Bunny thinks he’s a dog

[Chelsea]

Many people who meet Silas comment he acts more like a dog than a bunny. He’s happy, friendly and affectionate. And (the part currently making me crazy) likes to scrounge food just like a dog. I’m getting really tired of cleaning up smashed bunny diarrhea off the floor and trying to clean his bottom. His recent sins included grabbing a chicken nugget and trying to eat half of it before I pried it out of his mouth, gnawing on a block of cheese left on the table by my kids (I was sick, fell asleep, and clearly not adequately supervising), and running off to hide with an enormous pomelo (giant orange/grapefruit-like citrus) peel that my daughter dropped on the floor. You’d think he’d realize it makes his tummy hurt, but no.

I really, really don’t want to have to constrain his area. He’s such a wonderful free-roaming part of our family. But this is getting ridiculous. It’s gotten worse because the vet said he was a bit overweight, so I cut back on his pellets and greens. But now he is on even more high alert for any kitchen or table activity and strategically places himself under my kids’ chairs at all times.

Pictures (because if you bothered to read this rant you’ve earned some cuteness)

Thankfully, he doesn’t eat the ribbons, just collects them.

[Mikey]

My Buns are the same way, lol! Blue has gone as far as to try to jump into my cereal before, and take a sandwich out of my hand. The other two will grab anything that falls if they are fast enough. We have to keep the bunnies in their cage while we eat because of how many times theyve run off with stuff

[Jessica]

Oh Chelsea I feel your pain! Amelia is exactly the same, she jumps up into my plate of food to steal food. In some ways we are lucky since its just with me, no one else in the house. She has stolen grilled chicken off my plate, landed in a plate of hummus and ran off with a bag of tacos. She is starting to get better about it but is is a pain, she’s calmed down about stealing food as we have finished switching her from oxbow to Sherwood. As much as the food thing is annoying the cuddly and outgoing personality make it all worth it!

It’s nice to hear that someone else has a bunny with this kind of personality, I figured it was just because my girl has been raised with a 4.5lb dog and she mimics his behaviors

[Chelsea]

That’s interesting Jessica that it has improved since switching to Sherwood! I’m trying once again (day 1) to try and switch him to Sherwood. This time I’m going cold turkey, with his old food just being used as treats. I have no confidence it will help, but I figure if I can get him to eat it instead maybe it’ll partially make up for the junk food he keeps grabbing.

Confining him to a cage during meals might be the next step. I’m sure he’ll go ballistic, but it might be necessary for his health.

[Jessica]

I hope he switches for you. Amelia switched over super easily, she picked it out leaving her oxbow behind while we did the switch. I have wondered if part of the food stealing may have been she was missing something in her diet. Now she will still try to steal food if I leave it unattended or if she can get to a bowl of corn chips, but it’s not a constant battle and her jumping on the table or onto my plate.

I’ve had to lock her up for a few meals, I always feel awful since she has free run except when we are asleep and the rare occasion no one is home, her digging and biting at the door doesn’t help either

[Tgbarber]

Not sure it’s appropriate to laugh but i am chuckling. Could be a real concern though as I’m constantly worried about my buns tummy. Mine jumped in my lap which he never does and tried to steal a banana slice from my toast!! Also I’m the messiest popcorn eater on the planet and i never thought about him eating droppef pieces. But he gobbled them up! And it was buttered! So i don’t eat popcorn around him any more

[bri_kayyyyy]

My henry thinks he’s a person and loves to hop around everywhere.I had this problem too at first. So, to try something out, we gave him very limited space to actually call his own. He was already potty trained that to my school’s awesome agriculture dept. Slowly, we extended his space and the amount of time he would be allowed to be out and free and eventually after a few months, Henry has learned what area is his and what area is not. He has also learned to stay in his space. I would first start off in one section of a room and then gradually work out towards the whole room and then move on to other rooms if you wish. I know its hard, but punish bad behavior and reward good ones! Every time henry would go somewhere he wasn’t supposed to or do something bad we would put him in his ‘home’ for a little while. I know it sounds harsh but now months later he roams free around the house any time we are home to monitor him and he seems so happy! He also stays away from areas he’s not allowed due to learning he gets a ‘time out’. Hope all works well!
Check out my latest post? I really need answers regarding an important question!

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