Dwarf Rex problems

[stuartmmcfc]

We've got a six month old Dwarf Rex rabbit. Tbh he's turning into a right handful. He's got very strong back legs and it doesn't take much for him to struggle and start kicking out and being quite aggressive.
Is this behaviour to be expected? The breeder told me the females could be troublesome so will he grow out of it or does he need to neutered or something?
Unfortunately we'll have to look at rehoming if we can't sort this out.

[bexVN]

Get him neutered asap.

However Rex's are flighty bunnies, not the best breed esp if youngsters involved. All rabbits have very strong back legs.

Look on the Rabbit Welfare Association for handling advice.

Most of the time struggling is a fear based reaction he doesn't trust how he is being handled. Is he a lone bunny? Do you have kids, if yes how old are they and how much responsibility do they have with him?

[Vince70]

Sorry all I can think of is the killer rabbit in the holy grail.

[rosie11]

Mini rexes can have very needle like claws so first of all get them trimmed off, rabbits naturally do not like to be picked up BUT given time and patience they can come round to the idea,
It's really a case of more and more handling, get him out of the hutch as ofton as you can, my potential show stock and be handled anything up to 20 times a day, by this i dont mean lots of snuggles just handling the rabbit with confidence and put it back in the cage,
This Gives them the confidence that they can trust you and that takes time.
my show babies are handled from 2 weeks of age and by the age of 6/8 weeks are so confident in being handled that they will happily sit in my hand whilst I walk about and they are trained to sit still and do so for anything up to 20 mins.
The biggest mistake people make with rabbits is that when they struggle they put them down, rabbit very quickly learns that if he struggles he will be put down on the ground /hutch were he is happiest.
When rabbit struggles hold on to him until he stops , only then when you are happy that he has stopped struggling can you put him down IF that's what you want to do.
Also don't hold him so he is upright laying on your body with his head by your chest, have him s he is laying/ supported across your body .

Edited by rosie11 on Sunday 19th May 21:16

[stuartmmcfc]

thanks for the advice, i've arranged a breeder to come over wednesday to give us some tips and cut his nails.

The Monty Python picture isn't far from reality unfortunately

[bexVN]

If the breeder is. a good one they should advise castration. No benefit to the bunny to jeep him entire, will just make him frustrated and more aggressive.

[GokTweed]

I've had a series of Rex rabbits in the past, not one castrated and all soft as a sponge! Although I was a child at the time and did enjoy a cuddle. Gorgeous velvet like fur! I found that they struggle most when you're about to put them down because your body angle changes and the way you're holding them changes too. So I used to hold him securely and kneel to hutch level before putting him in. If he started struggling he got held until he stopped and then released. Soon got the hang of it.

[bexVN]

GokTweed said:

I've had a series of Rex rabbits in the past, not one castrated and all soft as a sponge! Although I was a child at the time and did enjoy a cuddle. Gorgeous velvet like fur! I found that they struggle most when you're about to put them down because your body angle changes and the way you're holding them changes too. So I used to hold him securely and kneel to hutch level before putting him in. If he started struggling he got held until he stopped and then released. Soon got the hang of it.

Wish they had that character these days, nearly all I have met over the years are prepared to do the wall of death manoeuvre in their kennels!! Can't be all down to poor handling!

[rosie11]

bexVN said:

GokTweed said:

I've had a series of Rex rabbits in the past, not one castrated and all soft as a sponge! Although I was a child at the time and did enjoy a cuddle. Gorgeous velvet like fur! I found that they struggle most when you're about to put them down because your body angle changes and the way you're holding them changes too. So I used to hold him securely and kneel to hutch level before putting him in. If he started struggling he got held until he stopped and then released. Soon got the hang of it.

Wish they had that character these days, nearly all I have met over the years are prepared to do the wall of death manoeuvre in their kennels!! Can't be all down to poor handling!

Possibly down to poor breeding, I have 7 baby mini rexes in the shop at the moment and they are soft as anything, but they are from show stock and so have been handled many times every day and accept being picked up as the done thing .
Early handling and lots of it really does make a huge difference .

[stuartmmcfc]

ours is from "show stock' and was handled very easily by the (very experienced) breeder. I'm hoping the tips you've given me will help get him back to this condition, especially the "not putting down until he stops struggling".
Today he settles fairly quickly after the initial struggle but I've got several cuts on my hands so I also think having his claws cut on wednesday will help us enormously.
Luckily I'm an ex-plasterer so I'm used to cut hands but I can see why the Wife and my 9 yr old are reluctant to pick him up at the moment.
Even I have to admit his fur really is lovely

[rosie11]

Just out of interest what are his markings/colourings? Picture would be good, if he is what we call broken pattern then from a very early age one can see if he is potentially show stock, IF his markings are not correct MAYBE the owner did not handle him as much as if he had been a show potential specimen.

