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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum THE LOUNGE Just an Update on Happy the bunny

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    • ArvadaLanee
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        I just wanted to give a little update on my new bunny, Happy. I think she has adjusted quite well to living life as an indoor pet, rather than an outdoor farm rabbit. It took quite a bit of trial and error, but we have finally bunny proofed our living room enough to make it difficult for her to escape. She is quite the smarty-pants, and learned how to open her own gate, get under the couches, hop over the arms of the couches, and find various cracks in our security, which have all been patched up now. Luckily, her intelligence has worked in our favor as well. She continues to come out of her cage on her own, and hop right to living room, knowing that this is her area where food, water, toys, and attention will always be provided. We now have a good idea of what types of toys and wood she enjoys chewing, and have found that if we provide her with little cat beds and blankets, she will happily dig in these, and not dig anywhere else. She also continues to chew only the wood and toys, and leave furniture and other items alone. Her litter training has been going well, except that I had to change her litter, and now she has started peeing on our couches and blankets. I can’t really be mad at her, since I am the one who confused her. The litter I was buying before was just WAY too expensive. A small bag of it cost $20.00 at our local petco, and only filled her small and large litter box each twice. (And that was only with very small amounts of litter.) I am hoping that with time, and patience, she will get used to the new wood pellet litter. We have been working on a few tricks. She got the hang of “Up,” in a day, and will do it now with or without treats. The trick I call, “nose,” is a bit harder. I say nose, and touch my finger to my nose, and she is supposed to touch her nose to mine. She usually just gets real close and gives my nose a good sniff, and a tickle from her whiskers, but that is good enough for me. It’s actually really cute. She does seem to get confused when the kids try to do that one with her, because she tries to run to me to sniff my nose! That isn’t her fault either, since I spend the most time with her, and she is more attached to me. In fact, I believe this bunny really loves me. She still hops into my lap, comes when I call her, and licks me all the time. I don’t know if she somehow senses that I love her, or is grateful that we gave her a good home, or just enjoys the time I spend petting her and working with her, but I truly think she is the most happy little bunny I have ever met. I really feel I chose the perfect name for her. If anyone has any suggestions on getting her used to the new litter, or any ideas for easy tricks I can teach her let me know! I would also love to hear suggestions on healthy treats that bunnies love. Thanks everyone, for all your help, and advise. Thanks for making Happy and I feel so welcome here! I am truly enjoying being a new bunny mama, and learning all about the wonderful world of rabbits.


      • Aubrey
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          I just switched today from shredded paper to pellets too. My ophelia seemed suspicious and unsure about it so I mixed it in really well with some paper and I’m just going to gradually add a little but each day when I clean her litter box. Not sure if you’re able to go get the old bedding again but maybe you can just mix some of your bedding in with the new stuff so she won’t be as confused?


        • ArvadaLanee
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            That’s a great idea! I’d rather buy one more expensive bag, and slowly train her, then find myself switching back out of frustration. Honestly, I feel lucky she has done as well as she has, considering she isn’t fixed yet. I don’t have money right now, due to an unexpected issue with 2 cars at once, but when I get paid again, I can buy a bag of her old stuff and try to help Happy understand that the litter box is still the best place to pee! Oddly enough, she does poo in there still. In fact, she has been pooing outside the box less and less. My guess is that with all the moderation to the living room, she is very clear that this is HER area, and so she feels less need to mark it. Just a guess. Thanks so much for the tip!!!


          • Vienna Blue in France
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              Hi AL – thanks for your update !
              It sounds as if you’re all having fun with her. HOW intelligent, when your kids say “nose” she comes to find yours !!
              Of course! It’s only natural… that command means touch mum’s nose.
              To avoid confusion and to keep consistancy, each child should have a trick individual to themselves. Then the bun will understand instantly, not be confused with ‘inconsistant’ training (just the voice can make a difference!) and the kids will be so chuffed! (that’s “very happy” in England!)

              (It’s so typical of animals. My dog Kyra would do anything for me (one single “sit”!), and to my nephews’ disappointent and exasperation she would not do the same things for them…. “Kyra sit sit sit sit SIT sit sit SIT SIT SIT SIT !!!! (still nothing!! LOL)

              Luckily I had taught her sign laguage too, and so when the boys tried their vocal commands, I stood behind them and did the sign language command, which the
              dog instantly obeyed !! – and the boys very proud of their obedient cousin!!


            • ArvadaLanee
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                Wow. I never thought of it like that. What a good idea to let the boys work on a trick of their own! They will probably get a kick out of that anyway. She is always amazing us. She does listen to me a little better, but I think she enjoys the attention from all of us. She is a very sweet girl.


              • Q8bunny
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                  That’s wonderful news! She sounds like a very clever girl, indeed.

                  For the litter, what I did with Chewie when I switched him from wood pellets to the shredded paper type (the pellets were too heavy for the rubbish bags we’re supposed to use in our apartment building) is that I put a thin(ish) layer of litter, and covered it with a thin(ish) layer of the hay he had refused to eat the day before, and then refilled the kitchen end of his litter box with a good heap of fresh hay for eating (or rejecting lol).

                  He seemed to be a lot less suspicious of the new litter this way, and to this day is fond of having a bit of hay under his bum, even if it is the nasty crunchy kind that’s clearly not very tasty.

                  I don’t know, perhaps you’re already doing that, but just in case you’re not, it worked with at least one little bun.

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              Forum THE LOUNGE Just an Update on Happy the bunny