Aggressive Bunny Behaviors

Aggressive Bunny Behaviors 1
Two rabbits having a “Boxing” match!

Aggressive Bunny Behaviors are one of the reasons pet rabbits are relinquished or abandoned, but these behaviors can be turned around. It can be very disconcerting to bring home that cute lil bunny you chose at the adoption center or pet store only to have it display aggressive behaviors. I’ve been there and it can be downright scarey! “Your bunny does not hate you!” listen again… “Your bunny does not hate you!”

Rabbits in general are not aggressive animals meaning they are not born to be aggressive. Aggression is a learned “behavior” problem, but one that can be solved through love, time, patience and training. It’s important to understand that rabbits are prey animals. They are hard wired to perceive threats or stressors and their aggressive behaviors are often responses to them.

These types of behaviors can manifest in various ways, and it’s important to address and understand them in order to ensure the well-being of your pet rabbit and prevent any harm to yourself or others. It’s also essential to monitor rabbit interactions if you have multiple rabbits living together. Things can get dicey especially in teenaged rabbits that have not been fixed.

Taking the time to get to know your rabbit’s natural normal behaviors is a crucial part of your relationship. For example, if you have a happy go lucky bunny who is outgoing and loving that suddenly becomes quiet and starts acting aggressively towards you, it is time to see the vet. A bunny willl often suffer in silence when they are ill or injured.

While other behaviors can be cute or exasperating, the aggressive ones are physical, can be dangerous and alarming to experience. Aggressive bunny behaviors can include: biting, boxing, chasing, lunging and scratching. If you have an aggressive bunny you need to try and figure out the triggers. Keep a journal for a week or two of who, what, when, how, and why they are behaving this way.

If your bunny lunges when you clean it’s pen, write it down. If your bunny only goes after the men in the house, write it down. You may start to see a pattern that will help you help your bunny. I have one bunny who came from a terribly abusive situation. She attacks the broom whenever I use it, but doesn’t pay any attention to the vacuum. In this instance we have surmised that she had been hit with a broom previously.

Warning Signs of Aggressive Bunny Behaviors

Some of these aggressive bunny behaviors can be quite painful so it’s important to be able to read the warning signs before the escalation occurs.

Body Position: If you see your bun sitting on its hind paws with its front paws raised and extended like a boxer, it is getting ready to attack. If your bun is leaning back or moving backwards it may be afraid of something.

Baring Teeth: A bunny who bares it’s teeth and emits growling, grunting or hissing noises is signaling that things are escalating.

Thumping Loudly: Thumping is something you will need to decipher with your rabbit. I have one bun that tends to thump, however when we go to her she doesn’t act aggressive. With her it seems to be more of an alert system…and of course it is always in the middle of the night!

Extremeties: A rabbits ears may either lay flat to the head or out in front looking as if to charge you like a bull. Their noses may wiggle furiously and if you have a bun that has light colored eyes you may see the pupils dilated. A bun may also have its tail raised in the air.

Quick Aggressive Bunny Behaviors Guide

aggression

Reasons for Aggressive Bunny Behaviors

Understanding the reasons behind aggressive bunny behaviors is essential for managing and resolving them.

Fear: New environments, unfamiliar people or animals, or loud noises can trigger such behaviors. A bunny not accustomed to gentle handling may bite as a defensive response.

Hormones: Unspayed or unneutered rabbits may exhibit more aggressive behaviors especially during mating season or when they are competing for dominance. Hormones kick in juvenile rabbiits between 4-6 months. Not only can they start exhibiting aggressive behaviors, even with their siblings, but they start other “not so nice” behaviors like spraying.

Lifestyle: A hutch or cage is not enough living space for a rabbit. One that is confined can be unhappy and frustrated leading to aggressive behaviors. Rabbits need to run, jump, dig, stretch and play. Loneliness can be another factor…and I don’t just mean another rabbit companion. Some rabbits do prefer to be “only” children, but if they do not get the attention from their family, they can become depressed and lash out. Boredom goes hand in hand with the loneliness as well. They need toys, to be played with and love.

Pain: Rabbits in pain or discomfort may lash out defensively. If your rabbit suddenly starts displaying aggressive behavior, it’s essential to rule out any underlying health issues such as illness, dental problems, or any other physical discomfort due to an injury that might be causing pain.

Territorial: Rabbits can be territorial animals and may display aggressive behaviors if they believe their territory is being invaded or to defend their possessions taken. For example, if they happen to be in their pen or near their litter box when you decide to clean it, they may lunge, thump, growl or try to bite you. Another territorial behavior can occur if your bun feels possessive of you and smells another animal on you. My Ellie nipped me once after working at the sanctuary so I started changing before going to see her!

