Extra Playtime and retraining for Jack and Rucy

[BinkyBunny]

So Jack and Rucy will eventually have more free time and extra play space, but I knew I may have to battle some old habits from the ongoing  poop wars they had with Bailey.   We cleaned everything very well with vinegar/water, and bought new rugs so they didn’t smell like Bailey  and so I am hoping that there will only be some establishing territorial poops, but no morepoop wars.  So far that seems to be the case. 

I have had to retrain Rucy and Jack to use the litterbox ONLY in their pen.  They used to have one near Bailey’s pen because they insisted on using an area there as a latrine.   So last week, they were confined more, and I would closely supervise their free time out, and it only took three days to get them to only use the litterbox their pen.   I was suprised it happened that fast.  I figured such ingrained habits would take a couple of weeks.  But I even caught Rucy correcting herself.  She went to corner that she would usually go outside of the pen, and before I could even reach for the water bottle, she stopped, did that quick shake of a head (the bunny body language for “uh uh, nope, or don’t like it) and ran into her pen and into the litterbox.   She’s such a smart cookie! 

They also have more play space that you can see on the webcams (when they are playing there – usually in the evenings).  All the time I spent on Bailey’s routine is now being spent on making Jack & Rucy’s playtime out fun.  I figure a great way to honor her is to make sure Jack and Rucy have a wonderful time with the extra space and time that used to Bailey’s.   It still can be hard but when  I see Jack and Rucy doing binkies in the extra space, it makes me feel happy.

They may eventually be mostly free range, but right now during the retraining process, they are allowed out only when I can be around to supervise, and they usually lounge in their hidey house in the afternoon, but if you want to see them active, you can check them out in the evenings when I am rearranging their play stuff and they are exploring.

[Beka27]

that’s good that something positive can come from this. i know how hard you worked making sure everyone had plenty of freetime before, now once this retraining period is over you can sit back and just enjoy your buns.

[JK]

It sounds like a great arrangement now.  Have Jack & Rucy noticed things are different?  I was wondering about that. 

[bunnytowne]

oh now we can see them play cool. still I miss bailey tho. glad things are going well with the poop wars. what a relief there.

[babybunsmum]

isn’t it amazing how quickly buns can adapt to change?  baby surprised me at how fast she used her new litters too.  it’s nice that jack & rucy have more free play time & space to roam about so that there’s a happy part to the changes that have happened.  i can’t wait to catch a peak of them

[BinkyBunny]

knowltons – they definitley know something is different, but they are pretty much acting normally. I think because Jack is always a bit tentative of new things, he approaches them with curiosity but a bit cautious all at the same time. And Rucy pretty much explores right away, but she is not fond of me lately because I have to give her meds right now due to her jaw abcess return. All in all, they are handling Bailey’s loss with just knowing she is gone, but since they were fully bonded with her, they are just more exploring and curious, though lately, i feel like Rucy actually sort of misses her. Not sure why I feel that but sometimes she will lay near where Bailey would normally be. She always heads to that spot and hangs out there. It could be that she just feels she is now queen of the spot, not sure.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Awww. It’s good to hear they are reacting well And now they can get all your attention too!

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