o.k. I\'ll make this a short one, I have a little baby dutch rabbit and I have formed a rather strong bond with her in the month that we have had her, unfortunatley my girlfriend has not as much. For instance last night I was watchin a movie and my girl comes over to \"Bailey\'s\" playpen slash home and couldnt see her so she stuck her hand down inside the entrance to her cotton tail cottage when all of a sudden my girlfriend jumps back and says that she scratched her. I gues bailey used her front \" Talons\" LOL I can only imagine she felt her space was invaded. Now my girlfriend loves animals and loves bailey as well of course, but the funny thing is that Bailey has never never done any sign of aggression with me and I take far more liberties with her and her belongings such as when I pet her she will sprawl out and lay on her side up against teh inside of my for arm. While doing this I can proceed to rub her stomach and even give her a little bunny sized foot massage. She just stretches out further. I am justwondering if this could be some kind of thing of her wanting to be the dominent female in the house. Maybe this is a longshot but its all I can think it would be.
Bailey\'s Dad-
Well, it\'s obvious to me that Bailey has just formed a very special bond with you! My gosh, she\'s a Daddy\'s girl! Sorry, that\'s just the way it is sometimes. I always wash my hands before and after I approach or handle my bunnies and I personally do not stick my hand in their cage or Cottontail Cottage unless I get their attention first. This way I avoid surprising them and in return lessens my chance of losing some skin. If you have other animals that your girlfriend petted or she handled something with an odor like food, perhaps Bailey smelled this and thus reacted by giving her a swat with her paw.
The \"daddy\'s girl\" thing is correct. All I have to do is stand up and she thinks it time for petting LOL. I have a pillow I got for her and it has her towel on it and she climbs on it and she likes to sprawl out and nuzzel her head under my hand. Its cute when I stop rubbing the sides of her face she will lick my hand until I start rubbing again. Also I taught her the same trick that I tought my dog, I\'ll ask her if she loves daddy and if she cant reach my nose then she lick my fingers. I this may be the problem right here, I think maybe I stold the show when it was a present for my girlfriends b-day. I just cant cut back my time with bailey... can I? I dont want my girlfriend to feel left out, what would you recomend me do?
Hi DAD! How old is Bailey? I was told they go through stages just like kids do only faster. This could be the adolesant stage where they tend to try your patients oatients and test the limits a bit! It sounds like she has taken a rather big liking to you and doesn\'t want to share you (much like a child- she gets jellous when she has to share you with someone else) have you tried sitting down with her and your girlfriend and both of you playing with her? If she gets agressive you should maybe try picking her up and moving her from the situation and give a loud, firm NO. She might get the picture. If not just put her back in the cage and give her a \"time out\" just like you would a real child. I\'ve read this stage can last anywhere from age five or six months to a year or so. Stick to your guns, daddy\'s girl has to know you can love more that just her! Oh those sweet fur babies!! I know when I got mine I had no idea how much alike they are to children or how much fun they are to have! Good lucK my friend!!! Lisa