Advice needed for mischievous bun!

[Amyelizabethp]

Got my beautiful bun peanut about a month ago, put his lack of interest in using his letterbox etc down to being new and in an unfamiliar environment. After 2 weeks or so he became an absolute angel, no digging, chewing of the carpet, and I’d say about a 90% success rate in using his litter boxes around the lounge.

A week later we are completely back to square 1. Refuses to use his litter boxes, and is ruining my new carpet! So far I’ve tried;

– Treating, petting him every time he goes into the box, even if he doesn’t use it.
– Reducing the area of the lounge he is allowed to use (This has just resulted in him doing anything he can to try and escape from his pen.)
– Adding extra litter boxes around the lounge
– Spraying him from a water bottle when he digs and chews.
– Putting him back in his cage for 2 minutes every time he digs or chews.

We’ve even used a clicker for reinforcement when he does something good.

He’s also got into a habit of jumping onto your lap, and pooing all over me when I pet him!!

It’s got to the point I can’t leave him out in the lounge when I need to leave the room because The second I’ve left the room he’s jumped onto the couch and weed/pooed all over it.

He is about 3 months old now so is un neutered but I don’t yet think he’s old enough/reached maturity.

Is he purposely being a naughty bun or just a slave to his natural urges lol?!

Any help would be so so greatly appreciated!!

[Sarita]

Rabbits are purposely naughty – it is just his natural urges. He is reaching puberty and I imagine his testicles will descend soon and he can be neutered.

Rabbits and couches and beds can be problematic – most young rabbits just cannot be trusted to be on beds and couches at all – I don’t know why, but they love to pee on them. Advice is to keep them off couches and beds…usually when they are older this behavior will stop – well older and altered.

I think at this point keeping him confined when you are not home is the best idea – which it sounds like you are doing. Spraying with a water bottle just never really works – it’s kind of the negative reinforcement.

I would try a diggy box to give him something to dig in – digging is a natural thing for rabbits to do and it keeps them occupied so trying to divert him to a diggy box would be a good idea.

[xBunnyKissesx]

It sounds like he HAS reached sexual maturity. My boy is only 3-1/2 months old, but he already has. Boys start earlier than girls.

[LongEaredLions]

Bunnies are naughty.
I do think part of this behavior is from his hormones, neutering should help, but for now, keep him confined when you can supervise, and give him a diggy box like Sarita said.

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