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Forum BEHAVIOR Several behavior issues: litter, aggression…

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    • LeahM
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        Hello all,

        I haven’t been around here much, busy with life!  I have a 1.5 year old neutered male dutch bunny that I raised from tiny infancy.  He was extrememly socialized and came to work and school with me for the first 3 months of his life (he lived in my shirt).  He has been litter trained since about 3 months and he was neutered at 4 months.  During the day he has free roam of my bedroom and when anyone is home, he has the whole house.

        I am an adult living with my parents and going to school so my parents take care of him when I travel and they bring him treats and adoration all the time.

         

        Issue #1

        It used to be that he would attack anyone who came into my bedroom.  It wasn’t always that way, it started with a little kid when Frank Jr was about 6 months, I thought it was just because of the high voice (Frank Jr does not like high voices) but now it is everyone that isn’t me.  He doesn’t hurt anyone, but he snarls and growls and slaps them with his front paws.  My mom brings him treats and he does this to her, knocking the treats out of her hands.  He never does this to me, unless I stick my foot out into a situation to block him.  After he realizes it’s me, he licks my foot profusely, as if to apologize, lol.  So, ok, he was defending what he believed to be “our” territory, but now his territory has expanded into the rest of the house as well.  He is *very* affectionate with me.  He buzzes around my feet every morning, begs to get picked up (when he wants to be, not all the time), bumps me for nose scratches and takes long blissful breaths with his nose pressed into my nostril.  Very, very rarely he will ask my mom for some scratches but not usually.  Is there anything that could help him accept more people into our circle?

         

        Issue #2

        Frank Jr used to use his litter box perfectly, with the exception of a few random pellets that just seemed to slip out.  He has now developed this extremely annoying habbit of peeing OUTSIDE his box.  I haven’t caught him, but it loos like he just backs up to the edge and pees.  Even in a totally fresh box.  I cleand his box out completely yesterday.  In the morning, there was a pile of poop and pee in the box AND a pile outside the box.  I have started putting a bath mat under the box to soak up the pee but this morning he peed just over the edge of the bath mat!   How can I get him refocused on proper litter box behavior.

         

        Issue #3

        My whole family is taking a trip in the end of June.  We will be gone for 9 days.  I have someone who will be coming over 2x daily to feed and water all the animals, and someone else who will probably come over every other day and let Frank Jr out to run around the house.  He will get his regular treat regimine and everything but I worry about him feeling abandoned.  We have all left him before, but only for 3-4 days.  Is there anything I can do?  Anyone left there extremely bonded bunny and have some reassuring words for me?

         

        Thank you so much!

        Leah


      • LeahM
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          Oh, one other thing.

          I occasionally bring him into work for a visit and he hops around the office.  I’m always terrified that he is going to cause a scene, but he is always perfectly behaved, hopping around, letting people pet him, etc.  This is one of the reasons that I think it is a territory issue.  He is the same way in the car, doscile, well behaved, accepting scratches from anyone…


        • LBJ10
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            Aww I love little Frank Jr! He is such a cutie! Hard to believe he’s having such issues. LOL

            Have you tried having you mom feed him. Like only have food come from her for awhile. That might help him become more accepting of her. As for the litter box, sometimes buns just like to go over the edge. Or they like to wedge themselves between the litter box and a wall or something and go there. Maybe try cleaning the area really well and move his litter box? Not sure what else you can do about that.

            I wouldn’t worry too much about going away. It might do him some good to have contact with someone else for a change.


          • LeahM
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              Thanks for the reply

              He’s such a stinker!!  I just cleaned out his *barely* soiled litter box this morning and I got home to a perfectly clean box and pee on the outside   It’s not that he’s peeing over the edge.  It’s a big and deep box and I make sure it’s not too full of hay.  I made that mistake before and he would pee over the edge, but that was understandable, this is just infuriating!  He does like to back up to the edge, but he could back up to the edge of the inside of the box!!!  I’m thinking of mounting a hay feeder to the wall above the box, just to make a little interesting change that could maybe coax him back into good behavior.

              I could try letting my mom be the sole feeder, but she does already give him way more treats than I do and he just attacks them out of her hands.  He never heard that saying about “the hand that feeds you” lol.  Maybe I should put them in a laundry basket on top of the washing machine together….


            • LeahM
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                Here’s a few updated pictures of Frank Jr.  He’s not the little shrimp that he used to be!

                 


              • LBJ10
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                  Hehe, well you could lock them in the bathroom together.

