How to discaplin a bunny??

[Smith's Rabbits]

I have raised rabbits for almost 5 years now, until recently however they lived in the garage. Recently I have brought in two of my favorites. Happen to be a buck and a doe. The doe has been living in a converted Guinea pig Habitat. 4' long by 2' wide on top of my dining room table. While the buck has been living in a smaller cage 2'by2' under the table. For about a month I would just open his cage and he would run around the house always going back into his cage to go potty. Recently ( August 4th) we bred him and the doe. This is not his first breeding I have had two litters sired by him before and have had a litter by this doe before as well. Since the breeding the temperaments have changed. They are anxious and want out of their cages all the time. When let loose they bite and dig at the carpet. They have pulled up a hunk of carpet by our bedroom door. But none of this is really the issue. My biggest problem is that my buck. Dixon has started biting! He has never bit before he has always been the super calm and easy going guy. He has not gotten me yet but has bit my husband and a couple visitors. It is when he is picked up, he doesn't want held he wants to run around and dig the carpet. My husband would pick him up and hold him for a bit then let him go again every time he started digging to try to stop him from doing it. Then Dixon bit him. He put him down. Now I think Dixon thinks if he bites he gets down. I don't want to reinforce bad behavior but I don't want to be bitten either!

So how do you teach a rabbit not to do something? My husband has said we either need a plan or he is going back out and we will bring another in. But Dixon is my baby and I love him, I don't want him to have to go back out.

Thanks
Melissa

 

[Secuono]

Do they get any time outside to just be rabbits, run, jump and dig away in the lawn?

 

[Piper]

- figuratively sweep his feet, out from under him, change his cage, but keep open to the option, he may have to go outside.
It seems more as if they have declared the whole house, theirs. Like a dog marking territory. You might try putting natural vanilla in a spray bottle, and spray - to take away the rabbits scent markings. Spray a couple of cages and change their cages at the same time. All new smells, and if that does not work - you may have to put him out for a while, to declare it as 'your' house / cage, not his to do as he will do.

 

[3mina]

I agree, your house is not yours any longer time for a change, scent or otherwise.

 

[MaggieJ]

Some people have had good results using rabbit body language to show disapproval. The idea is that the rabbit understands this better than other disciplinary actions. This site explains a lot of rabbit behaviour and how to deal with it. Go to the section on RESPECT or Offendedness. Hope you find it helpful.

http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

 

[Smith's Rabbits]

Thanks! We moved them both to the entry way ( still air conditioned/heated) but now we don't hear all the digging they do in their cages. We also let them out loose in the entryway alone for about fifteen minutes then allow access to the rest of the house. I only had to remove him from the bathroom once for digging yesterday. Then it was right back into his cage he goes.

I haven't had them outside because until the last few days it has been so hot, that is why they ended up in here to begin with. The last two days it has rained a lot. Otherwise they would get out into the exercise pen, but they actually have more room when loose in the house.

 

[missamanda88]

Hello everyone,
I have a Netherland Dwarf rabbit. I have no idea how old he is becuase I received him from a friend of mine, and I don't think she knew how old he was either. My rabbit used to bite, and attack things.

I've also heard of people using spray bottles. You would spray the bunny with a little bit of water when they do something that you don't want them to do. It's supposed to help them learn. Idk, just suggestions.

 

[MaggieJ]

I cannot advocate spanking or hitting any pet. They rarely associate it with the behaviour you are trying to stop and you undermine the trust the animal has in you. Far better to just put the rabbit back in the cage or to use the suggestions on the Language of Lagomorphs site. I posted the link above.

 

[ZRabbits]

Don't advocate anyone spanking any animal. But especially a prey animal like a rabbit.

Agree with MaggieJ. Definitely will undermine the trust you need to gain with a prey animal. Learning body language, plus a good stern "No" and back in their crate gets the idea of no biting or scratching. Worked well with all of mine. Just be consistent. If not, will confuse your rabbit and frustrate you.

Karen

 

[Demamma]

:yeahthat:
:yeahthat:

 

[fishdip]

Mine started to bite I got them to stop just telling them if they did not quit they be dinner

 

[Miss M]

I used the Language of Lagomorphs suggestions with great success when our first bunny was nipping us. I used the one for "offended". I had to do it twice, but it worked great.

Mine started to bite I got them to stop just telling them if they did not quit they be dinner

My husband tells them how good they'll taste with sweet chili sauce when they refuse to breed. :roll:

 

[fishdip]

The funny part is the male is very protective of the girl if u have the 2 out at the same time hey Will rest his feet on top of her and bite and he even smaked my son in the face as he was try to kiss the girl.

 

[dragonladyleanne]

The funny part is the male is very protective of the girl if u have the 2 out at the same time hey Will rest his feet on top of her and bite and he even smaked my son in the face as he was try to kiss the girl.

Heh, when I first bred my mini-rexes, I had put them in the large "grazer cage", and she was running away and grunting "no way" and even nipped his bum until he left her alone in opposite corners . . . until I tried to get them back to their own cages, then she ran behind him and cowered. He chuffed once at me (ok, woman, I am protecting you), then took the opportunity to hop on!

 

[trinityoaks]

Wow! Where'd that old thread come from? :shock: