New Mom to the sweetest girl

[Anniesmom]

Hello everyone. I’m the proud new mom of Anastasia, who I call Annie, except when she’s being scolded for something. She’s absolutely sweet and friendly. Everything I read said that she would need time to adjust and bond with me after I brought her home, and to not expect a lot for the first few days. But she was immediately social and friendly and begging for cuddles and treats. 

I have not idea what breed she is, so if anyone wants to guess that’d be nice. She was a shelter rescue, and they are guessing between 8 months and 1 year old. They don’t really know. The people who had her before me fed her only pellets, no hay or vegetables, so she’s a bit underweight, but she’s gained a little in the the 2 weeks I’ve had her. 

She’s my first bunny and despite a few issues, I couldn’t be happier. She was a nipper at first, she was spayed just a few days before I got her, and that seems to be settling down. The biggest issue we are facing is her litterbox. She urinates in her box exclusively, which is great, but poops everywhere. I have tried paper bedding, hay, and a mix of both, as well as mixing in some of her old litter so it smells like her after I clean it. Nothing is working. I was hoping it was territorial, but she’s been with me more than 2 weeks and it shows no signs of changing.

Anyway, I’m happy to introduce myself to everyone, and any advice you can give would be great. I’ll try and attach a picture. 

[Q8bunny]

Welcome to you and your sweet little snugglebug.

Hormones can take more than a month to settle, so the poops will likely stop. If she’s free range or has a big space, it might help reduce territoriality if you start her off in a smallish space and gradually increase it to full space.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Big Welcome to BB!

[Azerane]

Hello and welcome to the forum Anastasia is very cute.

The pooping everywhere should settle down, both as she’s with you longer and the further away it gets from her spay. Pooping is largely territorial, when she’s fully trained, 95% of poops should end up in the box but you’ll still get a few here and there.

Also, regarding your image of her. You had attached it, but after it attaches you need to click on the “insert image” button to put it into the post. I did that for you so that it’s showing up now

[Anniesmom]

Thank you so much! 

I’ve never joined a pet forum before, this has already been so helpful. 

She’s in her cage, which is approximately 4ftx4ftx2.5ft, so I don’t really see how I can restrict that to train her to use the box. She gets run time in a room everyday and she’s pretty good, we’re currently working on training her to stay off the beds and out of the closets, which is having some success! She likes to pee and poop in those places specifically. Everything is fully bunny proofed, and she’s never shown any interest in chewing anything, she doesn’t even care much for her toys. 

I want to try and train her to come when called, and litter box train her, obviously. What are some good ways of doing that? I’ve only ever had cats before, which were already litter box trained and refused any other sorts of training, as cats do. 

Thank you for helping me with the image. 

[Vienna Blue in France]

Call her with a shake of the treat bag, or pellet tin, so every time she gets a reward for coming… They looooove treats so if you’ve got the time and patience she should be doing turns and jumps to your commands…. LOL.
She’s a cutie….. He poops will settle down, she’s just making the place hers……

[Author]

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