Advice on possibly rehoming my rabbits.

[Annabel93]

Hi

 

I’ve made a few posts on here now about my rabbits. Since they were neutered 2 months ago they have just got out of hand. They dig at their pen all night and day (they live in my room so I am just about losing my mind), their litter training habits are rubbish despite me trying every possible trick in the book, and on top of everything they have started biting all the time. They used to be quiet and gentle, but now if I let them out into the room with me they will come and try and dig on my legs etc, whilst biting me. I can still stroke them and they like to groom me, but that makes me uncomfortable now as I’m always paranoid they’ll bite me out of the blue.

 At my absolute wit’s end here, they’re no longer pets I can enjoy but rather burdens that I spend my time stressing out over or cleaning up after. I’m so torn as they’re obviously still adorable and they’re just innocent little creatures, but I really don’t know how much longer I can put up with them.

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks.

[Roberta]

You’ll be happy to know that in a lot of cases their behavior can be modified. It’s just going to take a little time and patience… I know what you mean about noise and bad behavior.. Some of my seven bunnies have gone through phases and with a little love have adjusted quite well. When they bite and dig have you tried letting out a little squeal like a hurt rabbit would ? Remove some of their noiser toys at night and give them a sheet of cardboard or a phone book to dig at in the early evening and remove it when you are ready to sleep.
A lot of this sounds like attention seeking and they want to be with you and want your attention… Maybe you could try some agility training to use up some of their energy and clicker training for better behavior.

[Annabel93]

OK, that is good to know. I have tried squealing, that doesn’t seem to help. I had assumed it was attention seeking too, so when I see that they’re about to come over and bite I try and distract them by giving them butt scratches (they love them), so they instantly go into bunny-purr mode. That obviously only works when I see it coming though, and I don’t want to do it after they’ve just done it as I don’t want them to think nipping = attention.

I’ve given them phonebooks etc in the past and they aren’t at all interested, the only reason they dig at the fence is because they want to get out. They bite and pull it too. Normally I give in and let them out (bear in mind this is normally between 4-7am) but then they just jump into my bed and start biting me while I’m trying to sleep. However the past few days I’ve just been enduring the insane racket (which is SO hard when you’re exhausted and it lasts at least 30 mins), and waiting till they eventually get bored and stop. I then give it 10 minutes before I let them out as I don’t want them to associate digging with getting out.

I do have a clicker but I’m not really sure where to start on clicker training? Any tips would be great, I have 4 days off next week so I could make a start. Also if I’m going to clicker train them, is it best to get them out one at a time and train them individually? I can’t help but think training 3 at once would be a bit hectic.

[Deleted User]

I’m so sorry Annabel93, I feel your distress in your post and am very sad (not as much as you of course) that your experience hasn’t been what you expected. I can’t offer you any advice on what to do/how to do…. just wanted to let you know my bunny experience with Henry wasn’t all that I imagined it to be either. So I do sorta understand. Just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you at this time – what a horrible position to be in. I hope someone can offer you some guidance/assistance for you to be able to rectify your relationship, but if you really feel your at your wits end and your losing the love, hopefully there will be another loving home awaiting them? All the best Annabel93. Andi.

[Annabel93]

Thank you

I figure if there’s any solution to be found it will be on this site, and I like to think it’s clear to people that I’ll do what I can to try and make things work with them, but if it does come down to rehoming them I’ll definitely be spending a lot of time looking into it and finding someone who can really care for them rather than dumping them in a rescue centre one day.

[Bam]

I’ve only done clicker-training with dogs, but then you start out by teaching the dog what the clicker is. You want the animal to offer a certain behaviour, then you click and immediately after, before you say anything, offer a small treat. A simple thing to start with would be f ex when the rabbit goes up on its hind legs to reach for a treat. Once you get that in, you can make the period of standing in the position longer. If the animal doesn’t get it, you go back a few steps. It’s important that the animal understands what makes the click-treat come. Don’t try to speed things up in the beginning, even the simplest excercises are very exhausting to an animal. It actually means that you rearrange its brain physically – i e new synapses are made and reinforced. So it’s not “just” sth psychological that goes on, it’s also a physiological process.

I would start with one rabbit at a time. Timing is vital in clicker-training and you can’t really click-and-reward what several animals do because they may not do exactly the same thing at exactly the same moment. Really excellent dolphin-trainers can make several dolphins interact in a series of acrobatics, but that’s not how they begin their training, of course. 

