Why does my rabbit attack/bite me?

Question
June 25, 2004

Dear Natasha,

I recently obtained a rabbit.  It is a male and he was doing good living in the house.  He started spraying me and my furniture, "a lot".  So I moved him to a very clean, cool, rabbit safe basement.  He has a large run including a fenced area outside.  He has inside/outside habitat.  Though, it seems that recently when I enter his new habitat he comes storming at me, circles me and ends up either biting me on my finger or between my fingers because I reached out to pet him, or has circled around me and bites me straight on the butt!  OUCH!  His bites are big and painful!  I don't know why he is rejecting me...I feel sad and hurt.  I even struck back one time.  When he bites he chomps down and curles into a ball and goes into a kicking spree...  His eyes shut!I can grab him and pick him up...I gently pet him and ask him what's the matter, but he seems to get more upset than ever.  I don't understand?  I love him so much and don't want to get rid of him.  Any suggestions or comments?  I don't know the history of his past... He's quite large and obviously an adult.  One of those brown with the white ring around the neck.  White nose.  I know he came from a local pet store.  

Anxious to hear.

Laura Lee  

Answer
Hi Laura Lee,
             well from what u have told me it seems like your rabbit doesnt want u anywhere near him or his boundry. Now if u love him as much as you do then just follow my advice, but if you dont want to then just sell him or to somone who can cope with him.
Stage1:
What i think you need to do is,u have got to show that you arnt a fret cause this is what he is thinking at the moment. Just go up to his cage and see how he reacts,if he isnt so bad in his cage just slowly start to talk to him and tell him you arnt going to hurt him.Do this as many times as you can every couple of hourse a day.

Dont let him out of hid cage yet for a while!

Stage 2:
Now if this works properly,u will notice that your rabbit is waiting for you to go and talk to him, if this happens start to talk to him as usual and slowly open the cage door and if you are brave enouth...very slowly just put in your hand for him to smell,this was he will get use to your scent. Do this every couple of hours a day to.

Stage 3:
When u succed on stage to,when you put in your hand just try and gently stroke him and give him a little treat and tell him he is a good boy.

Now laura lee these are the only stages i want u to do at the moment. Its not going to work straight away im afraid,it can take weeks and months so you need time and patience.
Trust me just give these 3 stages ago.Dont go onto stage 2 till u are sure that stage 1 is done properly or u will have to start from thr beginning.

Let me know how u get on and i will give u the rest when you have succed with stage 1,2,3.
                Good luck from natasha