DIGGING!

[sr2011]

My rabbit has started digging.  Everywhere.  Multiple places on the carpet.  I’ve put phone books and tried everything but she keeps finding a new spot to dig.  It’s not practical obviously to dab perfume on every sqare inch of the carpet….so what do I do?  I’ve also made a dig box.  She uses it some but it doesn’t stop her from finding other spots to dig.  Help! 

[Deleted User]

If I remember correctly, this is a very young bunny? My rabbit as a ‘teenager’ used to be a crazy digger, and wouldn’t use a digging box. I found, too, that blocking the access to his digging spots didn’t help as he would find a new spot right away. I put him in a puppy exercise pen and inside that I put down a very large piece of flat card board that I secured with six ceramic tiles around the edges to stay down. He would dig and tear and rip away at that for hours which seemed to satisfy his need for digging and he never touched the carpet again. I have him free-range now but I always keep a piece of card board down.

[sr2011]

Thanks! And she’s 2 years old. I’ve had her for about 2 months and this behavior is new.

[sr2011]

Any ideas of what could trigger this? Maybe she’s finally super comfortable in my apartment….comfortable enough to dig my carpet

[Balefulregards]

I have found that Coco will do her “forbidden” behaviors ( for her it is Chewing cords, or attempting to chew them) when she has decided that my set up is boring. I know this sounds counter intuitive since she HAS things to do, she simply isn’t choosing to do them…But it really seems to be about finding her play “sweet spot”. For Coco, I rearrange her maze haven, and reconfigure the Hay bungalow with the hemp ropes that I have made for her chewing.

I also may switch out some of the throw toys ( she is first a chewer…then a thrower) – a pine cone, a piece of cardboard she likes to drag around. Today, I built a little “fort” out of a blanket…for her to dig at and rearrange, with the pinecone inside, and the cardboard on top. Refused to look at it. Hops around it. However, I am leaving it there for a bit. I find Coco is “slow to warm” with toys, and needs time to check things out before she actively plays.

As for a digger, what would she do if in the wild? Is the dig box too small, does it not have enough to throw around? Is it too exposed and open? I think one of the reasons Coco loves the Hay bungalow is that it is really dark in there. She feels like she is at the end of a tunnel and is digging to get out.

[Deleted User]

I agree, she’s settled in with you nicely and feels comfortable to put to work her rabbit super powers… I think, a maze is a great idea, but try a large card board box, too, maybe put some shredded paper inside. This really keeps my rabbit busy. Rotate toys, you’ll find quickly what works for your bun. Good luck, and keep us posted on your success, too!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Just checked your profile and she’s spayed, clearly old enough for the teenage thing to be over with.

I’ve got a little idea you can try…

Behaviorally-you can yell NO and clap your hands (or shake a pop can with pennies in it).

Then buy her a square of carpet that she is allowed to digg on-like a matt of some type. Try burber as they love digging that up and it might be more appealing then your carpet. Try the no/clapping when she’s on your carpet and moving her to her carpet where she can dig.

[Beka27]

I know you can get cheap carpet squares at carpet stores, or I’ve even seen them at Wal-mart for a dollar… do be careful tho that if she is chewing/digging, she is not eating the fibers. And you might want to make sure her nails are kept very trim to prevent them from getting caught.

[hooty22]

I’ve found a towel in a favorite dig area works wonders. Felony loves to dig and push around a towel…
Can’t buy a toy he likes, but man oh man, give him a blankie and a phone book and he’s set.

[MooBunnay]

I do the same as Petzy, I put my bunnies in a large extended size expen and put down first a bamboo rug, and then carpet squares on top of that. It is very useful because the expen can be opened and closed easily, and I just roll up the rugs and stick them under the couch when the buns are done playing Then you also don’t have to supervise the whole time she is out to make sure that the carpet survives.

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