[rosie11]

Couldn't resist posting a picture of one of my baby exhibition rabbits

[stuartmmcfc]

rosie11 said:

Just out of interest what are his markings/colourings? Picture would be good, if he is what we call broken pattern then from a very early age one can see if he is potentially show stock, IF his markings are not correct MAYBE the owner did not handle him as much as if he had been a show potential specimen.

He's a "blue otter". The breeder we got him from had lots of them and he was one that hadn't made "the grade" as a show rabbit so they sold him to us.
Seems logical he wouldn't have had as much handling but they ( though obviously very experienced) seemed to have no problem handling him.
I think the problems started when his claws got sharp, it put my Wife and son (it's his rabbit and he did a lot of research into care etc) right off holding him. I've taken a lot more interest the last few days as i've realised how upset everyone is and my hands are covered in sratches and blood!!!
We got him from "oakley rabbit stud" and they were very friendly and helpful, only pride and other options is stopping me giving them a ring
I'll post a pic sometime soon.

[The Highway Man]

rosie11 said:

rabbits naturally do not like to be picked up

Someone should tell my 4 year old Dutch doe this, if I'm sat in the garden, she'll hop over and sit on my feet and nudge my ankle until I pick her up for a cuddle.

[Superficial]

There's no such thing as a dwarf rex, he is a mini rex

I have a couple of mini rexes myself and they are a very feisty breed. Beautiful coat but nowhere near as easy to handle as dwarf lops for example.

Would highly recommend neutering to avoid other behavioural issues developing but tbh it won't help with how he feels about being handled. Generally, rabbits do not like being held as they are a prey species and prefer to be low to the ground firmly on their own 4 paws. They have a reputation as being child friendly pets, but with their strong back legs, long lifespan and dislike of 'cuddling' they really aren't the best pet for a child. The best way to interact with a rabbit in a way they will feel safe is to get down on the floor with them. Even my most docile rabbits tolerate cuddling rather than enjoy it, but get them on the floor and they approach me, interact with me, binky around and really show their personalities.

I doubt your bunny will ever be 'cuddly', my rexes aren't despite masses of handling. As long as he continues to wriggle you really need an adult to be the main handler; rabbits are fragile and if your son accidently drops him a broken back or other bones could easily happen.

WRT the comments about rehoming, sorry but that would be totally irresponsible. It's good that you researched but it isn't the rabbit's fault you have taken on a pet that isn't ideal for children in the first place, but on top of that is one of the least docile breeds around. What sort of message would it send to your son if you move the bunny on?

[rosie11]

When getting him out of the hutch always lift him out head first and when putting him back in put him bottom first, this will prevent him seeing his "safe house" if you like and make it much less likely for him to struggle away from you.

[stuartmmcfc]

rosie11 said:

When getting him out of the hutch always lift him out head first and when putting him back in put him bottom first, this will prevent him seeing his "safe house" if you like and make it much less likely for him to struggle away from you.

That's a good tip, getting him out is no problem~ getting him back in is tricky.
We'll see how we get on tomorrow,
The 2 cats, 2 guinea pigs, hamster and several goldfish we've had for years had obviously lulled us into a "trouble free" pet zone

[rosie11]

The Highway Man said:

rosie11 said:

rabbits naturally do not like to be picked up

Someone should tell my 4 year old Dutch doe this, if I'm sat in the garden, she'll hop over and sit on my feet and nudge my ankle until I pick her up for a cuddle.

Then you are blessed with a rabbit that has total trust in you, that's lovely to hear.

[The Highway Man]

When my youngest grandson was just starting to crawl, he'd crawl over to her and pat her whilst trying to lick her! She'd just lie there and let him. Once she'd had enough, she'd hop away.

[Animal]

rosie11 said:

The Highway Man said:

rosie11 said:

rabbits naturally do not like to be picked up

Someone should tell my 4 year old Dutch doe this, if I'm sat in the garden, she'll hop over and sit on my feet and nudge my ankle until I pick her up for a cuddle.

Then you are blessed with a rabbit that has total trust in you, that's lovely to hear.

I have scars from picking mine up! Conversely, if I'm sat in the garden and neglect to give them attention they punish me by trying to eat my trousers...