Not playing when out, just chewing on the nic cube thats blocking the sofa....

[BunMommaD]

So a week ago we blocked off the sofa... Cookie was spending entirely too much time under and behind it and we always had a really hard time getting him out when we needed too. Well now whenever he is out all he does is chew and pull on the blockade... That is literally all he does... He goes from one area to another and then back... Like a prisoner looking for a weakness or something... Ad he has recently started to pull on it and has pulled it out a few times... We say "NO!" which he does understand and he stops for a minute and then goes to another place and starts again! I literally just sat here and said no, like 15 times! I've have held him down, like I've read to show dominate NO! And wait for him to submit and then let him go... Which he submits and then as soon as I let him go he starts at it again! My hubby has bopped his nose... Nothing has worked! He responds to correction with EVERYTHING else, accept this! It's extremely frustrating to let him out to play and all he does is try to infiltrate the sofa! Ad he has tons of toys and cardboard boxes around here... He doesn't care... Just wants the sofa...

I just picked him up after the millionth NO and put him in his crate...

Any suggestions for my stubborn/OCD bun of mine?

:expressionless

 

[ZRabbits]

Maybe if you kept him in his crate for a day or two, it will break that habit of him wanting to get under the couch. Willard was like that trying to get under the crates after we put the NIC unit up to keep all our bunnies out. Stubborn like your Cookie. Went through the 15 No's myself.

He stayed put when living room time was allowed. He still got his kitchen run in the morning. But once he was allowed in the living room again (2 days), it was like he forgot about his obsession of getting under the crates and found something else to explore.

It's worth a try. Poor Cookie, but he needs to know his boundaries.

K

 

[BunMommaD]

Yeah we maybe have to block him in the kitchen for his runs for a few days and try again... And then maybe if he does it again out him back... Maybe eventually he will get the hint...

He's also been really feisty the last few days... Maybe it's the warmer weather? Idk but the more time that passes I am sure glad we have his neuter scheduled! LOL

 

[ZRabbits]

BunMommaD wrote:

Yeah we maybe have to block him in the kitchen for his runs for a few days and try again... And then maybe if he does it again out him back... Maybe eventually he will get the hint...

He's also been really feisty the last few days... Maybe it's the warmer weather? Idk but the more time that passes I am sure glad we have his neuter scheduled! LOL

Willard is intact and boy are intacted males stubborn. Those hormones will do it. Thankfully Willard not aggressive, doesn't spray, and we know how to deal with his stubborn ways. But if we couldn't, or he started spraying and becoming aggressive, then he would be visiting Dr. Joe.

K

 

[LakeCondo]

Yes, I think you'll have to keep him out of that room for awhile. And let your husband know that "bopping" does no good.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Maybe put some cardboard on the outside for a little bit. Nikki used to spend hours trying to dig thru the tile when we blocked off our recliners.

 

[BunMommaD]

Nancy McClelland wrote:

Maybe put some cardboard on the outside for a little bit. Nikki used to spend hours trying to dig thru the tile when we blocked off our recliners.

Ohhh that makes sense! Like block him from being able to see under the sofa as well... Maybe that would make him be less frantic about it, if he can't see it... Good idea! We will have to try that!

 

[Luluznewz]

I dont have a lot to say other than I totally feel your pain. My male rabbit (well...actually I guess the female too) is SUPER stubborn. I swear as soon as I block something off it becomes an even bigger target. I blocked off my bed and Zeppelin yanked on the bars for weeks.

Eventually I just got so sick of it that I moved him to a different room. When I brought him back in a few weeks later he had forgotten that the bed was ever not blocked off and he quit. Its hard on them when their favorite hiding places become off limits and they wont forget about it as long as he as access to it everyday.

 

[MiniLopHop]

Does he have an alternative bolt hole close by? What about giving him an upside-down box with a hole next to the couch? That way he has somewhere to chill of his own and the couch will be less attractive?

 

[BunMommaD]

MiniLopHop wrote:

Does he have an alternative bolt hole close by? What about giving him an upside-down box with a hole next to the couch? That way he has somewhere to chill of his own and the couch will be less attractive?

He does... He's got like 2/3 boxes with whole cut out and a wooden little house he can go in as well... He just seems to be fixated on it for some reason... Hopefully his neuter will lower his intensity with things like this...

 

[gmas rabbit]

sounds very stubborn. I would lock him out of there for a few days into the kitchen. Can you build a box like couch of his own with a blankee on it. Perhaps he just want his own lounging spot.

 

[BunMommaD]

gmas rabbit wrote:

sounds very stubborn. I would lock him out of there for a few days into the kitchen. Can you build a box like couch of his own with a blankee on it. Perhaps he just want his own lounging spot.

Yes he is very stubborn... But only with this lol he's very laid back with everything else... And the way it's blocked off he can still get on the couch and hang out and lounge with us... He just can't get under or behind it... He's being resigned to the kitchen for a few days and hopefully he will get over it! Lol

 

[MiniLopHop]

Sometimes they just get an idea in their heads and it is a test of wills. Sounds like a bit of grounding is in order here so he can focus on what he has rather than what he lost. Best of luck.

 

[Fluffington]

If it makes you feel better, eventually they stop trying to "fix" it when you block something from them. At least for the most part. Fluffington still has a fit of rage every once in a while and digs at the barrier we put around the entertainment center. Like someone up there mentioned, we put him in his cage for about 15 minutes every time he tore at it and he finally seemed to get it. Now, those rare times he does it I guess he figures that it's worth the cage time. I notice he will do it right before he goes home for his normal snack and water time. Smarty.