Queen has been starting to dig around my bedroom door and sneak out when the door opens.
Do rabbits try to increase their territory?
Initially my thoughts were that I have a large open concept home with 3 levels and one level is basement like with bedroom/bath, etc down there so there’s no way I would want a bunny running loose and possibly going down there where there are unfinished areas and storage rooms she could get lost or hurt in.
Also, I have wooden furniture I can’t afford to replace and can’t risk that getting chewed on so definitely no way without supervision.
Annnddd…..I have a dog. Well, sort of a dog- he’s a Pug.
With Queen starting to try to get out though I thought it may be best to start preparing for if/when she does escape the room. A bit of emergency prevention. The pug has been around cats and goats and specifically her and DM while they were caged and is aware of them and they, him, so they aren’t strangers by any means. Never any issues. I decided to let her hop out today while I was standing there and pug on the couch and see what happens.
She apparently does not like slippery hardwood floors and wouldn’t go beyond the living room on this floor but there are carpeted stairs leading up so she could easily get to top floor which isn’t a big deal after DM is finished with his isolation- he lives on the top floor where there is just a balcony, playroom, 2 bedrooms and bathroom with a childgate he doesn’t even try to hop over. (I have wondered if I should worry about the balcony as we have 20 feet ceilings and I think the balcony is about a 10 foot drop, has rails but still.)
Anyway, so the only room furniture I would have to worry about is living room and that’s good.
How it went down with the pugster…
He was on the couch and she hopped out. He watched her for about 10 uneventful minutes and then I could tell he really wanted to get closer but was waiting for me to say something so I called him down and sat with him on the floor.
She would hop around checking things out and come within about 1.5 feet from him, very close, to check him out then go back to looking at the room. He would never hurt her on purpose but he did used to chase after the cat if the cat started running first and he thought it was playing. (We do not have a cat now.) So that’s my main concern with him.
At one point she did dart away and sure enough he started to follow her but it only lasted long enough for me to holler, “BRODY, NO, SIT!” He stopped immediately and she actually stopped only a couple feet ahead of him and turned to look at him then went back to looking at room and started marking the area with her chin.
He grew bored and went to go wander around the kitchen.
Later on while still out there he suddenly ran in her direction barking but she didn’t react much and he went past her to the large window to bark at a truck in the distance. She is probably somewhat used to his barking because he’s annoying with it and we can easily hear it in the room.
Right after that though because he was excited he started walking back in her direction which spooked her a bit so she darted toward the bedroom and he chased her all the way to the door which is about 15 feet? He then stopped at the door.
I came in the bedroom to check on her and she was standing just beyond the door, slightly heavier breathing from running but other than that, just seemed curious.
Is there anything I need to know or advice I need to hear?
Thanks to all for the great help I get here.