~Aggressive Rabbit~Question~

ILOVEHONEY2005 · #1 10-07-06, 02:40 pm

What can I do to help my aggressive rabbit? I just got her 2 days ago and I knew that she was tempormental but she is so cute. I am experienced with rabbits but I never had a aggressive rabbit before. She is only 6 months old so I know she hasn't been like this for a long time.

She is a Himalayan Netherland Dwarf. She acts the most aggressive when you put your hand in the cage. She grunts and goes after your hand. But once you have her out of the cage she is so sweet.

I take her out of the cage at least 7 times a day. So she is being handled by me every day.

The people who owned her before wanted her for her daughter to show at the state fair but she was too aggressive for her to handle and I think she stayed in her cage until I got her.

If I handle her everyday do you think this will pass with time?

**VoodooJoint** · #2 10-07-06, 11:42 pm

I doubt it will pass since you house her outside. She is cage aggressive. She is defending her territory--her little cage ouside. The only real cure is to make her a litertrained house rabbit. She may remain territorial of her cage (her space to get away if she wants it) but she will learn that the world has more to offer her then 4 wire walls and that since she has all the room she needs to exercize and play that there is no need to defend it.

I have rescued a few cage aggresive rabbits in the past. Once they became house rabbits, interacted with people constantly, weren't confined in a small cage and learned that people are good they were the most affectionate and fun of all the rabbits I ever had.

**bunnyluv17** · #3 10-08-06, 07:39 am

In addition to what VoodooJoint posted, you should also get her spayed. Spaying and Neutering will oftentimes cut down on aggression (it may not necessarily be eliminated, but probably will be reduced). Spaying/neutering also has lots of health benefits, especially for females, because it eliminates the risk of uterine and ovarian cancers as well as other reproductive diseases.

With rabbits that are cage aggressive, it is usually beneficial to house them in a puppy exercise pen rather than a cage. Of course, you would have to keep her indoors but being indoors, like VoodooJoint said, will also help her aggression by allowing her to be around humans all the time.

I think it would also help to allow her to come out of her cage on her own terms rather than being forced.

Several years ago I had a rabbit who was cage aggressive that we adopted from the shelter. She never completely stopped with the aggression, but we learned to deal with it better. When we had to feed her or change the litterbox, we would gently hold her head down with our hand. This is rabbit language for "I'm the boss". We would also let her run around if we needed to clean or freshen up the cage. She also got lots of free time outside her cage (which was actually a large C&C condo).

ILOVEHONEY2005 · #4 10-08-06, 08:01 am

The people I got her from kept her inside.

litertrained.....You've got to be kidding me!

No advice what so ever....

I got her to be my breeding rabbit, why would I spay her. I already know that you guys are againest breeding too....so what ever...

Tell me what is wrong with a rabbit being housed outside?

**Jennicat** · #5 10-08-06, 08:14 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEHONEY2005

The people I got her from kept her inside.

litertrained.....You've got to be kidding me!

Nope, rabbits are quite easily litter trained.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEHONEY2005

I got her to be my breeding rabbit, why would I spay her. I already know that you guys are againest breeding too....so what ever...

Tell me what is wrong with a rabbit being housed outside?

Why would you spay her? 80% chance of reproductive cancer comes to mind. I wouldn't be comfortable with those sort of odds, just so I could force an animal to make babies for me.

Well, as you can see, she's obviously aggressive outside and defending her cage. Not to mention the weather, the lack of attention, and the possibility of exposure to predators and unscrupulous humans.

**VoodooJoint** · #6 10-08-06, 09:00 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEHONEY2005

The people I got her from kept her inside.

Probably in a small cage and not as a house rabbit which will not help her aggression

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEHONEY2005

litertrained.....You've got to be kidding me!

For someone with so many rabbits and who breeds you know woafully little about rabbits. Youhave no business breeding at all. Most rabbits take readily to being littertrained

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEHONEY2005

No advice what so ever....

Just because the advice you got wasn't what you wanted to hear doesn't mean it's not good advice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEHONEY2005

I got her to be my breeding rabbit, why would I spay her.

You got an aggresive rabbit and you are still considering breeding her? Not something a "responsible breeder" would do.

It does make sense though--you being a breeder and all. Your animals are livestock to you -- not pets the way we look at them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEHONEY2005

Tell me what is wrong with a rabbit being housed outside?

