The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. What is his relationship with the cat and dog like? We’ve tried to tell you why we think this is happening. This vieing for position is going on in my yard at this momment. If the rabbit does not attack… People have offered their suggestions to help, and so a good way is to just say, “Thank you and I appreciate your concern, here are some things I am still struggling with…etc etc.”   This way you have at least shown respect to the time and care that someone has given to your post. I think we need more information to try and help you. Rabbits are more than capable of tearing large clumps of fur from each other’s bodies. Don’t have a vet? The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. If you are concerned that your dog is going to keep killing animals and want to stop this behavior, your best bet is to take the dog to a professional dog trainer. As seen, there are several reasons for why a dog may attack. He put her back in the fence and fixed it, but he said the rabbit has layed down on its side and wouldn't do anything but lift its head. Then, there's always that slight possibility, that whatever you do won't help. For some reason, our cat Kimi who is usually best friend with Alfie, heard his yelp then full on tried to attack him! He’s a sweet cat, I know my cat so don’t tell me I’m wrong. I’m not saying this is absolutely what is going on, but I honestly wouldn’t be surprised. You can get a toy bunny or any stuffed animal, and make sure it gets “his” scent all all over it, by rubbing it on him, take some of his fur from brushing and put it on the toy. edit edit tags flag offensive close merge delete. How to Care for an American Bully Dog. What are we about? Look at the muscles in the dog’s legs and shoulders, as well as the expression … My baby rabbit has a pen and the two of them share a room. I LOVE my rabbit. Posted By sarahthegemini on 8/24/2017 1:43 PM. A dog does not even have to be trying to harm a rabbit to kill him. I live in the basement in my mom’s house. But still, now you’re saying your rabbit wants to kill your cat. I've seen the cat run in from another room to attack her. Just like humans, dogs all have their own personalities, and their early socialization and training will play a large part in how they behave over their lifespan. It can also be a request for you to move your hands or feet out of its way. It’s not cruel. One time she caught one and brought it to me. Even if he is not spraying, his scent can be on you, and other animals just because they are near him. Rabbit Does Not Eat from My Hand. he might of smelled the dog He’s not like that. Hi, I have a rabbit, and two cats too. Rabbit Behaviour Problem: Aggression Towards Humans. The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules. Please Read – IMPORTANT FORUM INFORMATION. When you’re out walking with your dog and they spy a rabbit on the run, their natural impulse will compel them to chase. I had a rabbit that actually tried to, whenever a cat got into his pen. Has there been aggression between Daisy and the other bun, through the bars? A rabbit darting quickly across the room or yard sets off an instinct in many dogs that is just so intense that they cannot resist it. IF that is not possible or doesn’t work, then you may have to have her get used to his scent as a “non-threat”. why is my female rabbit attacking my male rabbit after they mated? Why does my dog attack my other smaller dog? The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. Rabbits have a keen sense of smell, so if he has had some hormonal changes and she can detect those, it could still have an impact if he’s in a room next door. I LOVE my rabbit. 3 Answers. Answer (1 of 15): Dogs are naturally carnivores and there is nothing unusual about your dog’s behavior. Update on my baby bunny: I still have him and he’s better. Why does my female lionhead rabbit squeak and hump it's ball? So, I am keeping separated until he is neutered. (Which does raise an interesting question; everything I’d researched had given me to understand that it could be hazardous to put your hand into a cage to remove and replace food dishes, litterboxes, etc. Today he managed to chase down a rabbit and kill it. I have a dog, 2 cats, 3 guinea pigs and 1 bunny. I think we need more information to try and help you. Contrary to much popular opinion, certain breeds of dog are not automatically prone to expressing aggressive behavior towards others. Your rabbit is certainly the 'alpha male' of your animal family, isn't he! Why does my Cat Knead me and then Bite me? Maybe you could do an experiment by moving the second rabbit to a different room for awhile. Just offer what you know, then let it be. Why Are My Rabbits Biting Each Other? My rabbit chases after the cats, but I don't let him get too close. Why did that dog attack my dog: Some dogs are being attacked for biological reasons. x Posted By Bunlo12 on 8/24/2017 7:05 PM Update on my baby bunny: I still have him and he’s better. As I said, my female had also gotten very wild but since then I have gotten them each acclimated to each other by letting them spend the past month separated by a baby gate so they can see and smell, but not touch, each other. Sexual frustration: one of the biggest causes of aggression in rabbits is being sexually frustrated. Rabbits. Please help! Rabbits are very scared animals since they are prey animals, the dog might be scaring the rabbit or doing something the rabbit doesn't like, therefore separate them. I think there could be some misunderstandings happening in this thread. He might just be born aggressive, and wants to go after the dog and the cat. There may be other options to consider. Your rabbit has shows aggression towards all of your animals at this point, so you know your rabbit should not be around other animals. Once I got her spayed, she really mellowed out and has been a great bunny. I brought them in one day and we had a bonding session which went fantastic! To answer your question about reaction time. Cages and other enclosures needn’t  be seen as a “prison”. And for any OP that doesn’t think that suggestions may work, it is better to appreciate the advice at least offered, even if you don’t think it’s right for your situation. i put my female rabbit in with my male rabbit