Constant digging!!!

[C.King]

Hi all,
Just need some advice about my male rabbit Indie who up until a week or so ago was the happiest little bunny, flopping, running around with his lady friend, causing mischief, following me around the house. Everyday when I let them out for exercise in the front room all Indie wants to do is run behind the sofa and dig dig dig…constantly, sometimes for a few minutes at a time without stopping!
I know digging the most natural behaviour and I thought it was because his nails were too long and he was digging to shorten them, so I cut them but it wasn’t that! They have so many activities in the living room, boxes to hide and dig in, wicker toys to chew on, balls, everything so I’m not sure why he’s doing this.
I’ve tried moving the living room around a little bit to make it more exciting and a bit different but this hasn’t helped either!
It’s slowly driving me crazy and I’m not sure what to do! Someone please help me!!

[Bunny House]

Hi! Is he neutered? And how old is he?

[C.King]

He’s just over a year old, 14 months, and yes he’s been neutered since he was old enough to be neutered.

[Gina.Jenny]

All 3 of my girls are literally digging deep in the garden right now, I have three impressive holes to prove it. It has turned cool after a long hot summer, maybe they all sense the colder weather coming and are instinctively preparing for winter???

[C.King]

Hmm an interesting suggestion…

[Asriel and Bombur]

Asriel digs unceasingly. It doesn’t matter what or when. He just developed the habit at some point almost overnight a while ago.

[Wick & Fable]

Wick also randomly started to dig recently. He never did it before ever, but he became compulsive in hopping on the sofa and digging it. I now have a water proof cover and water proof fleeces on it. He still dug at it at first, but after I let him do it to exhaustion a few days in a row (with me interrupting when it seems he was going to pee or tear something), it tapered off. He still digs, but not nearly as much.

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.

[C.King]

Glad to hear it’s not just my bunny! He’s moved to digging under the sofa now so I can’t even stop him if it gets too much.
I’m still not sure what to do…my only option right now just seems to be let him dig and tire himself out? He used to be so chilled and just flop a lot after a bit of running around but now he won’t even do that! Could this be his teenage phase?

[LittlePuffyTail]

Can you try to block off the couch so he doesn’t get under it. Like with NIC cubes maybe?

[C.King]

NIC cubes? I’ve tried blocking it off but anything i use they manage to get through. I’ve blocked the back off with bunny tunnels so he can go in it rather than hide behind the sofa but that’s not worked! I’m really starting to lose hope now, we’ve got such a nice relationship and constantly telling him off isn’t helping it is it just a phase?

[Author]

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