How do I make and spend time with my rabbit?

[mschoonover11]

Hello.

I am currently homeschooled and will be going back to school next year, so I want to spend as much time with Toby as possible before I go back to school. Lately, my classes have been getting harder and longer, so with that said, spending time with Toby has been more challenging. He has his 2 story bunny condo and x pen in the basement (that’s where he lives) so I tried  a new method where I would go down to the basement and do my classes there, so that I could let him out of his condo to free roam in the basement. But, that didn’t work because he’s chewed a large mark in the wall, chewed up the TV cable, and he even went in the closet where the air unit is, and chewed things in there! He goes out of the condo daily, but no 4 hours like I would want him to. And when I let him out, he just wants to explore, so he doesn’t poop or eat hay! What do I do???!!! 

When I finish my classes early, I let him out, but I just don’t know what he likes to do. Rabbits aren’t like dogs where you could just play with them, sleep with them, and take them on walks. I’ve tried buying and making toys for him, but he’d just rather dig and destroy human stuff. Basically, I want to know how I can make more time for him, how to spend my time with him, what rabbits like to do, how to let him. free roam with destroying things (etc.)

I’m going through a stressful time with him right now, so any tips, answers, or ideas would be soooo helpful! Thanks in advance

[sarahthegemini]

I’m confused, If he’s only out of his cage for less than 4 hours per day, then of course he’s going to explore? He doesn’t need to eat and poop for the few hours that he’s out of his cage.

I don’t know how you can make more time to spend with him. I suppose it’s about getting your priorities in order (I don’t mean that rudely!) I mean, what do you do in your spare time normally? If you watch TV for example, could you put a TV in the basement so you can be with him? Sometimes rabbits just like having company, even if he’s not actively playing with you he might enjoy just lounging in your company

[BB8]

Hello! I would recommend bunny proofing the basement so you can still study with him and he can hop around you
I agree with Sarahthegemini, I like to read with my bunnies or watch videos with them. My one bun will just lounge next to me while my other one likes to hop on my lap and try to chew my book
You can also try clicker training! And an agility course.
Best of luck with your studies!

[DanaNM]

I agree with doing some better bunny-proofing, check out the bunny proofing section of the bunny info tab at the top. You can also add a litter box with hay and a water bowl to the main area in the basement if he will be spending lots of time running around down there with you.

https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/8/PID/940/Default.aspx

For buns that like to destroy, give them things to destroy! Boxes stuffed with paper, phone books to shred, cardboard cat scratchers to reshape, etc. Place them in areas that they like to “work on”. A cardboard box with multiple holes cut in it can be endlessly entertaining to a bunny. Heavy ceramic tiles to protect carpet (if it’s carpeted).

Every bunny is different in terms of what they like to do with their humans. Bertha and Bun Jovi like to cuddle next to me and get pets. Moose liked to find treats hidden in toys. Bunston used to like to play catch with a tiny ball.

. . . 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.  

[diggityd77]

As others have suggested, bunny proof the basement – that way he can explore, and explore safely. I sit on the floor with my bunny while watching TV or reading. I also sit on the floor and fold laundry and he’ll hop on over to me and explore the piles of laundry. While a bunny may not play like a cat or dog (each one is different) they may just enjoy companionship – aside from what I mentioned above, my Oreo doesn’t really “play” in the traditional sense, but he loves loves loves it when I pet him non stop and talk to him and give him kisses.

[mschoonover11]

Thank you so much for all of the kind and helpful answers!
My dad sadly said I can’t rabbit proof the basement cause it won’t look nice. {WEIRD!} He’s so strict when it comes to things looking nice lol.
But I did buy him another x-pen so now, he has 8-10 feet to run around in daily. But I did finish school early today, so I let him free roam while I watched Netflix. I also bought him the living world teach n treat which he outsmarted lol. He loves it tho!

[sarahthegemini]

I don’t understand, rabbit proofing doesn’t have to look unsightly. It just takes a bit more creativity, but even with that in mind – It’s far more important for an animal to have freedom and enrichment than have a house look perfect/spotless etc.