Karen Pryor has written a great book on positive reinforcement (positive reinforcement is the basis of clicker-training). It’s called Don’t Shoot the Dog. It isn’t actually a book about dogs but about almost any animal, incl humans.
 

[Annabel93]

Thanks for that advice

Does anyone have any tips for Rufus digging on me and nipping? I don’t understand why he’s started doing it now after never having done it before.

Something else while i’m here – what does grunting sound like? One or two of the rabbits (I can’t tell who is doing it) are making sounds at each other every so often. It’s quite quiet and a sort of throaty sound, I don’t really know how to describe it. Any chance that could be grunting? If so I really don’t understand why as they do it when they’re running about but they’re not aggressive towards one another.

[Rufus]

I can only tell you what has worked for my Rufus! He used to try and dig on my clothes and I found that it helped if I held his two front paws gently everytime. Then we’d have a staring competition (Rufus loves a starting competition) and he’d wander off again. Soon he stopped doing it and now spends his time demanding grooms instead. Not sure if that would help when he’s nipping though

My bun is also still a grunter. What you describes sounds right to me. Rufus grunts while running in circles around my feet. I thought that this was really hormonal beahviour but he seems to have kept it up even six months after his neuter. I’ve looked it up in a few places and most people say it’s an indicator of affection. Sometimes it can be quite loud! I do think it’s adorable though, maybe your buns are just showing affection for one another?

I’m sorrry to hear about all your troubles, I really hope everything works out for you guys.

[Bam]

My first bunny Bam used to dig and nip. I put him on the floor when he did that. I’m pretty sure it can mean various things, but it’s not typically unfriendly or hostile. It can be attention-seeking, or an announcement of an urgent need to pee. I think it often is a kind of displacement-activity – i e he doesn’t know quite how to behave so close to you/ a human, that he just goes ahead and does sth rabbity like dig and nip. Bam has stopped doing it to me, but during his time with me he has made lots of holes in people’s clothes. That can be irritating. Don’t wear your best clothes when cuddling with a bunny. They have surprisingly razorish teeth.

Squeal when he nips, and remove him if he persists. It can take a very long time for it to sink in though. And when he behaves like you want him to behave, praise and reward him =)

[Roberta]

Pascal tends to dig and nip if he wants something… I.E Fresh Water, Pellets etc…
As soon as I fill the water dish he stops.
That’s why I see it as attention seeking, they want something from you and they don’t have any other way of communicating it.

[justwildbeat]

I also believe the noise making (maybe the digging and nipping too) is their way of getting your attention. I noticed that if I don’t spend enough one on one time with Yeti he’ll throw a hissy fit. Tossing the food bowl (because it’s ceramic and loud), shoving the litter box around, kicking up litter everywhere. Basically making lots of noise and a huge mess each day. This only happens when I’m out travelling (even with a pet sitter) or not at home much. All this disappears once I spend time with him and get back on the usual schedule.

[Bam]

I misinterpreted, I thought you meant he digs and nips while sitting in your lap. If it’s more like he comes up to you and digs and nips, I’m convinced it’s a way of communicating need or desire. Food, water, cuddles even. My bunny Yohio does stuff like that. Once he ran up to me in the bathroom where I was standing putting on mascara and bit my leg and drew blood. Then he looked genuinely surprised when I didn’t respond by happily offering him a treat.

[Annabel93]

Ah right, I see. I’m wondering if it maybe is that all he wants is attention. They always have food and water about, so it can’t be that. My boyfriend and I broke up last week so he’s moved out now, but before he was here much more than I am and having them out and about a lot of the day, but now they’re by themselves a lot as i’m a chef and work lots of hours. I’ve been letting them out free range all day while I’m out as a compromise but I guess that’s still not really the same. I have a few days off this week so I’m going to spend lots of time with them and see if any of this changes.

I also noticed Rufus does this nipping/dipping on Bill and Ted too, so I was watching to see how they respond but they tend to just run away which isn’t really an option for me…I’ll try and do the squealing thing again though. Maybe I wasn’t persistent enough last time?