                  OMG, he is still a cutie! I love his one mitten in the front.


                • LeahM
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                    bumping this up because there is more pee outside the box this morning… 


                  • LeahM
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                      anyone else? please?


                    • jerseygirl
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                        I admit, I scrolled thru the thread to look for pictures first.
                        He’s still as cute as ever!

                        Re issue #2 is there anything shifted in your room? Anything near the litter box or obscuring his view from the box?

                        You haven’t accidently picked up a slightly different litter, like a scented version?

                        Have you had another other new people or pets enter the room recently?

                        Issue #3: I do wonder if you might be better off setting him up in a temporary area elsewhere while you are away. Still at home with his familiar things around him, just not your room. If he’s displaying this territorial behaviour I’m thinking it could worsen if you have someone new coming into the space while you’re away…
                        If you think this worthwhile, I suggest setting it up in advance and giving him time in the set-up during the day to familiarize himself.

                        I do have some thoughts on issue 1 & plan to revisit this thread when time allows. ( I have a bun in the bedroom who seems bonded to me.. He does show some territorial traits also, though not the same as frank jr.)


                      • LeahM
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                          Posted By jerseygirl on 05/17/2013 12:40 AM
                          I admit, I scrolled thru the thread to look for pictures first.
                          He’s still as cute as ever!

                          Re issue #2 is there anything shifted in your room? Anything near the litter box or obscuring his view from the box?

                          You haven’t accidently picked up a slightly different litter, like a scented version?

                          Have you had another other new people or pets enter the room recently?

                          Issue #3: I do wonder if you might be better off setting him up in a temporary area elsewhere while you are away. Still at home with his familiar things around him, just not your room. If he’s displaying this territorial behaviour I’m thinking it could worsen if you have someone new coming into the space while you’re away…
                          If you think this worthwhile, I suggest setting it up in advance and giving him time in the set-up during the day to familiarize himself.

                          I do have some thoughts on issue 1 & plan to revisit this thread when time allows. ( I have a bun in the bedroom who seems bonded to me.. He does show some territorial traits also, though not the same as frank jr.)

                           

                          Well, I thought the pictures would be motiviational to get some replies, I guess not.  How about if I get 10 more replies, I’ll post a bunch more…. will that help?

                          Nothing has changed about the arrangment, except the new pile of poop and pee that is now outside the box   The laundry pile also waxes and wanes but no changes to speak of.  No routine change either….

                           

                          For issue #3, you think a new area would be good so that he will be less agressive to the people taking care of him?  I’m not really worried about that, if that is the concern.  I don’t think that there is any way that he is going to accept emotional affection from anyone while we are gone, so I think they will be feeling him and letting him run around (so he can have his usual routine) but nose scratches and the likes will have to wait until we get back.  I’m more worried that he will get depressed or hate me when we get back.  Do you think a new area would help with that?  The other thing is that there is no place that he would have as much space as my room, and I would feel bad about that.


                        • LBJ10
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                            It could go either way. He could hold a grudge for a bit after you get back or he could be so happy to see you that he is overly affectionate. It’s hard to say how he will react to you being gone. Like I said before, spending a little time away from you might do him some good. He is obviously very attached to you and it could be contributing to issue #1. I still think having good things come from someone else might help him with this. Hopefully he will learn to be more accepting of others.


                          • Deleted User
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                              My sympathies on your lack of responses, … been there, it is so Frustrating!

                              I’m no rabbit expert and haven’t any brilliant advice on your specific issues, however, I have had many animals, for many years, and for what it is worth this is what crossed my mind both when I read Jersey Girl’s response, and yours to her. First, since you are already having territorial problems I agree with her that it makes sense that if you aren’t there and he is in Your Territory having someone else invade it daily and every second day may well intensify the problem. Look at it from his point of view. Its all he now has of you, he isn’t sure if you are coming back, I’d think he’d feel even more strongly that he needs to keep it, and therefore himself safe. You may be right, he may not react that way, but since his being aggressive is an issue that concerns you taking preventitive steps to make sure the negative behaviour doesn’t get worse is probably worth considering.

                              The other thing that struck me is maybe just the change to a new area of the home will help your other problems. You can give the litter box area an extra good vinegar scrub, and it will have two-three weeks to air. And maybe (if it is possible space wise) you could rearrange things when you get home and bring him back into the room. I agree it would be great to know why he is doing this but that may never be possible. This break in his routine is unavoidable, might as well try to make use of it is how I’d think of it. Once you are home and he is back in Your room he may just be really happy to have things “normal” again, and revert to his former habits. Might be worth thinking about.