Can you get a larger pen? 8 – 10 square feet still isn’t really large enough. I think the minimum is 18 square feet? You could buy another of the same size and connect the two.

[mschoonover11]

I can’t buy him another pen, but I talked with my parents, and they said I could let him free-roam while I do school, which is 6-7 hours. He’s acting super cute and has developed a personality of his own! He binkied a lot and then flopped down on the ground. <3

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By mschoonover11 on 3/14/2018 2:02 PM

I can’t buy him another pen, but I talked with my parents, and they said I could let him free-roam while I do school, which is 6-7 hours. He’s acting super cute and has developed a personality of his own! He binkied a lot and then flopped down on the ground. <3

That sounds adorable It’s amazing how much they blossom 

[Wick & Fable]

Personally I wake up much earlier than required for work so I can have more time with Wick before I leave for work! I could get ready and leave in less than an hour, but I try and wake up about 2hrs before instead so I can hang out with Wick, eat a proper breakfast, and get some TV time in before going.

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.

[DanaNM]

Posted By Wick on 3/14/2018 5:16 PM

Personally I wake up much earlier than required for work so I can have more time with Wick before I leave for work! I could get ready and leave in less than an hour, but I try and wake up about 2hrs before instead so I can hang out with Wick, eat a proper breakfast, and get some TV time in before going.

Omg same. It takes me about an hour to drink my coffee, because I choose to spend it snuggling with the buns on the floor.  

. . . 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.  

[mschoonover11]

Thanks for the tips guys<3
All of the responds were adorable, and it’s incredible how people who love and actually care for their buns sacrifice things for them
I’m definitely NOT an early bird lol! But since I’m homeschooled atm, I have more time with him.

Ughh I just wanted to say that I’m so sad when Halloween and Easter come because people take advantage of the poor buns and use them as business I was devastated when I went to a fall festival on Halloween because the had a bunny petting zoo. There were literally about twenty buns (or more) wandering around this little area with cedar shavings as bedding! isn’t that poisonous for buns! 2 of the bunnies were wheezing, choking, and dying because of the poisonous cedar savings! With about 25-30 buns, they only had one little hay rack to share, and the hay rack was smaller than toby’s and toby is just 1 bun. They all shared the same water bowl, and the dumb kids that were there were throwing the cedar shavings into the water! they were also throwing them at the buns and getting it in their eye! Most of the buns were overweight because they didn’t have hay available. Only pellets! The buns also had dried mucus in their nose. They were for sale for I think $20? Breaks my entire heart…

[mschoonover11]

oops that is long. I should’ve posted it on a separate  from. But guys, I’m just so heart broken about these poor, innocent, and defenseless creatures!

[Deleted User]

I know what you mean. I haven’t really been to my hometown in about 8 year since I graduated high school, but I went down a few weeks ago to visit with some old friends. We ended up at the mall (they basically have stayed in high school, sadly), and there was a bunny shop selling Easter Holland Lops. They looked to be between 6-8 weeks old, were in a cramped wire bottomed cage, had tiny water bottles, no hay, and an overflowing bowl of pellets. There were 4 on display, and I hope there were none in back. I felt so incredibly sad and wanted to take them all home. They looked depressed and uncomfortable. The shop also doubled as a place to get your Easter picture taken with them. There was one photo I saw with a 5 year old looking boy holding so tightly to the bun, I thought it would explode. It’s sad these places exist.

[BunsAndDolls]

I’m glad he gets to free roam during school, I’m sure he loves that!

I have a decent commute and I work 8-9 hours a day, so I don’t always get as much quality bunny time as I’d like, but I agree with the recommendations here. My two get to roam around at night when we’re home, and they are as different as night and day in their preferences, lol. My Toby will sniff around for a hot minute, then he’s straight on the couch with me. He’ll just stretch out and chill with me all night long. Marshmallow is ALL OVER THE PLACE. He’s my explorer – jumping up in chairs, peeking behind curtains, trying to chew on books. He likes to play too, he’ll do this thing we call bunny-tug…he’ll sit on a towel or blanket and I’ll slowly pull it and drag him across the floor until he hops off. Then he’ll dig at the towel, binky around like a crazybun, and sit back down on it to do it again, lol.

