frustrated

[CydYoung]

First off let me say this- I love my bun! She can be so sweet and lovable and just wonderful to be around.

However I was not expecting her to be so difficult. She will NOT retain potty training, she learns to use her potty and then sticks to it really well for a few weeks and then poof one day she’s not anymore. She poops everywhere! She pees everywhere! I tried just vocal training, I tried a squirt bottle but she doesn’t learn. This makes it hard for me to enjoy a petting session with her when every ten seconds I’m picking up little poos.  Sometimes I think she’s naughty on purpose just to get special attention, but she’s my only bun and I spend hours everyday with her so I don’t know what else to do.

Getting rid of her is not an option, I love her, I just want her to behave. Potty training tips? Advice on why she’s not learning. She isn’t fixed I’ve heard that might help.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

oh gosh it helps *so* much, not just with litter training but with so many other things!!

[LoveChaCha]

Spaying will help :3

[Huckleberry]

Having her spayed will help a lot.
Is she leaving little poo drops at random or do they seem to be in the same area? If she has found 2, 3 or even 4 places she enjoys pooping, you may end up simply having multiple litter boxes. Just tuck a couple more into areas where she likes to go, if she goes in the middle of the room, put one in the room near where she goes but closer to a corner or wall where it is out of your way. Eventually you may be able to get rid of the extras if she uses one more than others.
My girl is 1 year old and spayed. She has free run of the house most of the time but is not aloud in the bathroom or my bedroom unsupervised. If she gets into the bathroom, she poops and pees EVERYWHERE! I think she even forces herself sometimes. She loves to go in there. Some people here have said that it is because she can smell that we use the room for that and follows suit, marking her territory just like us.
I wonder if it is something to do with diet? Are the poos normal?
-Casey

[jerseygirl]

How do you have her set up? Does she have a cage, pen or is she free-ranging? Is it mainly the times you have her out to interact with her that the habits are the worse? Or is it mainly in her habitat that it is bad?

This makes it hard for me to enjoy a petting session with her when every ten seconds I’m picking up little poos.

Do you have other pets or work with other animals? I’m just wondering if she is leaving territorial type droppings when she can pick up the scent of another animal.

Sometimes I think she’s naughty on purpose just to get special attention

Oh, I know that feeling! It can happen so if you do think she is attention seeking, the best thing to do is completely ignore her when she has littered where she should not. Even to reprimand is giving attention. Though I do think if you can pick she is about to go, it’s ok to redirect her but there is little point when the deed is already done. When you do see her use her litterbox, do give attention and praise.

I do feel a bit odd giving advice on this given that I’ve failed to remedy this issue with one of my rabbits. Though it’s not exactly the same as it is just some zones she is bad about.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Welcome!

First you have to throw out any inking she’s doing it on purpose to be naughty. They simply do NOT have that mental faculty. Not p;ossoble. And thinking that way will only increase your frustration.

Second throw out the squirt bottle. You couldn’t potty train a child (who arguably is smarter) with punishment-and you won’t train her that way.

Rabbits need to be fixed to cement good litter training tips. If she isn’t spayed make an appointment. This is for her health too.

Instead try these proven tips: Reduce the area bunny has-nobunny wants to sleep in pee-so make her area smaller temporarily while training. Next: put hay in her toilet to encourage using it. Third: Keep her toilet clean so she wants to use it. If you pick up stray poos though-put those in the litter box. Try to see where she is pottying naturally-and add some temporary litter boxes in those places-the more boxes the easier

[jerseygirl]

First you have to throw out any inking she’s doing it on purpose to be naughty. They simply do NOT have that mental faculty

Oh, I agree. It can feel like deliberate naughtiness or spitefulness but they’re not humans. It’s something I’ve had to remind myself when I’ve become frustrated.

I commented above that “it can happen” but was referring to attention behaviour not naughtiness. I just wanted to clarify. It’s only us that views things as naughty. A rabbit would not understand what the fuss is about. Just natural behaviours for them. It could be she’s getting too larger space too quickly, territorial marking, or she has some confusion about the toilet spot, it’s not defined. Her hormones would drive her to mark so that probably is not helping.

Well, 2nd time this week the basic litter training tip (as K&K posted) has come up for me. I’m taking notice! I hope you have some luck with yours.

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