Rabbit wants to go under bed covers, digging and nipping

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This topic has 4sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 1 month ago by Floppy.

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- 05/13/2017 at 7:27 PM
  Floppy
  Participant
  84 posts
  Okay so basically Casper is 10 weeks old and is now 24/7 free roam in my bedroom. Problems started a few days ago when my ex bf stayed in my bed for the night (nothing happened, long story, not rabbit related).
  
  Casper has been really good with the litter tray however the morning after my ex left he peed the bed! This was my own fault as I was letting him play “warrens” which is when I make tunnels with the bed sheets.
  
  So I changed all the sheets and decided not to let Casper play “warrens” any more. Casper obviously has other ideas and objected greatly by digging at the sheets, I kept saying no! And he actually nipped me. I just got out of bed.
  
  Now it’s 1am and time for bed and Casper is doing the digging at the sheets and I said no again but he kept at it. Then I felt bad because maybe he just wants to play so I let him under PART of the sheets and this was not good enough for Casper. He nipped my leg (through Jammies) so I was no, this isn’t working. I don’t want him to get into the habit of nipping. I picked him up and put him on the floor. Casper jumped straight back up and started digging at sheets and I put him on floor 3 times and now I’m posting this. Am I doing the right thing?
  
  Why is he doing this? I know rabbits like digging and hiding but he has loads of toys and his own blanket.
  
  I do not want to risk losing his trust or upsetting him! But I need to sleep! Should I put him in his cage? Maybe he just wants to play, or maybe he is trying to kick me out of my bed haha?
  
  Thanks for any advice!! Blocking off bed is not a viable option,
- 05/13/2017 at 7:34 PM
  Vertimnus
  Participant
  12 posts
  Rabbits are naturally very territorial and possessive and they always want to get their way. If he keeps doing this, you should put him in his cage so he understands it’s not allowed. You need to make it obvious that you are the “Alpha Rabbit” in this relationship.
- 05/13/2017 at 10:37 PM
  BanditCamp
  Participant
  451 posts
  I have a large 8×10 fleece for my bed to put on top when I’m sleeping. Bandit runs around on it at night and lays down sometimes. Do you have any tunnels? It seems like he wants a tunnel space. I would go to Lowe’s or home depot and maybe get a concrete tube and remove the inner wax layer and I fill mine with paper bags and he has fun moving them out
  
  Also as I’ve learned there is no alpha rabbit you just have to make it know that it’s a behavior not allowed by saying no.
- 05/14/2017 at 11:23 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  I had to laugh reading this. This is my life. But my rabbit is 6…
  
  For you, it could be in reaction to the ex having been there…
  
  It could be new behaviour because your bun is about to enter puberty…
  
  It could be that he’s just figured out this is something he really enjoys and rabbits are stubborn! Some will be life long diggers and chewers…
  
  If he’s doing this at inappropriate times, putting him his cage with something to dig at may help. He may take to chewing at the bars though.
  Would he be okay if you placed the cage out of the room if he’s being particularly active?
  
  You could also attach a pen to his cage so he can have that space with some thing to occupy him.
- 05/15/2017 at 4:00 AM
  Floppy
  Participant
  84 posts
  Thanks everyone for the replies! He has calmed down on this a little bit, I’ve been playing warrens with a blanket instead and giving him the blanket when he starts to dig, and I think he’s starting to get the idea!
  
  I’m also a bit worried incase he crawls under the sheets when I’m sleeping and I end up crushing him! I don’t know if this is silly, I used to have a cat that slept on my bed and I never worried about this… But the cat was a lot bigger than Casper!
  
  I’m getting Casper neutered in mid June if he’s ready. After this, does he need to be on cage rest tor a while? Maybe keeping him in cage for a wee while is not a terrible idea.
  
  I have been putting him in the cage last few nights in the middle of the night, he also jumps on my head and face when I am sleeping. Luckily for Casper I’m usually up very late, 12, 1am. He does wake me up somehow I’m the morning, he’s not mad for bar biting but has lots of toys etc. I’ve been waking up to open the cage about 6am and going back to sleep for a couple hours.
  
  I’m hoping he eventually learns not to dig at my bed as I’m only locking him in the cage after he does this -.- and only because I need to sleep.
  
  I don’t really want to get a pen unless really need to, it would be awkward with the space. I am working on bunny proofing the rest of my house (living room is a NIGHTMARE there are so many wires and hazards idk how to stop him jumping behind the sofa etc, will get there in the end!)
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