Radiator hissing

[caillou]

I got my bun on Wednesday and she’s doing pretty well so far. She’s only had one pee accident outside of her litterbox and only a few poos. She’s eating well and everything, the only issue is she seems to hate my radiator. To be fair, I also hate my radiator, it’s loud and hisses and occasionally will make clanging noises. She has started thumping when it hisses and I feel bad because there’s not much to do about it. It’s getting cold out in MA and I have to leave it on. Will she ever get used to it?

[bonnie_bunny]

I would try giving her a small treat every time the radiator hisses to help her associate the radiator with something good. Also lots of shushing and petting and speaking to her calmly will help. I lived next to train tracks and my previous rabbit absolutely hated it for the first week or so, but she got used to it.

[Wick & Fable]

The idea of positive reward is one way, and as you are suspecting, it may take some time for extinction to occur.

Rabbits thump when they sense danger, especially from hiss sounds (sounds like a snake! Ah!). So the radiator makes a noise > rabbit thinks it’s dangerous > rabbit reacts.

If you do a positive reward, you’re counter conditioning, meaning the radiator sound will not bring about fear, but it will bring about relaxation because it will be associated with treats.

If you try and let the association extinguish, it means you just expose your rabbit to it enough so that it realizes that no danger actually comes from the radiator, thus taking the “rabbit thinks its dangerous” out of the equation, breaking the link between the radiator sound and the rabbit reacting in this way.

… As you monitor, consider which learning approach is most suitable for your rabbit, because it’s definitely important to have the radiator on so both of you are happy and warm!

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.

[Sr. Melangell]

Can you get the radiator repaired? I have Oil filled Radiators, when I first put them on they would tap and crackle, it soon stopped but just wondering if a repair would be a better option, it can be quite loud to bunny, I had a radiator that made a noise here, hissing is what snakes do, we don’t have any wild snakes in the UK well at least not where I am, I’m different, something makes a noise turn it off or fix it.

[Bam]

If it’s old school water radiators they can get air in them and start to hiss and be annoying. You can let the air out. I’m not saying you should do this yourself, but maybe you know someone that could do it. You need a special “key” for radiators.

I’m pretty sure your bun will get used to the noise though, but it could negatively impact your own sleep and that’s bad for your health.

[caillou]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! Unfortunately the hissing is the radiator in its “fixed“ state. My landlord is a bit of a cheapskate, I’m just grateful that it no longer leaks. I’ll try some positive reinforcement, but it does seem like she’s already starting to get used to it on her own!

[Sr. Melangell]

I’ve had a few cheapskate landlords, they need fixing but you just can’t, anyway I think your Bunny will get used to it soon, my TV turns itself on at silly hours for some reason and Olly looks at it as if to say. “Not you again.”
Oh Caillou I see your Bunny has a lovely bed, could you message me and let me know where you got it please? I’m sorting out Olly’s Christmas and Birthday list.

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