Pet rabbit problems

[saintee]

We bought a blue otter mini rex rabbit from a rex breeder and are having some problems. She is now around 12 weeks old.

Since the day we brought her home, she has been very nervous and hyper active. We bring her in the house every night but don't think we have ever been able to sit wth her for more than a few minutes without her scampering off. If you are on the floor or the sofa, she will hop over you but will sprint away as soon as you go to stroke her. Catching her to put her away is a nightmare ! In the last week or so though things have got worse. It is now impossible to get her out of the hutch without her grunting at you and charging your hand. On quite a few occasions she has bitten us as well. It would seem she is getting more aggressive by the day. Tonight for instance we brought her in (after the usual problems getting her out of her hutch, we now have to use a towel to pick her up). She continually tried to escape from me before eventually biting me on the arm and was put back in the hutch.

Is there anything we can do to calm her down or have we been unlucky and got ourselves an ASBO bunny?! I know bucks needed the snip to calm down, is this the same of does as well?

[Zacs-Master]

Catching her to put her away is a nightmare
Probably for her too!

[boxtops]

why don't you just leave her in her cage, if she's so unhappy out of it? - not all rabbits want to be house pets.

[divegirl]

I'll advise you the same way I would to a person with problems with your puppy.... Talk to your breeder. They know the personalities of the parents, we however do not.

Lisa x

[saintee]

Thanks for the responses, I have emailed the breeder to see if she can suggest anything.

Boxtops - A fair suggestion however a certain amount of handling will always be required when moving a rabbit from a hutch to a run to allow exercise.

[divegirl]

Nice one. If they are a responsible breeder they will do all they can to help.
I haven't kept rabbits for years but do remember the young ones always being a touch feisty!
Lisa x

[littleja]

I have a six month old lion head dwarf rabbit, she lives inside. She does not let us handle her easily, buts and runs off. she has eaten wallpaper, carpet even the hem of my burberry mac. I had her spade last month and she has calmed down quite a bit. Still tries to run when being picked up but settles in arms once held close. I think some rabbits just are not that keen on being held. She is my third rabbit; first two I rescued from Malta and brought to uk. One wanted holding a lot loved it. The other was a butter, biter and runner. They both lived to approx 8 yrs. She is young needs to get used to everything. Lovely rabbit you have chosen is she curly?