Will Pebbles use a doggie door?

[Pebble and Dante]

My little Pebbles has her cage and large xpen right infront of my enclosed patio, and every morning we go through the ritual. Pebbles sits a bit sideways, and looks over her shoulder at me – then hops a few more steps and looks again. Finally she will reach the sliding glass door and sniff the base of the door – as if her nose magically opens the door. Of course, I always try to give her time in the morning to play and binky on the patio, but I don’t want to leave her out there all day. Nothing bad would happen – totally a bun – approved play area, but I would like to know if anyone has a bun that will use a doggie door. She is pretty brave, I think she would but a little reassurance never hurts either.

[Deleted User]

What a great idea! My rabbits would totally use it! Go for it.

[Desma]

You could probably train them to go in and out of the doggy door by holding a goody on the other side to coax them through and do it back and forth until they learn to go in and out of it.

[KatnipCrzy]

Unless your patio is completely covered to protect from predators- cats, predatory birds, etc- it would be best to only have her on the patio with supervision.

[Pebble and Dante]

Patio is totally safe. In fact, when Pebbles is on the patio, I often find her sound asleep while the clouds roll by and birds chirp through the afternoon. Just last weekend, she was out there and snoozing away, I walked out on the patio chatting on the phone – totally startled her, and in turn that scared me and I dropped my phone and yelped – she made a bee-line for her hide-y box. We both looked at each as though the other was completely crazy! This made me laugh out loud, and apperently Pebbles took it the wrong way – she came out of her hidey box and gave me the foot flick on her way in side.
So with the amount of time that she seems to enjoy out there – I really want to let her have the patio available whenever she would like to spend time out there.

[Adalaide]

I’ve talked to my husband about having a doggie door for buns one day if we ever get to buy a house. We want to make a bun safe area that they can’t dig out of and has a roof but that will get her some fresh air too. OMG I’m such a slave, we plan on Freya being a consideration when we finally purchase. I even want a spare bedroom for her.

[Pebble and Dante]

Adalaide, Freya is a responsible owner and you are doing a good job planning for the future. Pebbles has had to work very hard to get me trained, as this is the first fluff butt that I’ve had the priveledge to know. I can imagine Freya in her very own mini gazebo with all the trimings – little flower beds all the way around and carpeted benches.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

My only concern-is your patio covered? A bird of prey could quickly take her away-it actually happened to a member on this forum though the bun got away from the bird luckily. It doesn’t seem like it would happen but it does. In fact a dog here was picked up by a bird of prey recently right in front of the owners eyes.

So if it’s not PLEASE cover it

At any rate-yup I think they could easily be trained to use a doggy door. In fact the key probably is showing them how to use it and telling them they are not allowed to-she’d probably use it right away then

[Deleted User]

You can get a mesh cover that will protect from smaller predatory birds. It didn’t work for me, my dog wrecked it. I don’t know the predator situation where you live, but birds do come for the bunnies, even if you never see them. There are some that hunt in the daytime even. I leave my dog with the rabbits for that reason and only have the rabbits on the patio when I am in that part of the house where I can see them through the patio door. I also set up tunnels and nooks and crannies to make small spaces that make it hard for a bird.

Only trouble is tunnels and other hide-outs  make a tidy patio quickly look busy and chaotic.

–I would love to see photos of your patio set-up, Pebbles!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Petzy-my dog used to ‘guard’ my guinea pigs in their outside enclosure too She kept squirrels, birds, cats everything away -she also took their treats though lol

[Pebble and Dante]

Petzy, my patio set up isn’t as “cool” as yours. It is an upstairs balcony that in cement with a solid border wall around. And med/large mesh over the breeze ways. Pebbels has a “hey” box (also known as a papershipment box with hay), her igloo and some misc toys and towels that she ignors. Mostly she just loves to lay in the shade on the cool floor and nap. Your pictures give me some inspiration.

[Deleted User]

my patio — “cool”?? That is the nicest thing that was ever said about my deck. People generally refer to it as ‘my farm’ and that is meant to call attention to the fact that hay and p**p is tuck between the wooden boards. Cement is better because the rabbits can’t eat at it. I just think the rabbits like the fresh air, too.

Pebbles looks like a bunch of pebbles in his coat!

Well, if you do install the doggie door make a video of Pebbles going through it. It would be cute.

[Pebble and Dante]

One of the benefits of cement is that it is easy to clean, and the thing I never thought of is it keeps her nails short. As she binkys and plays her nails are “filed” on the cement. Never enough to do harm, but enough where they are not overgrown. Speaking of rabbits and fresh air, just a day or so ago here in Phoenix AZ it cooled way down (50 F at at night)- in the morning Pebbles usually is ready to head outside and do what I call – airing out her stinky -or just getting the funk off. But the other day was so comical – she begged to go outside – I openend the sliding glass door. She scampered outside > stopped > jumped straight up (about a foot off the ground) > scampered back inside and leaped into her hidy box, proceeded to peer out at me laughing at her as if to say – in a startled and confused way – what the heck happened, it’s too cold outside.

