Will my Destructo Bun ever improve?

[Xtina22]

I’m just looking for some thoughts from experienced owners regarding destructive behavior.

I keep my bun in a three story condo with a large ex pen around it at night and during the day when I’m at work – plenty of toys and enrichment items inside. He’s about 11 months old and was neutered back in July. He isn’t aggressive, is perfectly litter trained, and great in every way except…he is so destructive!!! When I let him out (every morning and evening for several hours) he seems hellbent on finding ways to destroy. I try bunnyproofing solutions and he’ll find ways to tear them down or get through them. It’s like a game of cat and mouse. He has plenty of toys, boxes, tunnels, etc and sometimes those keep him happy, but many other times it seems all he wants to do is chew the walls 

The result is our time together is becoming exhausting and involves me constantly watching him, listening for chewing, and trying to find new ways to block his access to things. Hardly the relaxing pet I’d hoped for (my last bun was nothing like this).

Not really looking for advice here on bunnyproofing (I’m still working on solutions) but some hope that this may at some point get better? I love the little guy but I’m just having a bad couple of days with him and feeling really disheartened. 

[Luna]

Was he also destructive before he was neutered, or is this new behavior? When Luna was younger she used to rip up the carpet (thankfully she grew out of it) and tear phonebooks to pieces (the phonebook was a toy so I was ok with that ), but she doesn’t do either anymore. Once in a great while she might dig at the carpet but only for a few minutes.

[Xtina22]

Yes he was the same before the neuter, though I didn’t have him long before that. Hopefully he does grow out of this too!

[Luna]

I also noticed that whenever Luna destroyed something, it was because she would be trying to get/gain access to something I blocked off (usually something she wasn’t allowed – ie. back corner under the bed). When she was settling in before I “expanded her territory,” she would scratch at any door that would be shut, until I opened it – then she would lose interest. Buns are curious so he might be trying to investigate things, inadvertently destroying stuff along the way .

[Wick & Fable]

What’s difficult about being a rabbit owner is the difference in language and instincts. While we see it as “You literally have a dozen toys I’d be happy for you to chew on”, rabbits just see it as “I want to chew on this. I don’t know why you’re saying I can’t. I’m not interested in chewing those other random things.”

It’ll need to be a combination of letting your rabbit learn that chewing there is not okay, while finding something he’d rather chew on. Perhaps you can go to a home improvements store and take a sample of baseboards or wall corners and use those as toys instead? It’s the same shape and texture that he enjoys, but when he chews those, he should quickly realize there’s no fuss associated with it, as opposed to chewing your actual walls.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Xtina22]

Thanks for the replies.

I have given him every alternative imaginable for chewing. Lately he is just fixating in the walls. He is worse with corners for sure but is doing a lot of damage. I really need to find a solution ☹️

[OwnedbyStanley]

My rabbit is also very destructive- he has ruined a lot of wallpaper and skirting boards! One thing that worked was making a little cardboard “play house” and putting his toys against the wall, which distract him more from the wall. I also hide the corners with some cushions when he is in the room so he can’t get to them. Another thing that works as reinforcement is spraying him with water from a spray bottle when he bites the wall- he doesn’t like it but it quickly gets him away from the wall! Some rabbit owners might disagree with that last one but he’s still affectionate and happy five minutes later so I doubt it’s traumatising him!
All in all though you will have to deal with a bit of destruction- it’s part of the package when you have a pet, but what’s more important, stuff or a loving friend?

[LittlePuffyTail]

Most bunnies decrease the destruction with age. I remember when I had 2 young bunnies!!!! Bunstruction crazy!!!! Now Bindi is 10 and Sterling is an adult, not sure how old, though and they hardly ever cause any damage. Bindi hasn’t in many years. Sterling just eats any crayons he finds.

[Katie]

My bunny was also crazy destructive, but his fixation was the carpet and any corners of walls/base boards :/ it may have been a combination of growing up/getting him a friend. Now that I have 2 they are a lot less destructive so it might be boredom related, maybe interacting with him when he’s out? Keeping his attention with you

[Xtina22]

Thanks so much for the replies everyone.

I have good news, things have gotten better. Over the past few weeks Norman has really calmed down. He still has spurts of chewing but not nearly as bad. I also found some plastic floor covering that I used to cover the parts of the walls that he chewed most often. I’m hopeful that as he matures further he’ll continue to get less destructive

[Luna]

That’s great!

[Author]

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