i think i am bonding with snickers!

[ilovepets]

so lately i have been getting frustrated with snickers and how i feel like i need to spend more time bonding with her. i am used to bonding and training parakeets, which is easy when it is done. i have read the sticky about bonding and i have tried it. since it is summer, i have books to read for school. i go down to the cellar where she is to read. sometimes (when she is not at the door) i set her room up so she can run around. then i open her door so she can go out when she wants and i go back to reading. after a while she comes out, smells me, hops around, comes back to me and nudges me with her head like she always does, hops... and usually gets a little naughty...digging where she shouldn't be, trying to rip up the carpet in one area, getting ideas to jump to high places where she doesnt belong... :rollseyes
i know thet rabbits are 'fragile' (or something like that that was said in the bonding sticky) so how should i make her stop or punish (ooohh that is too strong of a word) her?

thank you!

 

[ZRabbits]

Congratulations. Sounds like a bond is starting. Good for you. And also good for you for taking the time to try to bond. It does take patience and time.

Thankfully all my bunnies AREN'T jumpers. They are floor bound and don't climb on furniture, steps, etc. Wish I could help, but been lucky. They love the run on the floor and in their bunny run. All feet on the floor, except when binkying. lol

Keep up the excellent work. Hope those who have jumpers and climbers can help.

K

 

[ilovepets]

wow you are lucky with having no jumpers! when she does that jumping thing (binkying) i call that a popcorn . when i had guinea pigs, they used to do it too!

if your bunnies are bad, how do you punish them or make them stop?

 

[ZRabbits]

ilovepets wrote:

wow you are lucky with having no jumpers! when she does that jumping thing (binkying) i call that a popcorn . when i had guinea pigs, they used to do it too!

if your bunnies are bad, how do you punish them or make them stop?

I found this works for my tribe. I've started out teaching them the word "No". From DAY ONE. A loud EEK follows it. That gets their attention. If they continue, I do it once more. If they still stubborn, I make them go back to their crate. Period. They got the message.

With them digging on my clothes while sitting on my lap. Doing it not for attention, but because they wanted to get down. I said "No" and move them slightly to break the digging. If they choose to continue, they go back to their crate. They got the message.

Bunnies are smart and if you are consistent they will learn what you like and dislike. It just takes time and commitment. Just a lot of common sense. Tone of voice and being consistent. That's why when I first get a bunny, it's my voice I want them to get to know and understand first.

Even Willard, our rescue understood real fast what the rules of the Tribe are.

Rabbits are very intelligent. But they do have short attention spans so short commands and being consistent helps battle that.

Hope this helps a bit.

K

 

[wendymac]

My French Lop, Max, loves to jump on things. Mainly my lap when I'm sitting on the couch, but also the coffee table and end tables, too. I love it right after I dust and she does it. She jumps up, slides across the top, and down the other side. LOL Although she's dug some pretty deep scratches in the wood, so we've been trying to discourage that. With her, if she doesn't get the hint to not jump on the tables when we sort of block her, I just get up and walk very quickly to another room. She comes running over and stays right at my feet. So I make quick laps through the house, she tires out, then sleep on the couch beside me. Haven't had any digging issues or chewing issues...yet!

When Max went through her "mean teen attitude" period, I would tell her NO sharply, then put her in her cage for a time out. It took a while, but she finally figured out what NO meant.

As with all things, repetition and consistency is the key.

 

[ilovepets]

i do tell snickers 'no' and putting her back in the cage for a timeout is great, except for the fact that she will jump out of my arms. herding her isnt easy either. but now that i have just been reading and ignoring her when she is out rather than watching her every move, like i used to, she has bee better. last night around 9 when i took her out, she let me pet her for a long time when i was reading. the she hopped around and came on my other side where i pets her again

 

[Nelsons_Mom]

Sounds like teaching recall could really help you.

Everytime I make a noise (it could be whatever you pick) I paired it with a treat. That way when I make that noise, they come running towards me to get the treat.

If she is not responding to "no" then you could just call her back to you with that noise and distract her with something she is supposed to do. You have to make sure you do it when she is behaving as well so that she doesn't learn "hey every time i do this naughty thing, I get lots of attention!"

This technique is called a positive interrupter and there are tutorials for training dogs to it on YouTube if you want more information. The technique would be the same for rabbits.

 

[Nelsons_Mom]

Sounds like teaching recall could really help you.

Everytime I make a noise (it could be whatever you pick) I paired it with a treat. That way when I make that noise, they come running towards me to get the treat.

If she is not responding to "no" then you could just call her back to you with that noise and distract her with something she is supposed to do. You have to make sure you do it when she is behaving as well so that she doesn't learn "hey every time i do this naughty thing, I get lots of attention!"

This technique is called a positive interrupter and there are tutorials for training dogs to it on YouTube if you want more information. The technique would be the same for rabbits.

