Thumping when I talk

[speedyrobin]

Here’s the backstory.

My girlfriend and I bought two dutch rabbits from the pet store: Speedy and Robin. They were raised together and seemed dependent on each other so we didn’t want to separate them. Everything was fine.

Six months in, my girlfriend’s friend’s rabbit had a litter and wanted to give one of them away. Knowing we had rabbits, the friend decided to ask us. We knew there was bonding issues for some bunnies so we decided to give it a test run. The friend must have misunderstood and just dumped the rabbit – we named Wally – at our place. We didn’t complain as they seemed to have gotten along at first.

But long story short, the territorial behavior started. It was weird because when they were together, the new one would run like hell as the other chased and nipped her. But when we separated them, the new one would shake the cage or jump the barrier to get over to our first two.

During this whole process, I would raise my voice at them, usually out of frustration. I was in the Army, so my shouting voice can get pretty loud. A lot of it was just to give them a little distraction to stop them from chasing each other. But I guess Wally never got over it. So now, whenever I talk – even in my normal speaking voice – she would thump me. It was funny at first, but now it’s just annoying. I can’t have conversations with my girlfriend, or speak on a conference call, or record my podcast without being interrupted every two minutes by a loud THUMP. And I can’t escape the thump because my girlfriend and I live in a studio apartment. I find myself having to hide in the bathroom to speak on the phone… in my own house!

I guess my question is… how do I rebond with the rabbit so she stops hating me? It’s been almost two years and she still thumps me on the regular. I seriously can’t live like this… having to whisper in my own house just so I don’t upset my pet. I’m pretty sure it’s just when I speak that frightens her because when I pet her or pick her up, she’s completely calm and compliant.

Some things that I’ve tried:

– Looking for a new home for the rabbit is hard because I don’t trust anyone to really take care of her. Most of my friends still think rabbits only eat carrots and that you can play with them like a dog, despite my girlfriend and I telling them differently, and those that had/have rabbits lost them (like, they escaped because my friends thought a mesh screen or a cardboard box was enough to keep them caged) or they lived a very short lifespan due to negligence. Basically, my friends are dumb and I don’t trust them with pets.

– I let my rabbits roam free in the apartment during the day (I work from home so I can supervise them). I spend time with them by petting them and giving them treats. For two years! And still Wally hates me.

– I sometimes put Wally in the bathroom when I need to do my podcast or have a conference call for work (we put all the dangerous chemicals in a high cabinet, close the toilet lid and the shower door, and make sure there’s padding on the floor), but then I feel bad because, well, I’m locking her in the bathroom like some evil step-mother.

Help.

[Deleted User]

First thing first. are they currently all spayed and neutered? If they aren’t they need to be before they can be put together. Chasing is never okay and neither is fighting. Bunnies can fight to the death if given the chance, so if they fight even now, they need to all be separate. Bunnies can’t just be put together. There’s a bonding process that can take a good amount of time.

As for bonding with Wally, just be with her at her level. If the thumping is only when you talk it doesn’t seem like an issue with you needing to better bond with her, just that your tone or even volume could be scaring her. Try talking to her gently and gradually increase your volume to get her used to it. It’s a shot in the dark, but as with anything with bunnies, patience is key

[Bam]

I do think treats are the best way. Extra special treats that she never gets from anyone but you. And although though might seem silly and idiotic for a man to speak child-speak and use a somewhat high pitched “girlish” voice, many pets do respond well to that type of voice. Treats and a childish voice gradually (but very, very slowly) changing into normal voice could perhaps be a way to teach her that your voice doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a war on and the whole herd must be alerted.

But she’s clearly made the association between your voice and sth that’s not pleasant, and un-training an animal (or human) is much more difficult and demands more time than teaching an animal sth new. It will probably be a slow process. I think army training must be a very good thing when dealing with rabbits, bun ownership can require quite a lot of mental strength, endurance and inventiveness.

[Author]

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