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Rehoming an aggressive rabbit U/D - I've got her :D

O

OriginalFlintstone

Mama Doe
Has anyone here ever taken on an aggressive rabbit? Theres a rabbit called Moo at the shop I used to work at. She has severe cage rage (not surprised) as she has been out the back for at least 3 maybe 4 months now. She has been spayed to try and combat her behaviour however this has so far made no difference, she then developed a bit of a chest infection which cleared, returned and has now cleared. She has to come to me because they will not put her in adoption because of the aggression. It's me or PTS.

So anyway, has anyone ever taken on an aggressive rabbit before. Moo is so severe to the point you cannot put a hand in her cage. It doesn't help that people have poked pens in the cage to wind her up "cos it's funny" I want to take her on and help her to become a happy bunny. Is she ever likely to come right and what sort of time period do you think we could be looking at before bonding?? Thank you guys!!
 
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you need someone with far more experience than me to give you advice. but, i can tell you that my tabitha was so nasty and bitey that i talked with the vet about having her pts. as time passed she settled and is now a cuddlebun. last week i let her nuzzle my nose for the first time ever (she's two and a half). i wouldn't ever have taken that risk before!
 
He he! Personally I don't think being aggressive is a good enough reason to PTS. Theres nothing actually wrong with her, they just don't want to be sued when she bites someone. But it's ok for her to bite me lol! :roll::roll: I've had rabbits previously who can be a little bit grumpy, but Moo takes grumpy to a whole new level!
 
I took an aggressive rabbit from a pet shop i used to work at. She would growl, lunge, bite etc even after her spay. I used a cat tickle stick (stick with a feather on the end) to get her used to being touched and different sensations.

I rehomed her to a friend of mine who paired her up with a nice husbun (they fell in love very quickly) and Clair worked very hard with her. Now Bhindi enjoys nose rubs and is a very happy rabbit.
 
I got an aggressive bun 4 years ago this summer from RIN - Calel.

He's still aggressive, but I am allowed to nose rub:love: It's well worth it, but I do still have a Calel suit - thick padded jacket, 2 pairs heavy trousers, wellies & over gloves:love::love::love:
 
i'm finally gettng petals cage aggression sorted, even though she's been with me all her life and noone taunted her, she just ended being that way by herself. things i've done lift her out via a carring case, use gloves when placing food etc in, i used to just through the hay in but i've learnt it sets her off so just set the hay in, i always talk to her in a calming voice and tell her how lovely she is. it really has made such an improvement, i'm really not sure this will help your buns case. if you bring her in and let her run around you is she aggressive then?
 
I rescued a rabbit after she'd been in the sanctuary for 9 months as no-one wanted her because she was so aggressive. (she'd actually been re-homed once but they returned her). I soon named her Mummy bunny due to the fact that one week after getting her home she gave birth!!! She turned out to be a fantastic Mummy but also an adorable rabbit who would come for strokes and take food from my hand. She's sadly no longer with us but I'm so glad that I gave her a chance, she was a special little bunster who just needed to build up some trust.
 
Take her. Or you won't stop thinking about her for the rest of your life.

She's probably in a tiny cage with no space to exercise. That cage is all she has, so of course she will protect it. I bet with more space and plenty of patience she'll be a happy bun in no time.

My sister's pet shop lion head was so aggressive my mum was scared of her. She tore my sister to shreds and bit my brother on the 'man parts'. But you wouldn't believe it now. She sits on his lap while he plays xbox and he rests the controller on her back. She'll sit there for hours and is one of the friendliest rabbits I know.

It will probably take a year or two but it'll be so worth it for you and mostly for her. Just imagine if you rehome her or keep her and get her a husbun, you can say to yourself, not only did you save a life but look at her now!
 
thing is, shes probably just agressive to people, not buns. Jelly, now a nearly 4 years old is a big softie,still gets aggressive every now and then but nothing compared to what she used to be.

But...shes never been anything but loving towards other bunnies. So she may be a "watching" bun rather than a cuddle bun. if she had a friend she might be perfectly happy to just be watched from afar being happy :)
 
Yep my dutch was aggressive, took alot of work to get her used to me but once she had space to run round, a friend and lots of love she was much better, i love buns with attitude :lol: key is not to let them know you're scared of them!
 
Oh I'm having her theres no question of that!! It was me who named her Moo! When I was working there I handled her as much as I could and let her have a run around, she's ok if you take the whole of the cage top off, will still turn and aim for your hand, but if the top is on and you just open the front door she lunges and grunts and works herself into a frenzy! I haven't seen her for about 6 weeks now so I know I will have to start again with her. Hopefully being in a house will help her to settle. Oh and she's a fiery red dutch!!:lol::lol:
 
Yep.....we specialise in the aggressive ones.

My favourite bunny was Laila a seriously dangerous bunny, you'd open her cage and she'd fly at your face and hang on to any skin possible.....she severed nerves in her owners hand and wrist :shock:

She was here for two years but she came round in the end and now lives happily with her owner as a cuddle bun :love:

Much more fun when they're 'dangerous'
 
My snowy used to dive at me and jump when i touched her and i really thought she was just goin to be a companion for pepper and not a "people" rabbit but since being with me i am now able to stroke her no prob.I really think a lot is to do with how they are treated and if i was you i would have to have her whatever as i would not want her to be pts.Hope it goes ok and if you have her dont forget pics x
 
I have many agressive buns, the trick is to be calm and patient and take your time and it can take a very long time, don't push her to be picked up just get her used to you being around and go from there.
 
Gem said:
Yep.....we specialise in the aggressive ones.

My favourite bunny was Laila a seriously dangerous bunny, you'd open her cage and she'd fly at your face and hang on to any skin possible.....she severed nerves in her owners hand and wrist :shock:

She was here for two years but she came round in the end and now lives happily with her owner as a cuddle bun :love:

Much more fun when they're 'dangerous'
Click to expand...

My Calel did that too - he got my artery & severed the nerves in my wrist, & I still don't have feeling in my right thumb. He isn't really a cuddle bun - & stil threatens to bite, but doesn't actually grab on with his teeth anymore - just charges with his mouth open, then kind of stops short (as long as you freeze:oops::lol:). He likes his nose rubs though:D
 
XMissySJx said:
thing is, shes probably just agressive to people, not buns. Jelly, now a nearly 4 years old is a big softie,still gets aggressive every now and then but nothing compared to what she used to be.

But...shes never been anything but loving towards other bunnies. So she may be a "watching" bun rather than a cuddle bun. if she had a friend she might be perfectly happy to just be watched from afar being happy :)
Click to expand...

compleltyl agree. also i have coco when he came to me he was very aggressive, he has sight problems and some of it stems from that but many of it stems from being treated badly, he took a while to come around but became besotted with me to the point where he protected me biting anyone(yup boyf included) who came near me on the sofa...tom was not a happy man..coco also has funnny shaped teeth(vet aware adn treated) which means his bite is the worst i have ever expeirianced and he is more like an alley cat bless him...however now he is used to people adn lets you stroke him while he puddles onto the floor he has a wife bun who he is gentle with and lvoes and is a changed bunny...it takes time and patience but they can come arouind x
 
Even if you never manage to overcome the aggression, at least you know that with you she will have plenty of space with noone to taunt her and will have a much happier life.

Don't forget to post piccies when you get her home :D
 
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