[Deleted User]

Posted By Pebble’s Pebbles on 10/29/2009 03:43 PM

airing out her stinky -or just getting the funk off.

 

alright, I get it! What a colorful language to put this.

You’re way down in AZ? Ha, how nice. When it’s cold for Pebbles, it’ would be warm for mine… I’m up in Alberta. 50 F is beach weather for my animals.

I guess, it’s a matter of what they’re used to.

–I have cement under my rabbit condo but I covered it with wood, rethinking that for the future, though,  because the smooth cement really does clean up easy. They have a rug of course and cardboard to lay on, too.

 

[jerseygirl]

Aww..look at Pebbles! Cute name and cute bunny! It’ll be good if she uses the doggy door. I’d like one in a screen door. I remember hearing some advice for a dog (or cat?) that needed some help using the door as they were afraid of it. It might come in handy for you if Pebbles has trouble….What they did was use a temporary flap part made from something light weight & transparent. They prompted it thru over and over using treats. Then as it got used to that, changed it to a slightly heavier and opaque flap. Then eventually they could put the original flap door back on. Are you thinking to use that kind or one you just leave open and shut it when necessary?

[Pebble and Dante]

Jerseygirl… thank you… I’m thinking to do some hunting around craigslist to see if I can find a doogie door insert for my sliding patio doors, your comments about training are a great thought. I’ll keep them in mind.
Petzy – All the way up there in Alberta – my goose bumps would have moose lumps… buuurrrrrr…. well, anytime you want to come down a thaw out – consider yourself welcomed. Phoenix should be back up to 85F by Sunday this cold snap has caught the whole valley by surprise. Stay warm up there…. Pebs.

[Barbie]

hahaha goose bumps would have moose lumps! =P that tickled me

anyway, i think the doggy door is a great idea, let us know how it turns out – vids and pix are a must! =)

[Deleted User]

Posted By Pebble’s Pebbles on 10/30/2009 08:01 AM

Petzy – All the way up there in Alberta – my goose bumps would have moose lumps… buuurrrrrr…. well, anytime you want to come down a thaw out – consider yourself welcomed. Phoenix should be back up to 85F by Sunday this cold snap has caught the whole valley by surprise. Stay warm up there…. Pebs.

 

yes, thank you! I will think of your invite when it gets real cold… and all my neighbours pack up to head on down to their cottages in AZ!!!

(with moose standing on the road waving good-bye)

[Beka27]

I would not feel comfortable allowing my buns to have access to a patio when I was not home or within the same area they were unless it was an entirely screened-in porch. You may feel differently, but that is just my two cents. As it is, my buns are not allowed access to the outdoors, but I know other people let their buns play outside. That being said, if I had a patio like Petzy’s and a way to ensure it was safe, I might allow them out. Would you be able to post pics of your porch Pebbles so we can see how you have it set-up and bun-proofed?

[Deleted User]

Thanks, Beka, this is a compliment for me as I often worry that I put out the wrong idea with the many outdoor photos I post. You have to be so careful when giving rabbits access to outside. I change up my patio all the time. I also check the bushes surrounding my patio. They used to be so thick that many ground animals had cover there.  Also, the bushes had wasp nests in them. Now that the bushes have been cleaned out and pruned the dogs don’t  look for any critters in them any more.  It’s quiet in there now.

Pebbles, you have the advantage that your patio is higher up, from what I understand so it’s only birds you need to protect from.  I would set up a tunnel structure for Pebs in that space of your patio where there is no mesh cover. There should always be a hide-out close by wherever the rabbit might be. I want to fix a 4’  piece of culvert for my rabbits as this would be a heavy and very strong safe tunnel that I could leave out there permanently without having rain destroy it.  I’m currently looking for a way, though, to get rid of the sharp edges on it.

Sometimes, I just clip a sheet over where the rabbits hang out.

I am sure the doggie door will have a latch so you can control the access times.

[Pebble and Dante]

Okay, okay I hear the cry for pics…. I’ll work on getting some this week. The patio I feel is bunny proof, and I do spend eveing outside with Pebs – that’s where we groom. I have some older pics with out the chicken wire over the open “windows”. I’ll have to load them on the PC. Oh oh oh… Pebs vocalized for the first time that I’m aware of…. I take Pebs into my stepdaughters room in the morning and put her in the bed and she scampers to each girl and looks for pettings … Lexie was stroking her ears and then stopped and tucked her arm back under the covers… Pebs HONKED and then slammed her weight against Lexie’s shoulder. I hope this was for more luv’ns and not agression. But it cracked me up… the rest of the morning while we got ready to head out the door, as we would pass each other we would honk too.