[Deleted User]

Hey Annabel93, as I said previous, not that Henry (lone bun) and I have the best relationship so shouldn’t be offering suggestions but on the slightest chance this helps with the nipping – I don’t squeal, I actually yell oouuwwchh! like I’ve been bitten by a dog and quickly move that part of my body away (I’m sure you already do, a natural reaction). But (for me it was my toe while on the computer at my desk) every time he approached my foot (even to this day) I still pull my foot away from him. And I haven’t been bitten since (anywhere). So sorry to hear about your breakup, regardless of how it came about I’m sure it is upsetting and along with your work hours – well, your amazing! Good on you Annabel93!

[Annabel93]

Thanks again AndHenry. Your replies are always so positive!

But yeah, I will try that too. I suppose anything that startles them slightly is the way to go. Annoyingly mine seem to be incredibly chilled out, which isn’t always a bad thing but they can be flopped on the floor while I’ve got the hoover out and not even flinch when I’m using it right near them! So it’s surprisingly hard to find loud noises to make them jump, but i’ll try it anyway!

[Bam]

“I also noticed Rufus does this nipping/dipping on Bill and Ted too I was watching to see how they respond but they tend to just run away”

That sounds like Rufus is top-bunny, and thats all very well. But that’s not the kind of relationship you want with Rufus. It’s best if a human is in charge in a household =)

 

Great that they are so relaxed, it’s always more difficult to deal with stressed out or fearful animals. Sounds like they have a really good life with you.

[rayray]

I’ve posted before about Ziggy attacking my boyfriend. If a dominant bunny is a problem, I put my hand on top of his head/shoulders. Just so he’s flat on the ground (obviously don’t push him) but he seems to calm down when I do this. From what I read, it’s similar to what dominant bunnies will to others. I don’t know why or if it would work for your problem. But it seems to reinforce my position of Master of the Universe (aka my apartment).

[Annabel93]

Haha, I have tried that too. I figured it must be because he thinks he’s alpha male and I also read that doing that helps, but how long did you persist with it for? It just didn’t work for me

[rayray]

It only took about a week. It might also be boredom. I made a dig box for Ziggy and that distracted him for quite some time. I don’t know how much my description will help, but I taped 3 boxes together. 2 on the bottom one on top. I cut one hole as the entrance and another into the 2nd & 3rd box and filled it with shredded newspaper. To make it even more enticing I sprinkled some treats in there too.

[hannaroo]

I think a really good solution to the noise is to move the bunnies out of your room. I love my rabbits very much but having them in my room every night would drive me NUTS.
If you have anywhere else to house them it can really help you both because you’ll be getting a good night’s sleep and your own space which is important for you first and foremost. This will make you feel better about the situation because you’ll feel better.
Secondly if you can put the pen on tiles or hard floor it stops the digging all together. If its carpet can you put and old rug or get an old bit of carpet from a carpet store to put down so if they dig it’s not as destructive? When they realise they can’t get your attention by digging (because it won’t be waking you up) they may stop.
As far as biting and nipping goes I can’t give much advice as fortunately it’s not something mine have done much although Suri went through a small phase of it and I used to gently push her away and turn my back to her (I stress gently) so that she knew from my body language I wasn’t’m pleased as that’s what they do to me when I’m in the wrong! Haha!
The litter problems may come from the attention seeking and maybe because your room is your space and smells like you (bunnies poop when they wasn’t to mark their territory)

Hope this helps xx

[Annabel93]

Thanks guys. That dig box sounds pretty good, I had one before which they never seemed to use but they weren’t digging so much then so maybe it’s worth another shot! The suggestion to hold onto Rufus’s feet whilst he’s digging my clothes has worked miracles! It clearly really annoys him and he gets fed up and wanders off.

Hanaroo, unfortunately i’m living with my parents atm and while we do have spare rooms my Mum is really not cool with the bunnies being anywhere but in here. It doesn’t help that they’ve really not done well with litter training…sure they only pee in their trays but they still leave pellets eeeeeeverywhere. But how does putting the pen on hard floor help digging? It actually is already on hard floor and the issue is that they dig against the floor and the fencing and it rattles and makes stupidly loud noises. Also *hi5* to the cotswolds. That’s where I am!

I am looking to move out within the month at least, i’m hoping fresh new surroundings that they can mark their territory in (hopefully just by chinning things, not pooping everywhere) will help them calm down. But who knows!

Thanks again everyone!

[Rufus]

Great to hear that the hand holding worked out! It’s such a weird thing but it worked really well for me too!

I’m looking to move in the next month or so as well, it’s so defficult for me to find somewhere to rent that’s happy with my bun, hope you have more luck than I’m having!