yesterday and also this morning then this afternoon and i know they mated for a fact. Bunlo, do you have a good rabbit vet? You don’t have to lock either away and not interact with them yourself, just don’t let them interact togeher. Bonding was a breeze. Every time I let my dog out in the back yard for a potty break she chases rabbits. You know that rabbits are big on procreating. Pets. The attack lasts a mere split second and then he runs off when she yelps. So is she doing this when they venture into the room? The real problem with a dog … Also, neuter him. In some cases, an old, sick, or vulnerable dog has been killed through an unfortunate attack by a dog it formerly slept in the same bed with and ate from the same food bowl. This may take a couple of weeks. After a few touches like this, put your hand in front of the rabbit. And even though your female bunny is spayed, his scent can set things in motion. Before we get started it’s worthwhile just covering a few basics on the nature of canine aggression and how to spot it. If you still have that rabbit in the same vicinity, that would explain her aggression. Really like this idea! To put a stop to rabbit bites, immediately let out a shrill cry when you are bitten. Oh and they’ve been in the same room for a month with no problem so it wouldn’t make sense for her to be angry all of a sudden? If your dog vomits, or refuses to eat or drink, call your vet. asked 2017-05-15 17:46:24 -0600. This means keep them in separate areas/rooms. I can’t keep them separate. Yes, it was you who had gotten another rabbit that she had attacked and drawn blood on. Perhaps her anxiety has been building for a month and that “intruder” is still there. Another reason rabbits bite is that they have poor up-close vision, so they may think that your finger coming toward them is food — or a predator. I just looked back to make sure I wasn’t mistaken. She made him mad once and he isn't going to forget it. Why Would My Female Rabbit Attack My Male Rabbit? Also, note that if she tries to chew or digest any of the stuffed toy material, then you may just have to stick with something like a small throw blanket.. She may put little chew holes in the toy bunny, but that’s different than actually eating it. I don’t know what to do! My boyfriend accidentally stepped on our dog Alfie's tail and he let out a little yelp. SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. My baby rabbit has a pen and the two of them share a room. Well away from the current room. It is not unusual for animals to attack sick animals. I would suggest keeping him seperate from the dog and that one cat. Sometimes they’re a sanctuary, especially for a prey species. Jerseygirl, She’s fine around me, occasionally she has outbursts at the dog, but more the cat. Correct me if Ive misunderstood anything. Like that flipping matters. I will say that I do totally understand and agree with what all the admins have said-truly! What do you mean, “what can I expect”? Don't do it so slowly it will make the rabbit tense. What does my rabbit digging on me mean? "Her work has appeared in several print and online publications including E-how, USA Today, Every Dog Magazine, Daily Puppy and Connecticut Dog Magazine. Except after 10-15 minutes my baby MALE rabbit started humping my female and she finally got annoyed and growled/lunged at him. The reason for this is likely to be because their ancestors needed to hunt small animals to survive. Allow your rabbit time and space to explore outside their normal environment, so if they spend most of their time inside with you or are kept in an outside rabbit house, let them out every day but ensure it is safe to do so. Do the responsible thing and keep them separate. He considers you as his bunny 'herd' basically. Stepping in here as well  to help calm things down. No sooner did you say that than Panda up and threw a hay-stuffed cardboard roll at me while I was taking out the litterbox for cleaning last evening. Pets. I tell them my dog is a neutered male, and watch the confusion cross their face as they probably think their dog is gay. We have this bush in the backyard where they hide in a lot of the times and she immediately goes to that part of the yard. etc. My initial thought is, I wonder if your rabbit is trying to establish herself as dominant over the dog and cat? However, you should try and eliminate it from your dog’s diet.The danger lies in eating the rabbit. he needs to be neutred i have two males with the same problem, It might be scared of them so he's tring to fight back. Of course I would not let my animal suffer. I saw the dog backed into a corner, cowering from the cat while being attacked by the cat. Do you have another area in the house you could set him up temporarily? ), my other dog gets caught up in it, barks and then sometimes he attacks her. The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. I have to keep her in a cage when I’m not around or she will probably kill my cat. It’s not cruel. It is essential that they cannot escape, access toxic plants or be at risk of attack from a cat or dog. Find all of vetstreet.com's Why Does My... Dog articles and videos here. This is why a parent should teach a child how to properly interact with the dog and must intervene at the earliest signs of trouble. A bit of play growling and barking is normal between dogs, or even between dogs and humans. Have you come into the room to find them in a tiff or is it always when you’ve been in there a while, all hanging out? Frustration. If the dog lies down near me thats when he goes after him. I believe they hit puberty after 2 1/2 months to 3 1/2 months. She couldn’t get him out of the back seat of the car if she took him for a ride, her clothes were ripped and she had bite marks and bruises on her hands and arms. She is constantly searching for them. She came into heat and it was just a mess. We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. Other advice may end up working better for different situations…or not. Traumatic Experience This is more likely with dogs that have been rescued or adopted. Why do many people only adopt puppies/kittens rather than adult animals? Especially if she showed him aggression before, this would make sense that his scent is then causing that same aggression for anything else that gets into her space. It's not cheap but it will alleviate problems yet to come - like marking his territory which is really messy (and smelly!). My rabbit is much more vicious. Biting is not always an act of aggression. (It will for sure in the beginning). Rabbit Communication "Get up outta my face," says bunny when you put your hand in front of your rabbit's face. I’m just going to stay away from responding to this OPs future posts. That helped my rabbit alot! They’ve been friends for a long time, so attacking them is a new thing. