Dealing with a Jumper

[Malia]

I wonder if anyone else has a bunny who’s a crazy jumper.

Jett is about 8-9 weeks old and he really likes to jump. Specifically, he likes to jump into mischief. He worries me because he seems to have no fear. Tonight he literally launched himself over a two foot plastic storage bin I have blocking access to the back of the couch. One moment I’m chilling, the next all I see is his little furry butt and legs sliding over the top of the box.

He loves to jump on the couch but he started peeing on it so I don’t want him jumping on the couch. Tonight he tried to jump on top of a three foot nightstand I have blocking the couch and almost clawed his way to the top before falling back down. After that, I got nervous and got on the floor with him to calm him down. Seemed like he only really wanted my attention.

It seems like he could really hurt himself with these crazy jumps. And he doesn’t seem to have a fear of heights either, though he doesn’t wanna be carried too long, like most bunnies.

Any suggestions how I can harness this jumping talent for good? Mostly, I don’t want him to hurt himself trying to jump on things he really shouldn’t. Maybe I need more entertainment that can include his love for jumping.

Thanks!

[BanditCamp]

Sounds like you need a couple stacking boxes for you bunny and make a jumping box fort. Maybe lookup catty stacks and see if that works for you or maybe you can jump training your bun? As for keeping him off the couches good luck as my bandit owns the home so I just make it as safe as possible, if you bun wants somewhere he just wants to check it out try making a box step or a mid jumping point to reduce the stress to your buns legs and possible injury. For example my bed sits 28 inches high so I have a 14 inch box with a towel that he jumps on to shorten the jumps. He used to need two but now that he’s stronger he only need the one box and he can jump at least 2 feet unassisted.

[Gina.Jenny]

When he was a few months old, Pippi jumped right over the settee, from front to back, with no fear, and no idea what was the other side. He and Gina cold both clear a metre high easily, a 2 foor box is no obstacle to a determined bun! For Pippi, I put hay in a box that was safely piles on a bigger box, and he loved jumping up there and sitting viewing while he chomped. He also loves racing up and down our very bunny friendly stairs, as do all six of our buns. Not-too-high kitten trees are great for buns who like to jump up too. Try putting favourite treats on the different levels of the kitten tree to encourage hopping up.

[Malia]

Thanks for the suggestions. I definitely want to make a jumping station or something for him and those give me good starting points. I feel like he could be an olympic jumper bunny if he weren’t driving me CRAZY!

[Malia]

He’s calmed down some tho, thankfully.

[Annasivy]

Maybe for the idea of the jumping station you could carve holes into them. So he could actually go into them, and maybe put in some straw so he can dig around too!

[Vienna Blue in France]

Mine go out on to the patio in nice weather and I had to add on to my fences 3 times before it stopped Zou. She would go up into an extended periscope mode, and then with a flick of the heel BOING over she went !!

Once they know they can jump, they WILL !

He will calm down once he gets heavy in a year or two – for now, your priority is either to prevent him jumping over, or provide him with a jump spot, or bunny proof the other side if he does get over !

The power spring in their hind legs is just fantastic !

[Vienna Blue in France]

Mine go out on to the patio in nice weather and I had to add on to my fences 3 times before it stopped Zou. She would go up into an extended periscope mode, and then with a flick of the heel BOING over she went !!

Once they know they can jump, they WILL !

He will calm down once he gets heavy in a year or two – for now, your priority is either to prevent him jumping over, or provide him with a jump spot, or bunny proof the other side if he does get over !

The power spring in their hind legs is just fantastic !

[Malia]

It is. I actually like seeing him jump and wish I recorded it but it was also during times of extreme naughtiness so I never did. Reducing the temptation to jump has helped a lot and now he keeps himself more on the ground. He still jumps on the couch but it’s less frantic.

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