I'm just about at my wits end with my lovely rabbit, Zola. I got her in September from a good friend of mine who couldn't find time to keep her any longer. She's a female dwarf mix of some kind.
My major problem with her is that she is good aggressive. If I try to put my hand in the cage while she's eating to either fill her bowl up with some more food (which doesn't happen often since I usually take it out to fill it to avoid it and to hopefully & successfully show who's boss of food) or to clean up something gross in her cage that I realize is there after I feed her. She gets fed twice a day, once at night and in morning. She has plenty of hay ALL the time, and always has fresh water. She barely really bites, mostly lunges and claws with her front legs, and growls a whole bunch. I read a lot about this, and I have a couple ideas how to solve the problems- but if you have any suggestions, I would LOVE to hear them.
Secondly, I guess this goes along with the first. I seem to have a very insecure rabbit. She'll nibble or nip at your arm if you pick her up, mostly if you're standing or go into a different room. is there any way I can help her become more confident and hopefully stop this behavior?
And lastly. Zola just ADORES to bite on the side or bottom of her cage. Less so on the bars than she does on the plastic pan on the bottom. Which is extremely loud and hard for me to sleep through. I tried everything. I also taught her a 'no bite' command which she fully understands, and sometimes I can see her thinking about doing it again and watching me until she does it again. Either way- she has a bajillion toys and a hut made from thin sticks that she could chew on. She just chooses not to. Could it be it's something that she likes to do? Either way.. I so want it to stop.
Sorry that was so long. I really feel like I need help. I trained my rat out of aggression, but I can't seem to get a handle out of this one. I think the main difference is that my rat was just plain old grouchy and in pain since he was sick most of his life. I think my rabbit is insecure or thinks she's the queen. Help?
My major problem with her is that she is good aggressive. If I try to put my hand in the cage while she's eating to either fill her bowl up with some more food (which doesn't happen often since I usually take it out to fill it to avoid it and to hopefully & successfully show who's boss of food) or to clean up something gross in her cage that I realize is there after I feed her. She gets fed twice a day, once at night and in morning. She has plenty of hay ALL the time, and always has fresh water. She barely really bites, mostly lunges and claws with her front legs, and growls a whole bunch. I read a lot about this, and I have a couple ideas how to solve the problems- but if you have any suggestions, I would LOVE to hear them.
Secondly, I guess this goes along with the first. I seem to have a very insecure rabbit. She'll nibble or nip at your arm if you pick her up, mostly if you're standing or go into a different room. is there any way I can help her become more confident and hopefully stop this behavior?
And lastly. Zola just ADORES to bite on the side or bottom of her cage. Less so on the bars than she does on the plastic pan on the bottom. Which is extremely loud and hard for me to sleep through. I tried everything. I also taught her a 'no bite' command which she fully understands, and sometimes I can see her thinking about doing it again and watching me until she does it again. Either way- she has a bajillion toys and a hut made from thin sticks that she could chew on. She just chooses not to. Could it be it's something that she likes to do? Either way.. I so want it to stop.
Sorry that was so long. I really feel like I need help. I trained my rat out of aggression, but I can't seem to get a handle out of this one. I think the main difference is that my rat was just plain old grouchy and in pain since he was sick most of his life. I think my rabbit is insecure or thinks she's the queen. Help?