Creating neutral space

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 10sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 11 months ago by Heaven.

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- 01/23/2018 at 5:30 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  Hi guys,
  
  I was just wondering if I can ‘re-neutralise’ a space in my flat. I bonded Luna and Atlas in the bathroom originally, and Luna lived in there for a couple of days recently when I had to separate her and Atlas. They’ve also been allowed to go in and out of it as they wish during free roam time since October.
  
  If I stop all bunnies going into the bathroom for the next couple of months, and thoroughly clean it, will that be enough for it to count as neutral again? Obviously with bathrooms there is furniture (as in toilets, sinks, baths) that can’t be rearranged. I could potentially use XPen sides to wall off parts of it (again, they would be old pen sides, but cleaned) and I could buy some cheap rugs for the floor. Would that be good enough, or would Luna and Atlas still remember it and feel possessive over it?
  
  If it wouldn’t be neutral, what’s my best bet? A pop-up pen? I still feel like with a pop up pen they’ll be able to see the rest of the room and it won’t be neutral either.
  
  It’s a tiny flat, just bedroom, bathroom, hallway and living room joined with kitchen, all of which they all go in, but Luna is currently living free range in the kitchen.
- 01/23/2018 at 7:13 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  I would put a new rug down and a new pen if poss and then cover the sides of the pen with cardboard or blankets so they can’t see out.
- 01/23/2018 at 7:41 AM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  Finn has already claimed his space behind my toilet where his trying to dig a burrow — but not getting very far lol. I am just going to use the bath with loads of towels when i come to bonding. Otherwise i agree with the above.
- 01/23/2018 at 8:08 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  I know that Luna absolutely hates the bath, so that doesn’t work as a bonding environment for them. Hopefully with blankets and rugs I can create an unrecognisable bathroom!
  
  I do wonder how long it takes a bunny to forget a room they’re not allowed in though.
- 01/23/2018 at 8:22 AM
  Heaven
  Participant
  256 posts
  @Emma my Sam loves the space behind the toilet as well! Haha
- 01/23/2018 at 9:07 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  I’ve been wondering this as well, but I was going to suggest what Sarah said. I used to use my bathroom for bonding, but once Bertha and moose were bonded I started allowing full free range, and Bertha became obsessed with it! I’ve since blocked it off, but probably won’t use it till I’m ready to marathon….
  I think getting rid of smells is important, so cleaning with vinegar on floors and walls should help too.
  
  If you try them in the bathroom and it doesn’t go well, I would guess it isn’t quite neutral enough.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 01/23/2018 at 9:15 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  How interesting Dana, mine were both pretty obsessed with the bathroom for the first month after they were bonded in it too. I would often find them lounging in it. Interest has died off since then though. They wander in occasionally, but they definitely stopped being attached to it like they were when they were first bonded in it, and now I’m making a conscious effort to keep them out of it.
  
  Happily the bathroom is a room that I actually mop and clean pretty regularly… So hopefully any smells will disappear over time. I’ll make sure to wipe down any skirting boards etc that have been chinned.
  
  I still have about 6 weeks until we’ll be ready for bonding, but I just wondered whether it was worth me obsessively keeping them out or if it was a pointless task anyway! I guess its worth a go.
- 01/23/2018 at 8:01 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  I guess worst case, it might be a nice “semi-neutral” spot?
  
  I couldn’t figure out whether Bertha was so interested because they had bonded in it, or because she was obsessed with the cat box … and the plunger…
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 02/13/2018 at 12:09 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  FYI, I’ve been using my bathroom for bonding sessions, and their behaviors are similar to other completely neutral spaces, so I think it’s sufficiently neutralized!
  
  I wipe the floor with vinegar before/after each session, and I have them in a pen with blankets on the sides so they can’t see where they are. The pen is bigger than it looks in the photo. Ideally it would be bigger, but my bathroom is tiny!
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 02/14/2018 at 3:21 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  Thanks for the update Dana! I can definitely do something like that – and I’m also coming round to the small space for initial bonding idea, so I don’t think there’s actually anything wrong with it being small!
  
  I love the vacuum in the corner too
- 02/14/2018 at 9:32 AM
  Heaven
  Participant
  256 posts
  I love the vacuum in the corner too
  
  #bunnyownerlife ;D
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