[mschoonover11]

Posted By Asriel and Bombur on 3/15/2018 8:46 AM

I know what you mean. I haven’t really been to my hometown in about 8 year since I graduated high school, but I went down a few weeks ago to visit with some old friends. We ended up at the mall (they basically have stayed in high school, sadly), and there was a bunny shop selling Easter Holland Lops. They looked to be between 6-8 weeks old, were in a cramped wire bottomed cage, had tiny water bottles, no hay, and an overflowing bowl of pellets. There were 4 on display, and I hope there were none in back. I felt so incredibly sad and wanted to take them all home. They looked depressed and uncomfortable. The shop also doubled as a place to get your Easter picture taken with them. There was one photo I saw with a 5 year old looking boy holding so tightly to the bun, I thought it would explode. It’s sad these places exist.

Ohhh that’s so SAD! Makes me think of Toby cause he’s a Holland Lop! Poor baby buns Those places are so cruel! And I also can’t believe how they’d let children in there! Children and bunnies do not go together!

[mschoonover11]

Posted By Mandy on 3/15/2018 10:13 AM

I’m glad he gets to free roam during school, I’m sure he loves that!

I have a decent commute and I work 8-9 hours a day, so I don’t always get as much quality bunny time as I’d like, but I agree with the recommendations here. My two get to roam around at night when we’re home, and they are as different as night and day in their preferences, lol. My Toby will sniff around for a hot minute, then he’s straight on the couch with me. He’ll just stretch out and chill with me all night long. Marshmallow is ALL OVER THE PLACE. He’s my explorer – jumping up in chairs, peeking behind curtains, trying to chew on books. He likes to play too, he’ll do this thing we call bunny-tug…he’ll sit on a towel or blanket and I’ll slowly pull it and drag him across the floor until he hops off. Then he’ll dig at the towel, binky around like a crazybun, and sit back down on it to do it again, lol.

Thanks! 

your buns just sound adorable! I wish my parents would le my bun sit on the couch with me sounds like u have a gr8 relationship with your bunnies <3

[LittlePuffyTail]

I have a love/hate relationship with Easter. It’s nice to see all the bunny merch and pictures everywhere but so sad that uneducated people buy them for children as “gifts” and are used in unsafe environments as photo props.

I do a lot of posting about how Rabbits are not Easter Gifts on social media. You can google and find tons of great images to use. You could even print some out and pin them up around your town’s bulletin boards. I did this for several years.

[mschoonover11]

Posted By LittlePuffyTail on 3/15/2018 1:52 PM

I have a love/hate relationship with Easter. It’s nice to see all the bunny merch and pictures everywhere but so sad that uneducated people buy them for children as “gifts” and are used in unsafe environments as photo props.

I do a lot of posting about how Rabbits are not Easter Gifts on social media. You can google and find tons of great images to use. You could even print some out and pin them up around your town’s bulletin boards. I did this for several years.

Same here! As a kid I was like, “Oh yay! lets go Easter egg hunting and eats lots of candy! “Let’s go pet the bunnies and the chicks!”

 But now that I own a bunny, my mind has changed. My local HRS is doing a campaign/fundraiser to prevent bunnies from being used as money for Easter. Most of the bunnies at their shelter are from mom’s that bought a baby bunny for their 6 year old child for Easter and realized that it wasn’t a cute baby bunny anymore when it grew. 

I remember that I went to this Easter event at a church, and they were selling these tiny, and adorable baby bunnies for $10! It was sooo sad, but at the same time, I wanted to get one and give it a better home <3 They're having the event again this Easter, so do you guys think that it would be wise for me to get one as a friend for Toby? I don't think they were young enough to die. They were I believe 7-8 weeks old. They had, Netherland dwarfs, Holland Lops, and Lionheads! (my 3 favorite rabbit breeds) At my local HRS, they do bonding lessons and stress/pre-bonding sessions. I know I've added so much to this topic instead of writing a new forum, and I apologize for that.<img src="/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/BB_Theme/emoticons/blush.gif"></p>

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