                              Best of luck!


                            • Sam and Lady's Human
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                                For the pee, he might just need a bigger box. Even if it seems he has plenty of space, he might be peeing over the side without intending too.


                              • LeahM
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                                  Posted By Sam and Lady’s Human on 05/17/2013 04:57 PM
                                  For the pee, he might just need a bigger box. Even if it seems he has plenty of space, he might be peeing over the side without intending too.

                                  He has the biggest size littler box that they make for cats.  It is twice his length and he never used to have a problem making it in there.  It is also deep and I don’t fill it very full so he can’t accidentally back up and pee over the side.    I just have to make this face because any litter trained animas peeing outside of the box is very infuriating at times


                                • LeahM
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                                    Posted By LBJ10 on 05/17/2013 04:46 PM
                                    It could go either way. He could hold a grudge for a bit after you get back or he could be so happy to see you that he is overly affectionate. It’s hard to say how he will react to you being gone. Like I said before, spending a little time away from you might do him some good. He is obviously very attached to you and it could be contributing to issue #1. I still think having good things come from someone else might help him with this. Hopefully he will learn to be more accepting of others.

                                    I know, there’s no way to know.  Right now, when I leave for a couple of days and my mom takes care of him, when I first walk in he comes snarling and growling at me and then realizes it’s me and licks my feet profusley and follows me to the bathroom, but I don’t know how long bunny memory is, so 9 days could be a whole other story!


                                  • LeahM
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                                      Posted By Grey Dove on 05/17/2013 04:47 PM
                                      My sympathies on your lack of responses, … been there, it is so Frustrating!

                                      I’m no rabbit expert and haven’t any brilliant advice on your specific issues, however, I have had many animals, for many years, and for what it is worth this is what crossed my mind both when I read Jersey Girl’s response, and yours to her. First, since you are already having territorial problems I agree with her that it makes sense that if you aren’t there and he is in Your Territory having someone else invade it daily and every second day may well intensify the problem. Look at it from his point of view. Its all he now has of you, he isn’t sure if you are coming back, I’d think he’d feel even more strongly that he needs to keep it, and therefore himself safe. You may be right, he may not react that way, but since his being aggressive is an issue that concerns you taking preventitive steps to make sure the negative behaviour doesn’t get worse is probably worth considering.

                                      The other thing that struck me is maybe just the change to a new area of the home will help your other problems. You can give the litter box area an extra good vinegar scrub, and it will have two-three weeks to air. And maybe (if it is possible space wise) you could rearrange things when you get home and bring him back into the room. I agree it would be great to know why he is doing this but that may never be possible. This break in his routine is unavoidable, might as well try to make use of it is how I’d think of it. Once you are home and he is back in Your room he may just be really happy to have things “normal” again, and revert to his former habits. Might be worth thinking about.

                                      Best of luck!

                                       

                                      No worries about the replies

                                      That’s a good point about the area change maybe helping his potty habits.  Hummm… Well, I still hesitate to make him stay in a different area while we’re gone.  I know that my bedroom is safe and set up for him.  It’s also shut off from the cats (who he also picks fights wilth *sigh*).  Even if I don’t put him in a different area while we’re gone, I might try that at another time to see if it helps.


                                    • Deleted User
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                                        Of course keeping him safe (from cats etc.) is the first priority, but do think about the change of space. Jersey Girl’s point about shifting him into it a few days or more ahead of time matters to, you wouldn’t want to relocate him and leave.

                                        As far as your separation goes, I really wouldn’t worry about him remembering you! I can’t imagine that is a question. I had to leave my last rabbit for a week at a time and in spite of not being free range soon as he’d hear my voice when I got back he’d try to kick his cage down wanting to see me. And while I know it isn’t a rabbit for some reason (totally beyond my understanding) some people think dogs don’t have long term memories. My Shepherd was taken away from home and me very abruptly last year, travelled for a couple of days, spent time in a place he had known before he came to me, came back after more then a month (one of the longest most awful month’s of my life) and soon as he saw me flung himself at me, obviously remembering me perfectly! He was three years old when he got here, and he’d only been with me nine months when he was taken away, but he was so glad to be home! Not the same I know but my point is I wouldn’t under estimate a rabbit’s memory. Besides nothing else is changing, its still home, and his food etc. I’m sure whether or not he is too thrilled to see you or really annoyed with you for having left he’ll know your His Human!


