From: ALI00JEV@UNCCVM.UNCC.EDU (Judith Van Noate)
Subject: Re: Mean Bunny
Organization: UNC Charlotte
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 20:40:44 GMT

In article <1992Dec31.160906.21107@cmhcsys.cmhcsys.com>
julieann@cmhcsys.cmhcsys.com (Julieann Fitchwell) writes:
 
>
>**** This is a long one, but I need help. Sorry. ****
>
>Well, the subject line pretty much covers it -- I have a mini dutch bunny that
>is aggressive, and sometimes just plain mean. She bites, claws, kicks...
>whatever and whenever she feels like it.
>
>I am posting to ask for advice on dealing with (dare I type it? *changing*),
>this bunny's behavior. I am quite desparate at this point because I am at a
>total loss as to what to do with her.
>
>Here's some background:
>
>I work full-time, horseback ride a few times a week, have two dogs, and two
>rabbits. One rabbit I've had for almost 7 years now. She (Whiskey) is a
>full size dutch bunny, and basically wonderful pet. She has her own cage in
>one of the upstairs bedrooms, which is where I keep my terminal etc, and gets
>to roam free when I'm around. She ignores the dogs (Boston Terriers) as they
>are not worth her attention. The dogs in turn ignore her.
>
>The bunny I am having trouble with is about a year old and was given to me by a
>*friend* because of its' problems and incompatibility with children. I've had
>her for about six months now, and have seen little improvement in her behavior.
>I thought that once she no longer had 'little hands' on her she would calm
>down, and she has, but only a little.
>
>I called my vet for advice, and he basically told me "... they aren't very
>smart so it's hard to teach them ...". I gave her a solid rubber ball to
>play with and some empty toilet papers rolls. (Maybe she's just bored?)
>She seems to be enjoying them but is still not safe to handle. She is
>agressive toward the other bun and the _dogs_. She actually chases the dogs.
>This little bun is not afraid of anything!
>
>My experience in behavior modification has been with dogs and horses, and
>the methods I'm used to aren't working on bunnies. (Big surprise :*)) I've
>tried ignoring the negative behavior, and out of desparation attempting to
>correct her by rolling her onto her back like I would an aggressive dog.
>
>Oakie (the bunny) and I are  happy and relieved to see so much bunny activity
>on the net. Finally, a source of help and advice !!!
>
>Feel free to email to me or post.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>JulieAnn and Whiskey & Oakie
>--
>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>|                 JulieAnn C. Fitchwell                  |
>| CMHC Systems, Inc. 5500 Frantz Road Dublin, Ohio 43017 |
>|             INTERNET: julieann@cmhcsys.com             |
 
I've just started reading this list and am thrilled at bunnie
information.  I too have mean bunnies, as well as sweet bunnies.  I
have eleven, all outdoor caged bunnies.  I also have 14 dogs and two
cats, so can't really have the bunnies inside.  I have noticed though
that the meanness seems to be fear related and probably genetically
related as well.  My worst one, Bruce Lee, is so bad that I have to
shove him out of the way with a gallon plastic jug in order to get
his water bowl out to change it.  His mom has learned to stay in the
back of the cage and knows I won't hurt her.  My rabbits are standard
rex.  I bought a pair to show and was tempted to breed them.  I kept
all of the babies.  I also have two rescue bunnies, a silver martin
(spayed) from the humane society, and a siamese mini-lop who was
abandoned at a pet fair.
Any info on taming the bunnies would be welcome.  Five of the babies
have lovely temperaments and two are pretty bad.  I just wear protective
clothing on my arms, although a bad attack on a couple of occasions has
prompted me to dump the water bowl over the bunnie (and then feel guilty),
after all bunnie is really just scared.  My siver martin, Bunzie, is the
best--really sweet and active.  Seems sort of like a cartoon bunnie.
I have a question--are most of your bunnies neutered?  Otherwise you
wouldn't want to put them together.  Least you get the wrong impression
of me--I am actively involved in humane rescue work and have an informal
no kill shelter at my house mostly for dogs.  I really shouldn't have
bred my rex although both have champion "legs" and will probably become
breed champions if I continue showing them.  The babies are all show
quality out of really good show lines.  I doubt if I would ever consider
selling a female unless it was spayed--all too aware of the fate of
most bunnies, not to mention other types of pets, but bunnies may have
the worst of it.
Hope I have time to keep reading this list.
Judith Van Noate  ali00jev@unccvm.bitnet   unccvm.uncc.edu
 
Newsgroups: rec.pets