Posted By Mr. Lopity on 11/17/2011 07:26 AM
My rabbit has always used his litterbox, but when we let him go throughout the whole house, he picked a new toilet area in my dads room,…………..
…….But then he started to like going under the table, and flopping and turning into a meatloaf, it was so cute!!!!, but then he started pooping under the table, just under the table, he didn’t pee just poop. How do I stop him from doing this, my dad is starting to say that he should just be an outside rabbit. Please I need answers.
I double ditto – training. Even littertrained bunnies may need a “refresher course” . I’ve had to do that with my long-time trained bunnies before too. It is common for bunnies to find a new place to poo or pee if they are given alot of freedom too fast. A gradual increase of space can help you watch them more closely and help them understand that they need to go back to their box (of course depending on how big your house is).
In our house, there is the box in the bunnyroom only but we also have just a smaller two bedroom home and so it’s easy for Vivian to leave the livingroom, go through the dining room/office, and down the hallway to her area of the house and into her litterbox.
However, in the past I have had to give “refresher” courses to my bunnies Jack and Rucy, and it would take anywhere from a few days to a week (though for some bunnies it may take longer). I just had them more confined in an xpen and as I allowed more room — I would supervise closely in their “expanded” space and if I saw a tail go up, or poo be dropped, I’d herd them back to the litterbox and give a treat when they got in (OR backed away to give them a rest from my “herding” them — depended on the situation). While I was herding I would say litterbox over and over (VERY ANNOYING TO PEOPLE AROUND YOU — so just warning you. LOL) Anyway, the herding and saying litterbox would stop as soon as the “offending” bunny jumped in the box. After awhile, all I had to say was litterbox to Jack and he knew what I was talking about, and he’d head to box if I said “litterbox” and headed his way.
So don’t give too much freedom all at once, slowly expand and herd him back to his box when you see him lifting his tail or leaving poop. And you may have to do this every single day for a week or longer — you have to be more persistant than he is. The thing is a few days of bad habits can undo months and even years of great habits….so you have to be on it. Good luck!
Even if the poo is territoral — just scattered droppings, not piles, you may be able to curb him of that through the herding method back to his box. Just curious though — when you say he poops under the table — is it a scattered few or are they in piles?
OH…..and of course, you have to catch him in the act — does not help to find out later and herd him back.