                                      • Beka27
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                                          Has he been penned in the past? It sounds as if he had been allowed to become territorial of your room and that’s not good. That is likely the cause of the litter and aggression issues. Can you “start over” with him, have him penned when you are not around, and only allow supervised time out until he improves?


                                        • jerseygirl
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                                            Cats! I am really suspicious now that this might be the trigger for the regressed litter habits. Are they ever allowed in the room? Could one have been in his space?

                                            Have you tried putting a new box right next to the other? In the place he is tending to toilet on?

                                            For issue #3, you think a new area would be good so that he will be less agressive to the people taking care of him?

                                            No, I primarily suggested it because I thought having a stranger come into his current space might increase his current territorial behaviours. BUT, them being his care giver (food bringer) in your absence, he might clue in and not react more territorial. It’s hard to say…

                                            What about a pen in his current space? Is he free range in the room currently?

                                            I’m more worried that he will get depressed or hate me when we get back

                                            I don’t think they can hate per se…
                                            He might act a little indifferent toward you but going straight back into routines with him, he should come around. They can certainly miss their companions but the key thing is they have sense of security & routine. That lessens any stress.
                                            This is where it’s contradictory in my suggesting moving him. Im thinking if you were to reduce his space in his current area he still has sense of home but it might actually help in sense of security. He might feel atm that he has to defend the entire room from intruders. Sometimes a lot of space can be overwhelming-especially if a rabbit thinks it’s territory that needs to be defended.


                                          • jerseygirl
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                                              I didn’t see Beka’s response before but she’s put it in a nutshell about territory.

                                              Another question:This may seem random but does he happen to be moulting or just beginning one?
                                              Reason I ask is I am really suspicious this is what is behind my rabbits sporadic marking behaviour. It seems odd but I can’t think what else…
                                              He lives in the bedroom and is generally great with habits but every few months he goes thru a phase of marking the bed. And generally becomes a little bit of a pain in the butt. I’m taking note now to see if its coinciding with his moulting.


                                            • LeahM
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                                                Posted By Beka27 on 05/17/2013 08:47 PM
                                                Has he been penned in the past? It sounds as if he had been allowed to become territorial of your room and that’s not good. That is likely the cause of the litter and aggression issues. Can you “start over” with him, have him penned when you are not around, and only allow supervised time out until he improves?

                                                 

                                                He pretty much went from living in my shirt to being free-range.  For a few months… maybe up to 6 or 8 months, I would cage him at night but not anymore.  I would say he is *definately* territorial.  The thought of penning him seriously puts a pit in my stomach.  He looks at me with those sad bunny eyes.  I can be the dominant bunny, and put him in a smaller space, but neither of us are going to like it, lol


                                              • LeahM
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                                                  Posted By jerseygirl on 05/17/2013 09:12 PM
                                                  Cats! I am really suspicious now that this might be the trigger for the regressed litter habits. Are they ever allowed in the room? Could one have been in his space?

                                                  Have you tried putting a new box right next to the other? In the place he is tending to toilet on?

                                                  For issue #3, you think a new area would be good so that he will be less agressive to the people taking care of him?

                                                  No, I primarily suggested it because I thought having a stranger come into his current space might increase his current territorial behaviours. BUT, them being his care giver (food bringer) in your absence, he might clue in and not react more territorial. It’s hard to say…

                                                  What about a pen in his current space? Is he free range in the room currently?

                                                  I’m more worried that he will get depressed or hate me when we get back

                                                  I don’t think they can hate per se…
                                                  He might act a little indifferent toward you but going straight back into routines with him, he should come around. They can certainly miss their companions but the key thing is they have sense of security & routine. That lessens any stress.
                                                  This is where it’s contradictory in my suggesting moving him. Im thinking if you were to reduce his space in his current area he still has sense of home but it might actually help in sense of security. He might feel atm that he has to defend the entire room from intruders. Sometimes a lot of space can be overwhelming-especially if a rabbit thinks it’s territory that needs to be defended.

                                                  Well, I would certainly like to say that the cats never come in here (the bedroom) but that would not be true.  One of the cats loves to dash in here and get on the bed (which I don’t think Frank really cares about, because once he’s on the bed, it’s not really frank’s territiry) but sometimes he likes to eat Frank’s pellets (and I’m feeling very embarased to admit this) and then he will sit by the bowl.  They do seem to have a “thing” between them, and they like to tease each other.  The cat however, hasn’t really been interested in my bedroom for a month or more and this new “potty habit” is in the last few weeks.

