Still having Litter Training troubles

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 3sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 7 months ago by Katie.

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- 09/07/2017 at 1:01 AM
  Katie
  Participant
  106 posts
  Please, Please PLEASE read through my previous post (here is the link, click in these parentheses) to see our previous discussion with this! I got some good input there, but still need help. I have one stubborn bunny. I am gonna RIP my hair OUT. I reeeaallyyyyyy am….. Lol.
  Sirius, my girl bunny, is due to be spayed in 2 weeks! (At last! Most of the territorial sass will be gone and relief will wash over me as soon as those hormones are out of her system! Lol.) I know the spaying will help immensely, but I just can’t get the thought out of my head that Sirius is just being stubborn with her litter habits and/or doesn’t get it….. Actually, recently, I feel it’s gotten worse. She used to always pee in her litter box, (as stated in previous thread, Please Skim that one to understand this post,) but now she’s been peeing everywhere when I let her out. (doesn’t pee anywhere else but the litter box when confined to her cage.) I almost feel like she has gotten more comfortable with me, and realizes all I’m going to do is stick her in her box after she’s done the deed! Also a Recent thing; I feel like Sirius sees the litter box as a punishment….. After I see she’s pooped or peed while out, I will go “Ah ah!” to make her realize it’s wrong, then say “Litter box!” to try to get her to go over to her litter box on her own. BEFORE, about 60% of the time, she used to scamper right over…. NOW, she darts a short distance away from me, and I can’t even herd her over there. I have to pick her up….. When I go to pick her up, she “squeaks” or “huffs” at me, in an agitated way (It is Not a growl, or maybe just a very quick version of it) and tries to run away, and/or even turns around at me and acts like she is about to nip me. Important to note that she doesn’t do this any other time I pick her up; only when she knows she needs to scoot on over to her litter box, lol.
  
  I’ll also note that I only let her out for about 3 hours a day currently, in random sessions. No set times…. I only let her out like that Because she is not yet litter trained. My ultimate goal is to give her free run of the house, only putting her in her cage at night, or when I shower, or while away and/or at work. (I’m not currently working anyways right now.)
  
  (How does one “herd” anyways? Sirius won’t move unless I pick her up…. No matter what the circumstances.)
  I feel like I’m begging for help at this point lol. I really have taken up the suggestions from the other thread! I swear! I’m doing all I can haha. Please and Thank You for your input!
- 09/07/2017 at 4:16 AM
  Azerane
  Moderator
  4691 posts
  The only way I can herd my two is if I reach around from the side to tickle their tummies They don’t like that, lol.
  
  Honestly, I know it’s a pain, but I really think your best bet is to simply wait for her to calm down after she is spayed. It will help so much. Right now you are fighting hormones and it’s a losing battle. If you’re following all the advice from the previous thread, there’s really not much more to do. Which I know isn’t very helpful.
  
  I’m not sure what to suggest regarding her refusal to move to the box and “huffing” at you, perhaps easing up on that for now would be a good thing but I really don’t know. She could just be fed up and not want to go in there due to attitude, or it could be that she sees it as a punishment, I don’t know.
- 09/07/2017 at 12:32 PM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  Just read through your previous post. My bunnies have always been brilliant with their litter habits and I wouldn’t say I really had to train them. They have been perfect before and after spaying and neutering. I can’t really add anything to what the others have suggested really. But The reason why bunnies are able to be “litter trained” is because your able to respond to their own natural behaviours. Rabbits want a clean area and they are creatures of habit so this is really all I ever did with my two. They choose a spot and if you are consistent and ensure they can always use that spot then I think that’s the main bit done. One thing I did pick up on was when you said you often let her out for 3 hours but this is not at the same time each day. Is this maybe why she is struggling? That she is perhaps not able to establish any permanent territory. It’s like new exploring each time and she therefore doesn’t really have a respect for the area so to speak. Try looking at it the other way round, you want her to be free roam so just make her free roam and see how she gets on over time. Eventually she might start making the association and that she doesn’t actually want to be making a mess in an area that is hers
- 09/07/2017 at 11:32 PM
  Katie
  Participant
  106 posts
  I can’t make her free roam as I’m trying to litter train her…. I can’t watch her like a hawk to see if she pees or poops, or is about to, all day every day. I’m under the impression that I have to put her in her litter box (with the new droppings/pee soaked towel) every single time after she pees/poops out of her cage And litter area in cage, so she gets the idea. I keep reading on this matter and I see diligence is key….. I absolutely love her and spend lots of time with her; 3 hours out of her cage per day is only her Minimum. But if I just watched my rabbit like a hawk all day, I’d go mad. Lol. As fascinating as she is, I do like to spend time with my few other pets also, I like to watch Netflix, scroll through social media on my phone, exercise, need to eat, etc. These are things (examples I gave) I do around the house where she could be out alone with very minimal supervision, but only if she’s litter trained…. Whereas while she is still learning, I feel I need to keep a super close eye on her and not miss the moment it happens.
  
  How late is too late to correct a bunny’s mistakes, anyways? How long does it take for them to forget, and not realize/understand what they’re being corrected for? (I’ve looked it up but couldn’t really find a set answer like you can when you Google the same questions about a dog lol)
  
  I will try getting her on a set schedule! Perhaps that will help…. I need all the help I can get anyways for after her spay, too. I have a feeling it’ll just be a retraining
  
  I don’t think Sirius has a want for a clean cage. ): She pees in the litterbox in her cage always while in there, but poops absolutely everywhere in the cage. I know some is her just marking, and that will probably never go away, (to my understanding,) but there are more than just some. I think about 65% of her poops are all out of the litter box and in all spots in her cage….
  I clean them up and put them in the box every morning as soon as I come to let her out and feed her and such (she’s located in the living room now, so as to give her more social interaction)
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