 

[ilovepets]

i have not yet found a treat that she would eat all the time. she also doent eat when she it out no matter what the treat is.

i just took her out and did the normal routine of opening her door and i read a book. she came over and i petted her for a few minutes then she hopped away. then she started being really annoying and digging in the corners and then she went under her cage where a square of loose carpet it and she started chewing/ trying to rip it up. i kept telling her "NO" and she usually goes away and stops but she just kept doing it. i tried to push her out from under the cage and it didnt work so i pulled the carpet out and redirected her to me and picked her up(which was more of a grab, which probably didnt help). she squirmed a lot but i got a hold of her and talked to her about how she is not supposed to chew on the carpet (like she would understand). the i put her back and cut a small apple branch for her to chew on. how can i stop this terrible chewing habit in the carpet??????!!!!! :banghead

i will post pics of her room so you know what i am talking about

 

[Nancy McClelland]

We found it easier to remove tempting items than to continually use "no!" or interrupt said unsavory behavior. While rabbits are extremely intelligent, they are "rabbits", and will behave like rabbits, chewing, digging, et al.

 

[ilovepets]

i have removed thing in the past. but there is nothing to replace the carpet or the wall that she digs and scratches her teeth on.

this is her room. (it looks more cluttered than it is)

this is walking into it.

opposite of door:

her cage:
(the white blanket on the floor is put on the door when she runs so she doesnt fall through)

another view:

 

[candykittten]

I have a playpen that I can stretch out to block off offlimits areas when Anthony is feeling naughty.

When he is doing something I don't like I clap my hands and say no. If he keeps doing it I stomp my foot and say no, and if he keeps doing it I put him back in his cage for a timeout.

Sounds like she might be bored.. destructive rabbits are usually bored rabbits. Are there any other rooms she could explore

 

[BugLady]

I have found that Rascal is most naughty when he thinks he is hiding.

So I have rearranged the living room (where he has all-day access) so that he is never out of my sight. He has a few areas that are partially hidden where he likes to lounge, but are still too exposed for him to get into "naughty mode".

I also give him one spot to go nuts - the inside of a big comfy swivel chair. He climbs up into the wood and springs and chews everything. It's an old chair and it makes him happy, so I don't mind. He doesn't chew the carpet, other furniture, or wires - so I'm happy!!

So yeah, I would make sure your bun has some acceptable outlets for chewing/digging, while blocking off the areas she likes to nibble, or making them less desirable.

Rascal response to a sharp "no" every time. Either that or a light grab at his butt. He hates that

 

[ilovepets]

candykitten: i think i will try the hand clapping. i usually bang the floor with my hand or foot, showing her i am not happy. i think the hand clapping will get her attention more. that room is in the basement but if i can catch her she goes in my room or outside in a big pen. i will look for more things for her to play with. do you suggest and objects or toys? (i am great at bird toy making, but i have no clue where to start with rabbit toys!)

BugLady: for digging and does have the box and fabrics, and when she gets digging in there, she loves it. i think i will get a BIG box and cut it to fit in the corner (so she doesnt scratch the wall) and put digging material in there. haha you do the same thing as me... i tap snickers butt when she is being bad

 

[candykittten]

Bird toys can make great rabbit toys! I've gotten a few bird toys that Anthony has enjoyed immensely. Crinkly plastic bags, old phone books, toilet paper tubes-with the end folded up-with treats inside,anything wooden. I soak Anthony's wood toys in apple juice to make them more appealing. Also some bunnies enjoy climbing so you could try making a cardboard box castle.

Anthony also really enjoys his cat tunnels that I got from the dollar store.

 

[ilovepets]

well i will have to start making some toys! this morning i took snickers out. i added a bigger area to dig in fabrics, her favorite cardboard box to chew on, a plain paper bag, and more toilet paper tubes and am empty/ dry plastic soda bottle (which she wasnt interested in). i also flipped the carpet square over so she cant chew it any more. this morning she stared digging in the new corner and ended with chewing/ boxing the cardboard box! she was very good and i hope she will continue this behavior. next time i go to petsmart, there are some toys i want to get her:

i will not let her have the nuts in the middle of this:

i have been looking at this when i go:

if i get enough money together i will get this:

either that one or this one- i cant decide

i got her this last time i went and she likes it:

i think she will like these!!

 

[Ellie]

Mine really likes that ball on the bottom
I bought him this house that petsmart has.. it's like a little tunnel, but it's closed at the end so it's like a little house. My bunny doesn't like it at all and won't go in it, he just eats the outside. So, if you're looking at little tunnels / loungers don't get that one.

Good luck with everything! I've been having problems bonding and other stuff with mine, but we'll get through it ray:

 

[ilovepets]

i think bonding with snickers is the hardest out of all the animals i have had over the years

 

[ZRabbits]

ilovepets wrote:

i think bonding with snickers is the hardest out of all the animals i have had over the years

Yes I have to agree, it takes work. Lots of work. But when it happens, and the bonding and trust is there, it's the most satisfying rewarding experience.

You get what you put in with a bunny.

K

 

[ilovepets]

that is very true! i can wait until i am bonded with her!