost, you and the owner need to read the online book called "Language of Lagomorphs". It will give you great insight on how and why rabbits behave the way they do.
Biting is an aggressive behavior. Period. It needs to be stopped effectively right away. It may already be too late, as he has progressed from small nips (this is an assertion of dominance) to a real bite! (I am the boss and I mean it!) Only she that is getting bitten can fix it, and it may take more then one session. If after a week this does not help, then it is never going to help. I have cured most biting rabbits in a session or two.
This is what I do.
Place the rabbit on a table with a carpet square or other way for the bun to move comfortably in a small space that you can keep control of. Place your hand palm down on the table, and do some little scratching motions with your fingers. This, to a rabbit, is an invitation to groom them. If they sit still and put their head down, or come over and nudge you, then groom them by petting them on the forehead.
If the rabbit turns away from you, be patient. If he still ignores you, do some grooming of yourself. Rubbing your face and neck like a rabbit would. This can let the bun know that you are relaxed and ready for a nice grooming session. When the bun turns towards you, offer to groom, and slowly begin stroking their forehead. Do this for a minute or two, and stop. The bun may come over to your hand or arms and take a bit of a nibble, or actually bite.
When the bun bites, take your hand and forcefully press their shoulders, chest and head to the table and say 'NO' in a forceful manner. (Push well and give him a good squishing, but don't injure him.) Keep the bun pinned down until he stops struggling. Under no circumstances let the bun go until he stops struggling. But let up the instant he does.
Then give him another chance to bite. He may bite again or give you a bit of a nibble instead. Repeat the pinning and saying 'NO' and keep him there again until he lays still. Then give him a third time. I am pretty stern on the third time, this is usually a 'trial' of just mouthing you. If they even just wiggle their lips on my skin I repeat the pinning process.
This last time is usually the bun just making sure that biting is what you don't want him to do. If you pin him on the table, you are asserting your dominance over him. You are saying, loud and clear in the language of Rabbit, 'I am the boss of biting, and you don't bite ME!'
Once the bun is relaxed on the table, offer to groom again, and then give them a nice long pet! Focus on their forehead, learn what they like.
Never, NEVER (and this might have been the first critical mistake) approach your rabbit with a palm up unless there is a treat in it! Palm up to a rabbit is an insult! When the treat has been accepted, then go to palm down immediately.
Modify the pinning process where ever you are and the rabbit bites. Pin him to the couch, the floor, a pillow, Anything! But Pin Him Immediately! Don't even wait to wash off the blood! He may test you in different situations. When feeding, make him wait. If he bites you as you feed him, pin him and then do NOT feed him! Try again in an hour and keep him in the cage. You can also put him back in the cage after pinning to make your point very clear if he bites when he is out playing.
Good luck, and if you have no success in a week, you are not going to. But every bun deserves a chance to learn proper manners, and you must show him in a way that HE can understand. Never, NEVER hit a rabbit! They do not understand that and just react to the pain, thus, ruining your relationship.
I hope this helps all of you and your bun learns how to love you and be your best buddy!
Judy
Rabbits often communicate that they are the boss by putting their head over the other rabbit, and communicate submission by putting their head beneath the other rabbit. So putting a hand over their head is something that seems to communicate effectively to them in their own language. IMPORTANT: Be very careful if the rabbit flails around, as they can actually break or sprain their backs this way. Putting your other hand on their rump may help protect them from hurting themselves if they struggle. Use your own judgement about whether to continue to push the issue at the moment if they are risking seriously injuring themselves.
If a rabbit tries to nip me while I'm holding her, I may also innocently hold the rabbit so that her own paw just happens to be in front of her mouth. Biting their own foot takes the fun out of it for most rabbits pretty quickly. :)
--Shiny Satins Rabbitry
By Judith Ozmer, posted with her permission.
First and foremost, you and the owner need to read the online book called "Language of Lagomorphs". It will give you great insight on how and why rabbits behave the way they do.
Biting is an aggressive behavior. Period. It needs to be stopped effectively right away. It may already be too late, as he has progressed from small nips (this is an assertion of dominance) to a real bite! (I am the boss and I mean it!) Only she that is getting bitten can fix it, and it may take more then one session. If after a week this does not help, then it is never going to help. I have cured most biting rabbits in a session or two.
This is what I do.
Place the rabbit on a table with a carpet square or other way for the bun to move comfortably in a small space that you can keep control of. Place your hand palm down on the table, and do some little scratching motions with your fingers. This, to a rabbit, is an invitation to groom them. If they sit still and put their head down, or come over and nudge you, then groom them by petting them on the forehead.
If the rabbit turns away from you, be patient. If he still ignores you, do some grooming of yourself. Rubbing your face and neck like a rabbit would. This can let the bun know that you are relaxed and ready for a nice grooming session. When the bun turns towards you, offer to groom, and slowly begin stroking their forehead. Do this for a minute or two, and stop. The bun may come over to your hand or arms and take a bit of a nibble, or actually bite.
When the bun bites, take your hand and forcefully press their shoulders, chest and head to the table and say 'NO' in a forceful manner. (Push well and give him a good squishing, but don't injure him.) Keep the bun pinned down until he stops struggling. Under no circumstances let the bun go until he stops struggling. But let up the instant he does.
Then give him another chance to bite. He may bite again or give you a bit of a nibble instead. Repeat the pinning and saying 'NO' and keep him there again until he lays still. Then give him a third time. I am pretty stern on the third time, this is usually a 'trial' of just mouthing you. If they even just wiggle their lips on my skin I repeat the pinning process.
This last time is usually the bun just making sure that biting is what you don't want him to do. If you pin him on the table, you are asserting your dominance over him. You are saying, loud and clear in the language of Rabbit, 'I am the boss of biting, and you don't bite ME!'
Once the bun is relaxed on the table, offer to groom again, and then give them a nice long pet! Focus on their forehead, learn what they like.
Never, NEVER (and this might have been the first critical mistake) approach your rabbit with a palm up unless there is a treat in it! Palm up to a rabbit is an insult! When the treat has been accepted, then go to palm down immediately.
Modify the pinning process where ever you are and the rabbit bites. Pin him to the couch, the floor, a pillow, Anything! But Pin Him Immediately! Don't even wait to wash off the blood! He may test you in different situations. When feeding, make him wait. If he bites you as you feed him, pin him and then do NOT feed him! Try again in an hour and keep him in the cage. You can also put him back in the cage after pinning to make your point very clear if he bites when he is out playing.
Good luck, and if you have no success in a week, you are not going to. But every bun deserves a chance to learn proper manners, and you must show him in a way that HE can understand. Never, NEVER hit a rabbit! They do not understand that and just react to the pain, thus, ruining your relationship.
I hope this helps all of you and your bun learns how to love you and be your best buddy!
Judy
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If you wish to share an article or information, you are welcome to link to the site. You may not take our articles or photos and republish them elsewhere without our specific permission (or the original author's permission, if it was an article we reprinted with permission that was written by someone else).