Relentless escape attempts

[christinie]

Hi all. I would like tips to distract my rabbit from her obsession with trying to escape. I have a gate made from storage cube mesh that separates my living room from my bedroom, my bunny is obsessed with trying to get this gate down! From the moment she’s out of her cage to play she is trying to escape rather than enjoying play time. Ive put out lots of toys for her to play with and covered the gate with a blanket so she couldn’t see her goal (my bedroom) and nothing works. Help. And she’s defo not allowed in bedroom, she’s destroyed many expensive things when she’s in there. I love her but there’s a limit lol ?

[DanaNM]

Hi there,

It can help to make sure she actually cannot get the gate down… if she know’s it’s possible, she will keep trying.

How recently did you set up the gate? It might also help to move the barrier a bit forward, possibly with an x-pen, to break the association.

. . . 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.  

[Wick & Fable]

Is she constantly pulling at the bars? If so, maybe attach a slick tarp to the inside of the gate so there’s no grip on it.

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.

[Muj Mom N Bun]

Hi, also along with tarp idea is any sort of blanket or barrier that blocks her vision of what’s able to be seen on the other side… on another note, while she is out in the area, are you on the other side of the gate all the time? I only ask bcz I go thru this sort of what I call my BunBun’s toddler mentality where if I’m in my bedroom and she sees I’m in there for too long she will begin to dig at my gate at the doorway to say, “If you’re not coming out, I’m coming in! Mom! Mom! Mommmmmmyyyyyy!” So, I know that there are times when things just need to be done and that’s the way it goes, but other times, if I know I need to be in there for a while I can either give her something to occupy her or wait until her afternoon nap time hours… if that works a bit… and sometimes I just find ways to go back and forth bcz I have a small home so making time around my Bun is not too difficult….

[Muj Mom N Bun]

Oops, sorry, I now see that you already have a blanket over it…

[BunnyMinion]

I’m wondering if it’s possible she just likes digging at the softer material and getting to the bedroom is a bonus? All of my bunnies except Tiara loooooooved to dig. My new bun, Gingersnap seems to really enjoy blankets and trying to tunnel in them. Perhaps make the gate out of something she doesn’t like at all. Hrmmm.

[Author]

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