sunshine bitting the carpet

FORUM

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 5sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 5 months ago by Stickerbunny.

Viewing 5 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 10/14/2011 at 9:35 AM
  kamdynandsunshinesmom
  Participant
  910 posts
  My rabbit sunshine is constantly bitting the carpet she is almost 5 years old. When ever you are petting her she will start bitting the carpet. I try clapping my hands and saying NO sometimes that doesn’t work. It isn’t possible for me to cover the carpet. Is there something else I can do to correct this behavior?
- 10/14/2011 at 9:52 AM
  Sam and Lady's Human
  Participant
  2001 posts
  Is it only when you’re petting her?
- 10/14/2011 at 9:57 AM
  kamdynandsunshinesmom
  Participant
  910 posts
  no its other times to.
- 10/14/2011 at 10:02 AM
  Sam and Lady's Human
  Participant
  2001 posts
  I honestly don’t know what you can do to stop it. I’ve read that they only do it when they are bored so to give them more attention, that might be a start. Sprays don’t work (I’ve tried fooey and perfume). You might just have to section off the areas she digs, put cardboard on it or put some cheap rugs down.
  
  When she does it when you’re petting her, I *think* she’s trying to groom back. Samson gives her bed tons of kisses when I pet her, and part of the grooming process is little nips.
- 10/14/2011 at 12:26 PM
  arsenal197
  Participant
  22 posts
  Hey, kamdynandsunshinesmom.
  I have successfully managed to classically my giant conti, Loki, with water spray. The principals are really easy, to be honest: Rabbit does bad, firmly tell her no! INSTANTLY – this is important – followed by a squirt of water. Never in the reverse order! Your little one will not blame you, she will blame the carpet and the malevolent sray god, as this changes to a negative thing. More importantly, the squirting needs only last a couple of days as, if you do it right, the word “No” becomes, in effect, the water.
  
  Btw, this behavioural technique can be applied to ANY animal. Also, if you wanted to go the other way and operantly condition her, you could offer her a treat when she stops, this lets her know that one behaviour is rewarded while the other is not. This would take longer, though.
  
  Look up Pavlovian conditioning or B.F Skinners operant conditioning.
  
  Hope that this helps you.
- 10/14/2011 at 3:58 PM
  Stickerbunny
  Participant
  4128 posts
  Yes you can train her out of it. Spray bottle works to stop her, can also put something smelly on the carpet – perfume or something she doesn’t like. Bitter sprays or a taste she doesn’t like too. What I did to Powder was just cover the specific area he was chewing and a few sprays with water and he doesn’t really do it anymore.
Author

Messages

Viewing 5 reply threads

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.