Please help! Potty training gone wrong!

[Lindsay Tereba]

Hello everyone, I’m new here and fairly new to bunnies, so and advice or council would be so appreciated.

So I got a 3 month old male bun named Isidore. He is now 7 months. Overall, he’s a sweetheart and just all around ideal bun. My goal was to free roam, and that’s how he’s lived until now. He quickly picked up potty training and aside from random pellets, he was potty trained. Then puberty hit and he went anywhere BUT the litter box. We got him neutered as soon as his weight was approved for surgery. that was about a month and a half ago. I know it takes a while but progress is minimal if any. Peeing might be getting better, but still piles of poop wherever. I now have to cage him more and if things don’t change, my mother wants him in a hutch in the basement. If that happens I know we’ll lose some of that bond. but it’s getting too much!

He’s also more aloof towards me now. He’s always been bold, but not more general snubbing it’s less cuddles, so I feel like I’m losing him.

Any advice would be great.
Thanks!
Lindsay

 

[Cleo.beo]

What I would do is obviously constantly pick up the movements and put it back in the box make sure there’s more then one litter box available and make sure each litter box has fresh hay available at all times. Even if he pees somewhere wipe it with paper towel and put it near or in his box so he smells his urine and realizes that’s where he needs to go

 

[Blue eyes]

It's been 6 weeks since his neuter so residual hormones should be gone (or just about -- some take up to 8 weeks after neuter surgery). I would consider him like a brand new rabbit.

So my suggestion would be to completely clean out his cage and its accessories, and set up his litter box in the cage according to this set up. It will be like a new cage with "new" toys or whatever is usually in there -- just all wiped down (with vinegar) and fresh. Then I would confine him to that cage for a minimum of 48 hours. (It may take longer.) He will be fine for 2 days without exercise (even if he protests). Be sure there is no bedding or blankets or beds in the cage. We want him to seek out the litter box as the only 'soft' space.

While he's in there for the 2 days, take the time to do the same with his former roaming area. Wipe things down with diluted vinegar, re-arrange things if possible. Make it as different as you can.

Once he seems to be using the potty box consistently, create a roaming area around his cage with something like an exercise pen. This limits his roaming range. If he's good with that space for several days (returning to potty as needed) then the space can be gradually enlarged. Always wait until he's had several days of consistency before expanding.

By taking these suggested steps, you'll basically be doing a 'do-over' that, if followed carefully, should get him on the right track -- and will keep him out of the basement!