                                                  I haven’t tried adding another box.  I did try putting his current box onto that spot, and it didn’t fool him.  I will try that tomorrow.

                                                  I really doubt that Frank Jr will be kind to people just because they are bringing him food, lol.  He’s not very food moticated.  He will never take any treats out of even my hands.  When I have left before, I put up a baby gate to my room so that people can open the door and Frank Jr can’t dash out and they can just fill his food and toss him treats from over the baby gate.  So usually the caregivers don’t come into his territory anyway.

                                                  He is free-range in here, currently. 

                                                  That is a very interesting and possible idea, that his space is too big for him to defend…  Humm.  I do think that I could fence off part of it.  I’m thinking the part that includes his litter box.   He loves it under the bed, though, so I hate to cut him off from that.  Oh boy, I don’t like making my bunny unhappy   I’m not usually such a wimp

                                                   


                                                • LeahM
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                                                    Posted By jerseygirl on 05/17/2013 09:20 PM
                                                    I didn’t see Beka’s response before but she’s put it in a nutshell about territory.

                                                    Another question:This may seem random but does he happen to be moulting or just beginning one?
                                                    Reason I ask is I am really suspicious this is what is behind my rabbits sporadic marking behaviour. It seems odd but I can’t think what else…
                                                    He lives in the bedroom and is generally great with habits but every few months he goes thru a phase of marking the bed. And generally becomes a little bit of a pain in the butt. I’m taking note now to see if its coinciding with his moulting.

                                                     

                                                    I have never been able to tell when he is moulting, he seems to shed ALL the time.  That’s an interesting idea!  I don’t think Frank is especially “marking” he just has a new potty spot.  It’s just one place, it’s just not in the box. 


                                                  • LeahM
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                                                      Ok, so I have a few things to try. I’m going to reduce his area. It’s going to be hard. He will still get let out when we are home, but hopefully that will be ok. I’m also going to mount a hay feeder above his litter box and maybe put fresh greens in there, too. I’m going to clean up the pee, really, really well because there is definitely some that has soaked into the carpet. Luckily, Frank Jr is GREAT at ripping out carpet, so we could always go that route


                                                    • Deleted User
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                                                        I really do understand how rotten you can feel when you are doing something that you think (or know) will make your furry one unhappy in the short term. But its the big picture that really matters, … I’m pretty sure this part is a lot like being a parent, some times you just have to get on with it and know you have the best of motivations, and that if it works things will be so much better. Especially if closing off part of the room doesn’t pose any major challenges it is worth trying? May I suggest you try to keep in mind you are taking steps because you care about him and your relationship!

                                                        And by the way, one of my cats thinks pellets are the BEST food ever. I’m so happy to know I’m not alone. My rabbits aren’t free range, (Simply not an option in this house), but I did free feed the last one and there was a period when every time I filled it I had to push the cat’s face out of the bowl after filling it. He’d come running soon as he heard me open the closet the pellets were stored in. I had to rearrange things so we could skip that little ritual.


                                                      • LeahM
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                                                          Posted By Grey Dove on 05/18/2013 12:33 AM
                                                          I really do understand how rotten you can feel when you are doing something that you think (or know) will make your furry one unhappy in the short term. But its the big picture that really matters, … I’m pretty sure this part is a lot like being a parent, some times you just have to get on with it and know you have the best of motivations, and that if it works things will be so much better. Especially if closing off part of the room doesn’t pose any major challenges it is worth trying? May I suggest you try to keep in mind you are taking steps because you care about him and your relationship!

                                                          And by the way, one of my cats thinks pellets are the BEST food ever. I’m so happy to know I’m not alone. My rabbits aren’t free range, (Simply not an option in this house), but I did free feed the last one and there was a period when every time I filled it I had to push the cat’s face out of the bowl after filling it. He’d come running soon as he heard me open the closet the pellets were stored in. I had to rearrange things so we could skip that little ritual.

                                                           

                                                          Well, I have some very deeply rooted misgivings about domestic animals.  I feel strange taking carge of their lives and their heritage, really… in the case of domestics anyway.  I think that I am uncomfortable with the idea that I am in total control of an animal’s fate which puts me in a position of authority (superiority?) that I am not all that comfortable with.  I think animals have incredible intelligence, albeit much different than my own.  I know that this is all meaningless in this case, or water under the bridge anyway, because Frank is a *very* domesticated animal, and I *am* in charge of his life, but it’s just uncomfortable sometimes… if that makes any sense.