I think you have been around enough to know what is wrong with it. In case you are really that naive here are some links to read.

http://www.guineapigcages.com/location.htm (this is for GPs but the same applies to rabbits)
House Rabbits: Why It's Better For You And Your Bunny
Petfinder Library
FAQ: Housing
3 Bunnies Rabbit Rescue - Proper Housing For Bunnies

**lynn's Cavies** · #7 10-08-06, 10:45 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEHONEY2005

The people I got her from kept her inside.

litertrained.....You've got to be kidding me!

Yes it is quite easy to litter train rabbits. All of mine are. I'm surprized you have not heard of this before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEHONEY2005

No advice what so ever....

I got her to be my breeding rabbit, why would I spay her. I already know that you guys are againest breeding too....so what ever...

Tell me what is wrong with a rabbit being housed outside?

Wow, the advice you received was accurate and I think very helpful. I feel sorry for your rabbit.

ILOVEHONEY2005 · #8 10-08-06, 11:58 am

I think it is Unethical to keep your rabbit in "shelves" housing, held together with choking hazards.

"Not to mention the weather, the lack of attention, and the possibility of exposure to predators and unscrupulous humans"

I live on 4 acres with no neighbors, my cages are high above the ground and well constructed together. Weather doesn't play a part because they have a roof and a barn to break the wind, when and if there is any. When it is cold there cages are stuffed full of hay. They are fed once a day and each are handled everyday. So I see no lack of attention.

"I think you have been around enough to know what is wrong with it"
Your forum sucks!

And you don't RESPECT other peoples point of views. You are not the only people in the world......duh!

**fourbwabbys** · #9 10-08-06, 12:05 pm

Why come here asking for advice, then when you get the advice you asked for, go crazy?

Quote:

think it is Unethical to keep your rabbit in "shelves" housing, held together with choking hazards.

So you'd rather have your agressive rabbit outside when bringing her inside will most likely solve your problem, house her in a barn with only hay to keep her warm? How ethical is that?

ILOVEHONEY2005 · #10 10-08-06, 12:47 pm

I live in Florida, it doesn't get cold!

**fourbwabbys** · #11 10-08-06, 01:13 pm

Florida can definitely get under 65 degrees in the winter. What do you do in the summer? How can they stand the 100 degree + plus humid weather?

**VoodooJoint** · #12 10-08-06, 02:45 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEHONEY2005

I think it is Unethical to keep your rabbit in "shelves" housing, held together with choking hazards.

that "shelves" housing you speak of creates large enclosures, inside and away from bad weather, heat/cold, pests and parasites and predators.

Besides, what part of the whole litter trained house rabbit did you not understand. Their cages are their private rooms where they can get away and have some privacy if they want it. They are not their prisons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEHONEY2005

I see no lack of attention.

So, you are done feeding your rabbits and whatever else you do with them then you go inside. At the moment you step inside one of your rabbits injures itself. It is left out there to suffer until you make your next appearance.

If one of my rabbits gets into mischief or would get injured I would notice within moments because they are no more then a few feet of me throughout the day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILOVEHONEY2005

Your forum sucks!

And you don't RESPECT other peoples point of views. You are not the only people in the world......duh!

Why does your attitude not surprise me or even bother me? Maybe it is because people like you don't like being reminded that you don't care for your animals well and are a BIG part of the animal overpopulation problem along with being a blockage in animal welfare.

You are correct. I (for one) do not respect the views of animal neglectors which seems to be what you are. Your animals are mere possessions to you. NOT, cherished companions.

**VoodooJoint** · #13 10-08-06, 04:01 pm

Tsk, tsk, you have quite the potty mouth. Too bad I had to delete all of your vulgar posts. You are now caged. I should have banned you but decided to let you stay, despite your filthy mouth and flouncing.

Being caged means that all of your posts are now moderated and will only be approved if they contain useful and producive info and are properly written.

Most likely another mod will come along and not take your nasty little attack as well as I and if they decide to ban you I will not stop them.

**piggly wiggly** · #14 10-08-06, 08:16 pm

WOW what an awful way to look after an animal. She is aggressive and lives outside, and you are going to breed her anyway. How good of a mother do you think she is going to be, who would want to buy a baby from you when they see they were raised outside and they see the mom is aggressive. Oh wait obviously you are not a " responsible" caring breeder so I am sure these conditions will be hidden from any potential buyers. Poor bunny and her future babies, I feel for them.

**piggy-lover** · #15 10-09-06, 01:15 am

Quote:

And you don't RESPECT other peoples point of views. You are not the only people in the world......duh!

You came to this forum, and unless you're blind or can't read you should of noticed that it says this is a no breeding forum! So why would anyone respect your point of view here? And about the no advice what so ever, well they gave you plenty of advice. You just didn't like it and it wasn't what you wanted to here, so why even ask if you're not willing to listen?

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