[MoveDiagonally]

You’ve already received great advice. I totally understand your frustration. Right now you have three bunnies in their adolescent “party phase” and you can’t get away from them at all. Moving out will help if you can move to a place they don’t have to be in your room. My bunnies are incredibly noisy when they play even when they’re not digging/being “bad”. I definitely wouldn’t want to have to sleep around that every night!

Hang in there Annabel!

[Roberta]

That’s how mine got the name the “Long Eared Pygmy Wildebeest” They sound like a herd thundering across the seregeti…… They are in the room next to the master bedroom and when they get really wound up they run circuits tossing toys and running down anything in their way….Now that they have basically dispensed with the Xpen that separated them from where I use to store the hay etc they have a huge area to run in. Then Pipi, Blossom and Pepper have to launch regular attacks on the baby gate to see if I have left it loose…. I don’t think I would get much sleep if they were all in with me.. But then maybe they would be better behaved if I was with them…

[Annabel93]

Haha, I know! It is incredible the racket they make! Plus because I have floorboards in my room often when I’m downstairs in the kitchen I can hear them picking things up and throwing them about the place.

i’m feeling much more positive atm now though. I went out last night for my mum’s 50th and ended up rather tipsy (ahem), so when I got home and was lying in bed with the bunnies running about the place I got emotional thinking of giving them up. Not only because I’d miss them but the idea of giving them to someone who might get bored or give up on them was so upsetting. They may confuse me a lot of the time but for the most part I understand them and accept them for what they are. They’re adorable little characters who each have their own personalities, and it made me realise that really my only option is to keep going with them and just give them the love and attention that they really need.

oh god..*sniff*!

[Deleted User]

Ha ha ha ha hah Annabel93 – I do that all the time (don’t tell anyone, sshhhhh!) I love having a great night out and coming home and my babies still love me! (& that’s the night they ‘all’ get to sleep in my bed), so they love it too! Lol….

PS – and I don’t hear Henry chewing my bed, Sam snoring, Frank licking (he’s a loud licker) and George scratching…..  Best sleepover night ever!  (Sam, Frank and George – the dogs). Lol….

[RabbitPam]

I’m glad you’re feeling a bit better, and starting to understand that this is very much age-related (I mean theirs, not yours ) and they will mellow as they get a little older.

The grunting is called “honking” and is definitely affection, not complaining. If you go onto BB’s Facebook page and scroll down a couple of weeks, you can find a video link to someone’s bunny that is honking really loudly. It’s very cute. (I can’t find my link to post here at the moment.) It does usually start with hormones, but a bunny often will continue to honk their whole life if it’s a favorite form of communication.

I have bought a couple of area rugs, 4′ x 5′, very cheaply at Target (I think it was $20-$30, low pile, grey). I put that down on any rug or floor I have in a room and it defines the habitat area, adds a layer of protection and stops floor noise. You can cover THAT with seagrass mattes if you want, which can be chewed, cleaned, and thrown away if soiled. Keep the litter in big litter pans only, along with hay above the pans if you want better litter box habits. Toss stray litter and poopies into the pan as soon as you see them out. With multiple rabbits it’s also marking, so it does take time. But an area rug would muffle some of the noise.
I actually never ended up with my bunnies in my bedroom due to that, so I know what you’re going through. And as you get less good sleep, you are less patient with their progress.
The suggestions of different kinds of toys will definitely help. They do want attention, from you and each other.
Squeal in the high pitched voice when nipped. If you want, put a spray bottle with 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water to spray on areas (including your ankles once or twice) that you do not want chewed. It is a yucky odor to them but is a great cleaner, plus you won’t smell it more than a minute. Then provide a distracting toy or treat sometime after. Don’t treat right away – they will think that nipping gets a reward. Just reward positive behavior, like if he sits quietly and lets you pet him and does NOT nip, you can provide a raisin treat and say “good boy”. If he nips, don’t to anything, or stop petting. They learn from positive reinforcement, and someone already mentioned Karen Pryor’s great work with that.
Getting your own place will help. They can be a 10 year investment, but I can see you a year from now saying “I can’t believe I considered living without you guys!” This is the hard time. They are training you to be a perfect slave, after all.

[hannaroo]

Haha it’s such a small world!! I wander how many members BB actually has :0

I can defiantly sympathise as I let Suri stay in my room once after her spay as she was constantly asking for affection and she kept me awake ALL night rattling! I agree with Pam though, padding out the floor will help x

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