I think I’m trained by my bunny to pet him

[Cuckoo]

So awhile back I mentioned about my bunny digging and nipping problem while hanging out with me.

I thought you guy were joking about my bun is trying to train me to pet him.

And I tried to discourage this behavior. (He nips less, but still digs.) Whenever he does that, I put him back in his cage for a little “time out”.

I don’t know if he’s extremely pissed off at the “time out” or I did something wrong. But everytime I put him back in the cage, he wouldn’t come out for days.(I would check on him from time to time, bc I heard nothing, and he would be sitting in the same position with the same expression on his face..) Now he has a small cage, I only use it to serve as a bed. He has a whole room to himself and when I am home I usually don’t close the door so he can come out and hang out with me too. (usually on the sofa).

Yesterday, I was sitting on the sofa playing xbox. He decided to come hang out with me. Yay! I started petting him and turned on Netflix for a movie. After awhile my arm got tired, so I decide to take a little rest. He started the digging on my cloth again.  As soon as I lift my hand, he put his nose down and tails up. And immediately lay down completely leaning against my leg. (Oh he looks so comfortable, so I started petting again.) I know I should probably continue what I intended to do—put him back in his cage for time-out.  But after seeing that I couldn’t bring myself to do it…..

 

Now I think he sees me as his petting slave.

[bunnyfriend]

If you are trying to correct behavior you have to do it while the actual bad behavior is going on, a bunny won’t make the connection about what time outs are, he doesn’t understand that event happening 30 seconds later has to do with him nipping. Rabbits just don’t make those associations (though I wish sometimes they did ). A good way to dicrouage nipping is if your rabbit nips you you could clap your hands or squeal high pitched (that lets them know it hurts you) or say “no” firmly as soon as he nips you, it will take a while but eventually your rabbit will catch on. But digging is a natural behavior for bunnies that really doesn’t need to be discouraged, I would suggest maybe try provided him a box with shredded newspaper in it for him to dig around in or just lay a phone book open on the ground, a lot of bunnies love digging and shredding the pages. Haha and yes my bunnies think I’m their petting slave too lol. Good luck

[Cuckoo]

yeah, i tried the squeal with my bun, so now he stopped nipping. only accidently.

My husband gets mad at him bc he did scratch me pretty bad before. (My husband’s idea is that all animal needs discipline. aka, hitting. Thus I have to constantly stop him from hitting my bun, bc I saw once my bun stood up and had a fist fight we my hubby. oh god) Must be soemthing about the frabic. He doesn’t like the news paper dig box i put in his playing area. But enjoys the old blanket I put on top of his cage. (Most time spent there)

I guess I should aways wear taugh old cloth around him now

[Stickerbunny]

Yeah, I wouldn’t time out him, he won’t get why – also if your cage is small remember NIGHT TIME while sleepy time for us, is some of the most active times for a rabbit.

To discourage bad behavior for Stickers, I make a loud “EH!” noise, or thump (she does it to me all the time, but she hates when I do it back ). Give bun something safe to dig after he stops digging on you, so you can kind of divert the behavior to something suitable. But, saying that, Stickers digs my pants leg when she wants something and I think it’s cute so I don’t stop her. lol

[Cuckoo]

Posted By Stickerbunny on 12/30/2011 03:33 PM
Yeah, I wouldn’t time out him, he won’t get why – also if your cage is small remember NIGHT TIME while sleepy time for us, is some of the most active times for a rabbit.

lol, I just remembered something after you mentioned that. I use to close the cage at night time. Then one night we heard something coming from that room, we thought somebody got into our house. So we were frightened, I had the phone in my hand ready to dail 911 while my husband is in front of me holding a camera tripod as weapon  We got to the room and realize that it’s only my bun, who’s very bored in his cage and making a mess.

So now I keep the room closed. (make sure its rabbit proof, but everything is really in his cage) except toys scattered everywhere.

[Mandyyy]

They do train us to pet them…

Nava bugs the CRAP out of me when she wants to be petted. Like she’ll follow me, pull on my pants, stare at me, grunt, do the little “standing up and sniffing” thing because she knows I find that adorable. Then I pet her… Lol.

[Author]

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