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist. As I said, my female had also gotten very wild but since then I have gotten them each acclimated to each other by letting them spend the past month separated by a baby gate so they can see and smell, but not touch, each other. Claws, hissing, deep growls, the works! It’s not rude of me to say this. Hopefully you can resolve this and allow them interaction again. Be sure to wash your hands, and make sure his scent has less chance of transferring to her area. Once you have offered your suggestions, let others chime in to help and possibly offer other options if your suggestion isn’t working for the OP. Yes, it was you who had gotten another rabbit that she had attacked and drawn blood on. etc. I can NOT keep my dog or cat out of my room, because they love me and always want to be with me. your rabbit may just go after the dog when ot goes near you because.it wants yiu all to its self. Why is my rabbit aggressive? Anyone else on here live the Northeast and tired of the snowplows hitting their pets and taking no responsibility for it after they do it? I volunteer at a rabbit rescue and the lady there said she’d help with bonding. Anonymous answered . The older dog is going to hold his position within the household & the younger dog will be corrected by the older dog. Get your answers by asking now. Please separate them. And you’re interested in getting them back to being a happy family, understandably! Neither has Peanut. Your rabbit probably won’t kill your cat… if your rabbit attacks your cat viciously, it’s likely that your cat will attack back and end up killing your rabbit… rabbits are prey, so I don’t see a scenario where the rabbit takes down the cat and not vice versa. I know that’s rare but my Buttercup has never *touch wood* been territorial towards anything or anyone. I could explain myself but I don’t feel it’s necessary and it won’t accomplish anything so I’ll just leave it at that. Killing a rabbit is not going to change your dog into a savage beast. Spayed does aren’t usually as aggressive, so I understand, but they can still be quite territorial and dominant. Final qu, she is acting normally otherwise? You are just denying everything. 5 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Bad Breath in Dogs. Then again, maybe it just takes longer than I thought. She is also a former veterinarian assistant, and author of the popular online dog training course "Brain Training for Dogs. It’s rude to ask for advice and criticize everything suggested, wasting our time. Instead, build up trust and rapport. If your animals cannot comfortably cohabit, they should not be cohabiting. How to Care for my Rabbit's Teeth ... Why Is my Dog not Eating after Giving Birth? but now when i put her in there she seems to attack him when he goes near her could this be that she is pregnant as at first she was fine with him. Save myself and you guys the frustration. I just looked back to make sure I wasn’t mistaken. Yes you know your cat, but it’s just like humans-you never know what someone/something is capable of….. Rabbits can be affectionate creatures, but fear or aggressive instincts can cause even the sweetest rabbit to bite. She had never shown me any aggression but suddenly she would run across the room and attack my legs or hands if they moved. It’s just the past few days that things changed? I still think it’s best not to let them interact. ETA: If that is the case, I wonder if it is changes in him (hormonal) that is triggering the changes in her?? Remember that extreme submissiveness--such as cowering, urinating, and tucking the tail--can indicate defensive aggression. This anger has started very recently. I can understand it’s frustrating to have a happy bunch start having problems seemingly out of the blue. Why does my rabbit hump my dog??? If I am not mistaken, don’t you have another rabbit? It does not happen in every home, but the potential is there, and the wise owner is aware and prepared. I’m not sure if rabbits recognize dominance outside of their species. Of course I would not let my animal suffer. Cottontail rabbits make their nests in small depressions in the grass. Today, our focus will be on why these cute but mysterious pets often dig on their owners. She didnt even move. She got out and my husband found her jumping against our kids rabbits hutch. Now she is lashing out them, mostly your cat. My female did that when I first brought my male home. So, most dogs still have predatory instincts and view small animals as prey.. If anyone contributing is becoming frustrated, it’s time to step away. They are frequently disturbed by people when they are mowing their grass or raking. If you still have that rabbit in the same vicinity, that would explain her aggression. You might want to consider getting him neutered. Female rabbits, especially unspayed ones – is your bun spayed yet? When my nephew and his wife come over I have to put him in his cage, he will attack his wife. My bunny is NOT terrified of my cat or dog. If you have an aggressive rabbit, like Lulu, read on to find out why your rabbit attacks and how to stop it. I don’t think this would suddenly make her angry that he’s in the same room. Effect on Fido '' who she is lashing out them, mostly your cat are bitten in one and. Then bite me let them interact togeher don ’ t be surprised carnivores and there is nothing about. 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Tearing large clumps of fur from the dog, the best pet shipping why does my rabbit attack my dog in for. 'S always that slight possibility, that may not be together dog … dog! Her rabbit was all the admins have said-truly story when the barrier is removed t exhibited such territoriality, just... Why would my female and she finally got annoyed and growled/lunged at..