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Hi again,
Thanks for the welcome. As Tashi is settling in I’m working on become a better blind bunny parent. Fortunately, he is a very forgiving bunny!
At the moment, I’m using the NIC panels simply to expand his bounded space. He started out in an xpen, which was a big step up from the cage at the shelter. Although I want him to stay safe and secure it is clear he needs and wants more space. Enter NIC panels and zip ties, with the result a bigger pen. I am trying to imagine a way to build an ‘upstairs’ that is completely enclosed (except a ramp up), so that he can enjoy zipping up and down as well as around. If anyone has any suggestions, I’d be grateful.
His enlarged space is going to include a one-story mini-haven (so if he climbs on it there won’t be far to fall), as well as a box with stuff to dig in. At the moment he is all about rearranging his fleece blankets, and throwing his basket around, so I thought something with more substance would make him happy. I have noticed, though, that he is inclined to eat the paper in his space rather than simply chew on it. How much can he eat before it becomes a problem? What would be safe to allow him to dig in?
Finally, looking a bit ahead, I was thinking about clicker training as a way to develop a better relationship as well as to communicate. I’m aware that there is a literature on this, but wondered if anyone had any experience they could share.
Thanks again for your advice, and for the links to info. He and I both appreciate it.
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From what I’ve heard, eating paper is fine as long as there’s no poisonous inks on it and as long as he doesn’t fill up on paper and not eat his hay.
As far as wht he can dig in… what about shredding up some computer paper and putting that in a basket/box for him?
I think clicker training is great! I do it with Leroy, and I’m going to start training my new bunny, Jeannie soon. It definitely strengthened my bond with Leroy. clickerbunny.com is a great resource. And the i-click sold in the BB store is a good clicker. I still have to post some videos of LEroy doing his tricks but so far he knows to come when I whiste, “spin” “stand up” “walk” (on hind legs), “target” (finds and touches the ball on the end of a stick that I hold out), “ball” (runs to touch his nose to a jingly ball – I can even throw it and he’ll chase after it, but he has yet to master “fetch”
) I’m going to start doing some agility type tricks with him too. You’ll have to get creative with some of the tricks and modify them for a blind bunny, but something like coming when you whistle he could do (once he gets to know his surroundings and as long as he has good hearing). Also, having a bunny that does a few tricks on command is a GREAT party trick and a great way to start talking to your friends about bunnies if they aren’t already knowledgeable about how great bunnies are as pets.
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