I have a Netherland dwarf rabbit that is about 4 months old, he is getting very aggressive ... scratching and lunging at me ... he hasn't bitten me yet but I worry it's just a matter of time. He has his good moods when he's very sweet which makes me want to just leave him be, but I'm worried he'll get worse if I do.
I have a few question:
1 Will neutering help with aggressive behavior that he has ALREADY learned? Or will it just stop him from learning to be MORE aggressive?
2 Is it just teenage hormones that he will eventually grow out of if I DON'T have him neutered?
3 Are there any health benefits to having/not having him neutered?
Nethies are, by nature, fairly temperamental little things! They much prefer just being rabbits than being cuddled! Big rabbits are cuddle buns, little ones are twitchy little things .
That said removing his hormones should calm down any territorial/sexual aggression you're seeing.
As long as you go to a good small animal bunny-savvy vet then surgery should be fine, it's come on in leaps and bounds and neutering a male, provided both his plums have dropped, is a 10 minute operation, if that, and not very invasive at all compared to spaying a female.
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In terms of handling, read up on bunny body language and be sure not approach him or crowd over him so he feels threatened. Your huge hands are terrifying to tiny bunnies! So no quick movements and no invading his personal space - he will have learnt the only way to make you go away is to lunge at you because you haven't seen his more subtle warnings!
If you do get him "done" it may be worth finding a rabbit rescue and look into bonding him with an already-spayed female Nethie or other small crossbreed. Nethies find confidence in bunny friends!
I personally can only talk about number three ... having a bunny go into surgery for neutering is very risky, because they are so small, the anesthetic has a big affect on them. i have heard of bunnies passing away in the arms of animal health technicians before. At the same time through my own experience a bunny has not died on me yet. its really your choice. Plus another pro is that you wont have to worry about baby bunnies. All and all your taking a risk with surgery and that's all im informing you of : 3
I agree Netherlands are feisty little fellows. They have this in their genes. And yes he is going through his teenage troubles. I have been successful with using a towel to wrap him in and letting him know he is secured and loved. After a couple of months he realizes that you are the boss and he will calm down. Do watch the bite it may be little but WOW it hurts. I have had one bite and hold on. It took me 5 minutes to get him off. I had to choke him. But then after that he was good for about 6 months. And we started all over. I did not use him for breeding as this is passed on. He died of old age as As I just couldn ' t get rid of him. And no way was I going to sell him to Simone else. Rocky lived for 8 years. But since yours is so young you have a chance to show him you are the boss and he is loved. Getting him fixed might help, but I have not had one fixed before. You do need to get a vet who knows about rabbits. It is important to ask questions. Hope this helps.