Trauma: If a rabbit has had negative interactions with humans or other animals, it may react defensively to unfamiliar situations. They may have been handled roughly or lived in a neglectful stressful environment. They may also have been relinquished or left abandoned outside because someone did not know how to handle their behahvior. Rabbits are extremely intelligent and remember everything including abuse. It takes time to get a previously abused rabbit to trust.

Aggressive Bunny Behaviors

So what may these aggressive bunny behaviors look like?

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photo courtesy of Appletons (NZ)

Biting: Yup it’s just that! Trust me this hurts. I had one bunny at the sanctuary latch on to my arm and wouldn’t let go. I still have the scar. but look at itlike a battle wound! 🙂

Boxing: A rabbit ready to box will stand up on it’s tippy toes in an aggressive stance with it’s paws out like a boxer. (see the image above) This tends to be more of a territorial behavior.

Chasing:  A rabbit might charge at a person or another animal if they feel threatened. They may try to chase away what they perceive as a threat

Lunging: is when a rabbit makes a sudden forward movement and can be accompanied by other aggressive behaviors such as growling, hissing, biting, or scratching. This is often a result of feeling “backed into a corner” which is perceived as a sign of fear. They will try to create space between themselves and the threat. They are typically not trying to hurt you, but giving you a warning.

Scratching: a rabbit may scratch if they feel frightened or if they want to defend themselves.

How to Help an Aggressive Rabbit

Neuter or Spay

Neuter/Spaying you rabbit to help reduce their hormones can make a big difference in their behavior. Having your bunny fixed can be like night and day. Although it does take up to 5 weeks for existing hormones to leave the body, their demeanor is completely changed.

Safe Environment

Create a safe and quiet environment for your bunny, minimize stressors, and allow them to acclimate gradually to the changes in their surroundings. Give them plenty of space and respect their boundaries. Ensure they have a hiding place to retreat to if they feel threatened.

pink bunny hut
Grab this cute hideaway here

Enrichment

Provide lots of enrichment by ensuring your rabbit has plenty of mental and physical stimulation, including toys, tunnels, and playtime in a safe and rabbit-proofed area.

Socialize

Spend time socializing your rabbit when they are young, or if you adopt an older bun provide positive interactions to build trust. Spend time sitting on the floor letting them come to you. They do want lots of attention, but they need to feel secure in order to receive it.

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Gentle Approach

Always approach rabbits calmly and gently. Rabbts have great distant eye sight, but not close up sight and red eye rabbits even less so have your hand approach from above and behind the eyes…not directly in front. Avoid sudden movements and loud noises that can startle them and allow them to approach you on their terms.

Handling

When picking up a rabbit, support their hindquarters to prevent them from feeling insecure or unbalanced. Avoid squeezing or restraining them too tightly.

Positive Reinforcement

Use positive reinforcement training to encourage desired behaviors and build trust with your rabbit. Offer treats and praise when they display calm and non-aggressive behavior. NEVER ever hit your rabbit when they display aggressive behaviors. Physical punishment will not help, but will only instill more fear and mistrust.

Love

Show lots and lots of love….even when they are aggressive. It’s your job as the human to teach your bunny it can trust you. You can help them learn this by affectionately talking to them in a soft and gentle voice. (think of it as reverse psychology!). You can also teach them that your hands are for affection (feeding, petting and spending quality time) and not for hurting them.

Be Strong!

Don’t let them sense your fear. Since aggression is a learned behavior, if you run away or show fear, it will reinforce the behavior.

**NOTE If the aggressive behavior persists or escalates despite your efforts to change it, consider seeking guidance from your vet or a rabbit behavior specialist for guidance on behavior modification techniques. .

Final Thoughts…

Don’t fret or give up if you get a rabbit with a bad behavior…he or she can be turned around. Rabbits have individual personalities, and it may take time and patience to build trust and modify their behavior. Understanding along with consistent positive interactions can go a long way in helping to manage and reduce aggressive bunny behaviors.

Sources:

  1. Faulkner, Brian RCVS “How to deal with Rabbit Aggression”, September 20, 2023 Petplan
  2. Davis, Susan E. “Aggression”, House Rabbit Society, rabbit.org
  3. Bishops Stortford Veterinary Hospital “Aggressive Rabbits”
  4. Appletons “Aggressive Bunnies-What To Know And How To Help” May 2, 2021
  5. Oxbow “How To Handle Aggression Issues In Rabbits” August 18, 2021
  6. RWAF “Aggression in Rabbits”

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