A nightmare rabbit!

[ben and nicky]

Some of you might remember me introducing a certain giant rabbit to you some months ago.Well this rabbit is now 18 months old and weighs almost 20 pounds! He is the biggest softy you could imagine and constantly demands attention. Here lies the problem… We have not been able to litter train him at all. He has litter trays in all the areas he likes to go in and will most of the time use them. He lies in them and seems to enjoy them as he should but at least once a day he will urinate the biggest puddle sometimes no more than a few inches from his tray and tread it all around the house. We have experimented with different types of litter with no change in his behaviour. Whenever he  urinates somewhere he shouldn’t we give him a firm no and put him in his box. He knows he has been naughty when he does it… this is obvious from his body language. After he has done it these days he runs straight into his litter box without us even having to put him in there. Ocassionally he will go a few days with no accidents and other times he will urinate on the floor 5-6 times in a day but has not once done this in his cage… it is always when he is out in the house. Can someone please, please help us here we are getting to the point where it is spoiling our relationship with him and over the last couple of days we have been shutting him away after he has done it just to have a break from cleaning!

Thanks for reading the rant,

Ben

P.S he was neutered 12 months ago

[jerseygirl]

When I saw the title and authors – I thought “No No, it can’t be true” because I remember you posting about that darling giant! Forgive me but I did giggle thru reading most of your post. Only because I have a naughty Doe who does a similar thing and knows it’s wrong. Difference is she’s 1/4 the size of your guy so it’s no big deal to scoop her up into the litter box.

Ok. So – was he ever better with his habits? You can retrain them by reducing their space and not increasing back until the habits are relearned. Especially with behavioural type issues. One thing you could try is carry some treats in your pocket and give him one when ever you notice him using his box to reinforce the good behaviour. He may pick up on the difference that he doesn’t get one when deliberatly peeing next to it. Just a thought.

If his box habits have always been so-so, something else might be going on. Has he had a recent vet check because peeing outside the box can indicate a health issue (urinary infection, possible bladder stones I think…). My other thought is the size of his box. How big is it in comparison to him? I do wonder if it’s is fondness for lounging in them that he doesn’t want to soil them too much.

I just had look at your previous posts. Barry! I needed to know his name.

[RachelB]

I know I shouldnt be laughing but oh geez the thought of that big bunny misbehaving is cracking me up!! OK breathe, breathe, breathe….. Im back.

He might need to be given a refresher course in proper litter training. I know it sounds mean but maybe keep him in his pen for 3-4 days to get him used to using his box for all his buisness. Once he has mastered that slowly give him more and more space. If he slips up take some freedom and space away for a few days. Although tedious this is how I got Sammy to use his box in every room. Im pretty sure that now he knows if he messes up and peeps somewhere he shouldnt he wont have access to that area for a few days.

Also the size of his box might not be big enough. My bunnies pee in one area, poo in another and lounge/eat in a third. Their box is huge compaired to them (the largest kitty litter box at Petco- I think its called Jumbo- $13)…. you might need a box even bigger than this for your big guy. I’ve noticed if I let their box get too soiled they wont use it (i have to chage it every morning to keep it how the like it hahaha!!) Sometimes I wonder if we are training them or if they are training us!!!

Good luck!! PS we need some photos of Barry!!

[ben and nicky]

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for your replies, here is a pic of Barry chillin as requested. he goes to the vet every six months for his jabs and she is happy with his health so I don’t think he has any issues there. it is as if he is doing just for the sake of being naughty and even looks at you while he does it. We have to use under bed storage boxes as his littter trays as they don’t make them big enough for him. he can stretch out comfortaby in them. He uses the one in his pen without fail although mainy only for urinating… he poos wherever he likes! we aren’t too worried about those though as they are easy to clear up. He seems to hold his pee sometimes and as soon as he comes out runs to the kitchen and goes in a corner… loads of it! other times he just squeezes out a little bit when he poops… do you think he is marking?

 

[Lara]

Aw… what a cutie pie he is!! A bad little cutie pie! lol.

My first bun had this issue as well, and this is the advice that I was given by my vet at the time: Although it’s tedious, you need to pay close attention to him when he’s out of his cage. When bunnies are getting ready to pee, they hunker down and raise their butt/tail. If this is in the litter box, give a treat as a reward. If it’s not in the litter box, say “No!”, and (if you can lift him! lol) place the bunny in his litter box. Give him a treat if he then pees in the litter box.

I started out doing what you’re doing, but apparently, that just teaches him to go to his box after peeing on the floor (as evidenced by the fact that he goes there immediately after).

Trust me, it’ll take some time, but with consistent watching and positive reinforcement, he’ll get it. My Xiao Pang got it, and she was the most stubborn bunny EVER! lol

[jerseygirl]

Thanks Lara.  Good to know someone else that’s experienced this and been able to remedy it.  I have hope…

Barry!   I just love his Thumpers!  That’s a great picture.

Ben, do you notice it is mainly just in the kitchen he does this?  Jersey does this in my kitchen usually when I’m present.  Even does the “looking right at me” too. *sigh*  I will find her hanging around me feet in the kitchen waiting for food.  She’ll figure anytime I’m in there, she can get food so I have to be careful not to reinforce that idea.  Thing is, if I don’t give her anything asap, she’ll back up and pee in the corner.  I think Laras advice here is good.  For me I will allow her to be there but watch carefully, prevent her from starting to pee and reward her is she goes to her box.   Jersey will also run to the kitchen and pee if I have annoyed her in another room of the house.  I’ve become better at reading her intent and have followed her when she’s in that frame of mind and seen her do it. 

Punishment doesn’t work but redirecting or interrupting them as they begin the behaviour and rewarding good behaviours does seem to work.  I guess you have to really nut out what triggers Barry to do this and what area it most happens in.  Does he always do it whilst you’re present? 

Qu for Lara:  What did you do when they did pee on the floor before you could prevent it?  I’m thinking our actions here can come into play also.  Do you just clean up and try not convey your frustration – lol or speak bunny and let them know you disapprove? Jersey will pee then run off when I reprimand her but if I hadn’t immediately seen it or reacted, she’ll sometimes start to clean it up -ew. 

[Lara]

I don’t know if this helped with the connection or not for her, but when Xiao Pang was too fast for me, I just wiped up the pee with a napkin or paper towel and put it, along with the bun, into the litter box. She seemed to get it after a while. I think the biggest thing is the positive reinforcement. Bunnies are so stubborn that they sometimes seem to do things just to spite their humans; but we all know that they love a good head rub and a treat… Good luck, you guys.

My two current buns are litter box super stars! Hopefully, that doesn’t change in a couple of weeks when Echo hits puberty!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

He’s sooo CUTE!!! BIG Bunny Flop -epic cute.

…big bunny pee-epic fail? LOL

I wonder…if he’s like a child, who wants the attention even if it’s for being naughty? I’d try to completely ignore him when he pees on the floor-wait until he’s hopped off and clean it up when he’s out of site. Don’t say ‘no’ and don’t pick him up. When he DOES go in his litter box-make a BIG fuss and give him treats. I’d *try* that anwyays

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