                                                          And yes, with my cat, I think it’s a mix of genuinely loving the pellets (he used to eat the g pig food, too) and being a bit of a punk.  We do sometimes put them in his bowl, and he is not nearly as inclined to eat them as when they are in Frank Jrs bowl 


                                                        • LeahM
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                                                            Here are a couple of pictures to thank you for the responses   But keep them coming!  More responses = more pictures!

                                                            This is Frank Jr’s outside pen.  This was a few months ago.  He didn’t really like it until rescently.  He used to just sit on top of a box (pictured) or on the towel.  Didn’t want to get his feet dirty… lol.  The grass has grown a lot, some of it is growing through the top of the cage and Frank Jr has been having a GREAT time.  He is digging himself quite a hole and he gets this crazy-focused-bunny-look in his eye when he is digging.

                                                             


                                                          • Deleted User
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                                                              If you want to make it a philosophical discussion then as it happens I’m vastly unimpressed with the way humans have interacted with animals for centuries, and have a lot of misgivings on their being domesticated. But that is really neither here nor there. They have been and I won’t claim I’m not delighted with my furry family because there are lots of mornings when they are the reason its worth crawling out of bed in my life. If you are going to live with them then they need care, and that involves responsibility and (sadly) discipline. Afraid its a package deal. I truly do not believe a spoiled pet that runs a household is a happier one, and there are times when I need to say/think I live here to and that must count for something. (I’m not implying you are letting your rabbit run the household, up to this point I was generalizing.) But I do believe you’ll both be happier if things get settled. Guess what I’m trying to say is you may want to try to look at it from a different point of view. You have Little Frank Jr. so you need to live together harmoniously. You taking steps to make that possible is your responsibility. An equal partnership simply isn’t an option, however, nice that would be in theory. To make a comparison, a working dog and its handler are a team, they do depend on one another and each fulfills a vital role. But the human must be firmly in command for that team to remain viable and for it to function smoothly.

                                                              Making these crummy decisions and being mutely told you are Not a Nice person is one of the less attractive parts of the whole having furry friends as part of your life deal.

                                                              I really hope you find at least some of the suggestions helpful and that your planned changes are productive. I like Jersey Girl’s idea of the double litter box and am glad you will be trying it, … do let us know how things develop.


                                                            • Beka27
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                                                                Grey Dove hit the nail on the head when she compared this to “parenting”. Anyone who is a parent (or really anyone who has been around and helped care for a young child) knows that they need boundaries. A rabbit is a perpetual toddler. You would not let a child run wild in the house with no safeguards. You child-proof everything, you set up baby gates to contain the toddler in safe spaces. You use diapers until the child can control his potty habits. You start small and gradually increase freedoms. When this child learns to ride a bike a few years later, you don’t say “Ok, go ride around the neighborhood!” You keep them in the driveway until they are older and more responsible.

                                                                It sounds like you’re on the right track. Reduce the space. Let him be possessive of HIS area, not the whole room/house. When you’re home, by all means let him out! Just while you’re gone, keep him penned. It shouldn’t be a tiny space, but enough for him to move around comfortably.


                                                              • LeahM
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                                                                  I’m really not trying to derail this into a philosophical discussion, and I think I agree with you all the way.  I get it, really, I do.  I just wanted to explain that it’s a bigger feeling than just “I don’t want to put my cute little bunny in a cage”… that’s all.  Back to practical advice, please


                                                                • LeahM
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                                                                     Just a small update…

                                                                    I cleaned up the litter box area today, watched vinegar fizz like crazy on all the pee in the carpet … … and then put everything back and added a hay feeder (cardboard box cut down the sides at an angle with some holes cut out for the hay to come through) that I attached to the wall over the litter box.  I put some special treats in the feeder too, so he would take note.  He promptly took the first thing out and ran over to his safe spot for eating treats, under the chair.  No one has ever tried to take a treat from him but he is very paranoid about that.  Anyway, I was hoping that he would eat them in the box so he would USE the box, but alas, all treats were carried out.  All is not lost however, 100% potty in the box success today!  Woop, woop   We shall see what the morning brings.  

                                                                     

                                                                    Frank Jr and I are still in negotiations about where he wants his reduced area to be located.  More on that later.

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                                                                Forum BEHAVIOR Several behavior issues: litter, aggression…