Separation Anxiety?

[Honey&PeepersMom]

My daughter just got a new bunny that is having problems with her leaving. Whenever she leaves the house he “cries” after her. He is very young, she got him right after he was weened and he is a sweet little thing. She spends as much time with him as she can and he is out of his pen whenever she is home. He has bonded to her well. She is having me or her brother stay with him when she is at work so he isn’t alone since he is so little and because he misses her so much. But the moment she walks in the door he throws a fit until she gets him out of his pen and picks him up. She is wondering if he will outgrow this or if there is sometihng she can do to lessen his anxiety over her leaving. He stays upset for a while after she leaves. And we don’t know what to do. He isn’t the only bunny she has so it isn’t like he is alone or lacks a companion, but he wants her. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas? Any help would be appreciated.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

With a dog: Dogs get seperation anxiety often when someone plays with them etc. etc. then makes a big “goodbye’ fuss and leaves (basically a rewarding experience (play) followed by negative punishment (master leaving) and this results in serpation anxiety.

I’ve never heard of it with a bunny, (to be honest thats cute!!) but I’d go about fixing it the same way.

Your daughter needs to drop any ‘leaving’ or ‘goodbye’ routines completely-no even saying ‘goodbye’; Also she shouldn’t hold him and cuddle him the whole time she’s home at all.

She should also start doing a series of ‘practice goodbyes’ where she doesn’t say goodbye, calmly leaves and then as soon as he’s shown a hint of settling (even if he’s just taking a drink) she can come back in and cuddle him. By gradually shaping his behavior to not be frantic when she’s gone, and not giving a hint of when she will be gone, and not leaving at the end of a cuddle session this shoudl clear up the behavior.

I’d say be very patient and allow about a month of this, and see where your at!!

[JK]

Oh  how funny, well not funny, but kind of heartbreaking!  Poor little thing.  I was going to say maybe he does need a buddy but he does have one!  KK has some good advice.  I’m curious to know if anyone else has ever experienced this????  Please keep us updated.

[bunnytowne]

I just saw on me or the dog a dog with seperation anxiety. and as the previous person here said  is about the same thing as was done. now on the tv the dog behavioralist lady had them dress like they were leaving and ignore the dog  get to the door turn around take off the leaving clothes etc sit back down afer some time of this repetition in 1 session yes         back n forth the dog started settling down then they would repeat and this time go outside the door turn around come back in take outside clothes off purse waht have you and b4 they knew it the dog calmed down a lot. and  daily they would repeat this til the dog was fine. so I assume you can try this little drawn out getting outside stuff on  and back off over n over but worked. oh and they didn’t make a big deal when they returned to the couch either didn’t get the dog all excited just basically ignored it. hope all these tips here            people have given you  help. the bunny can become destructive over time like a dog with seperation anxiety can and isn’t healthy for the animal as you knwo or you wouldn’t be asking.

[Deleted User]

Oooh poor lil mite … maybe leave something for him that has your daughter’s smell on it … a cuddly stuffed toy or old jumper … it may help.

 

[charlie82]

I had that with my bridge bunny Charlie…

I think it was because I suffocated her with affection from the day I got her. I was quite poorly at the time and so was with her everyday and every hour. Because I work from home and my job is very isolating I rarely saw people and it was just me and Charlie. She followed me everywhere, wanted to be cuddled all of the time, sat in the bathroom if I took a shower, by my feet if I was washing dishes, on my knee if I sat down and even slept right by my side on my bed. If I had to go shopping etc she would run after me to the door and sit there while I left. She refused to eat or drink if I wasn’t in the house and when I came home she would run to the front door when she heard my keys.

I decided that I was going to bond her with another rabbit to take some of the attention away from me but she died before we got the chance.

[Beka27]

that’s so peculiar. i’ve heard of it in dogs, but never buns. i guess ya learn something everyday. you say he has a friend? are they in the same cage or cages next to each other. is the other bun altered yet or are they both babies?

[notjulesverne]

That is kind of cute, but a problem, good advice bunny slaves

[poopy]

Posted By charlie82 on 04/18/2008 2:59 AM
I had that with my bridge bunny Charlie…

I think it was because I suffocated her with affection from the day I got her. I was quite poorly at the time and so was with her everyday and every hour. Because I work from home and my job is very isolating I rarely saw people and it was just me and Charlie. She followed me everywhere, wanted to be cuddled all of the time, sat in the bathroom if I took a shower, by my feet if I was washing dishes, on my knee if I sat down and even slept right by my side on my bed. If I had to go shopping etc she would run after me to the door and sit there while I left. She refused to eat or drink if I wasn’t in the house and when I came home she would run to the front door when she heard my keys.

I decided that I was going to bond her with another rabbit to take some of the attention away from me but she died before we got the chance.

 

 

that is so sweet, are you getting another rabbit? perhaps getting a pair would be best

 

[MarkBun]

Try the leaving a t-shirt around thing. It helped with a friend’s bun. Just have your daughter leave a t-shirt she wore the day before in his cage. It might help.

[SnoopyBunny]

I have the same issue! My bunny, Snoopy just gets so upset when i go on vacation or at a sleepover etc.

[Author]

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