[Pebble and Dante]

The date is wrong… but I hide veggies in the boxes with hay for Pebbles to forage.Here is one view of the patio.Here is the patio from the other side.xpen with Pebble’s cage and litter box.This is a good shot of the patio door that I want to put a doggie door in so that Pebbles can get in and out on her own.Pebbles uses her cuteness abilities to force me for a few more little treats…

 

[Deleted User]

oh, you’re lucky, you didn’t even have to fence it because your patio has walls. Are those boxes all Pebbles’ ???

I really like your xpen, too.

Pebbles reminds me of Clifford!

[Beka27]

She’s so cute! This helps me understand your set-up. Very good!

[Pebble and Dante]

Oh OH OH Clifford is so handsome…. I will be volunteering at an animal adoptathon with Tranquility Trail Animal Sanctuary tomorrow and will try to get lots of pics and post in th lounge. By the way it’s starting to cool down in Phoenix it should be about 80 F tomorrow… time to bring out the jackets HA HA!!!

[Deleted User]

Posted By Pebble’s Pebbles on 11/13/2009 06:06 AM

 it’s starting to cool down in Phoenix it should be about 80 F tomorrow… time to bring out the jackets HA HA!!!

 

haha — funny

[Monkeybun]

Its ok Petzy, Monkey is sheddign enough I think to make a coat out of for you to keep warm in that icky alberta weather! lol

[BinkyBunny]

 Seems like you’ve received some great suggestions and cautions. I don’t know if I missed whether you have bird of prey around or that problem has been solved, but we had a member who a scary situation with a bird of prey https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/5…fault.aspx   I think this is the one that KK was talking about. 

The only other caution is I would be careful to not pile up the boxes too high so your bunny can’t use them to get to the top of the wall. 

Let us know how the doggie door thing works out. 

[Pebble and Dante]

I found a doggie door on Craigslist for $40.

Doesn’t look too shabby.

And as I lifted the flap – looks who’s noise is being noisy!

To get her to come inside I applied a bit of apple.

And TAAA DAAAAHHH – one bunny throught the doggy door. I’ve taped the flap up, and will let Pebbles get used to going in and out. Then I’ll put the flap down and she can then figure out how to go in and out.

I can’t tell you how excited I am. I know that she is going to be so happy to be able to go outside whenever she feels like it and likewise inside.

[Beka27]

VERY COOL. I had my hesitations (I still do a little bit b/c I firmly believe in constant supervision when buns are allowed outdoors) but I think that looks awesome. It seems like your patio is very safe, with adequate coverage and I’m so glad she’s enjoying it!

[Deleted User]

I wonder how Pebs is going to deal with the fact that sometimes the flap will not work for her, i.e. when you’re not by the patio yourself and close the flap permanently. I have a feeling Pebs is going to get pretty mad when she tries to go through it only to find it isn’t working! LOL. If my rabbits got used to such access they would dig/rip at it madly if it wouldn’t open any longer. Let us know how she takes that! (I’m imagining you waking up in the middle of the night to frantic digging noises from your patio door)
What was there before where you installed the doggie door? It looks like a neat job done.

[Pebble and Dante]

It was just me – Pebs would look at me over her shoulder then look at the door… hop a step closer and repeat the looks… until she gets to the door. Then she puts her front paws on the door and looks at me with big brown eyes pleading me to open the door.

[jerseygirl]

It looks like she is going to have noooooo trouble at all with her doggy door – she figured it out very quickly! Even figured out the begging too…hehe!

[Deleted User]

Yes, the door is a great touch.  I have to carry my rabbits from downstairs all the way to the patio so I am green with envy!

In general, and after reading the scary story BB referred to about a rabbit who was attacked by a hawk I think if anyone wants to have their rabbits outdoors at all, in a yard or a patio, even with supervision it is a very good idea to crowd open spaces. It blocks birds’ views from different angles above and makes it harder for them to fit. Eagles where I live are gigantic but owls are smaller, but the owls hunt in the dark which helps.

Here, the space is too open… it’s not safe without supervision

(26 F, Pebs, this is warm for us!)

This is better, but I really want to add a large heavy tunnel structure

also, covered litterboxes are better because rabbits are really vulnerable when pottying.

edit: it actually looks as if the snow on my hay crate’s tarp is going to avalanche down onto Mops and Deirdra any moment… it didn’t though, you have to believe me!

[Beka27]

You’d receive a cascade of thumps if that snow tumbled over, Petzy!

[Author]

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