We have two lop eared bunnies that we have had since April. We have never had experience with bunnies before and thought they would make a cute pet. I didn't realize how much work they were! Since we have moved the bunnies outside on the terrace, they have turned very unfriendly (the one wasn't too friendly to begin with). I have researched bunny training on the Internet and have tried to utilize some of the methods. Litter training was never successful and now they won't even allow us to pick them up without a fight. They have even bitten the boys when they were holding them. I have been wrestling with getting rid of them, but the kids don't want to see them go even though they are so unfriendly. But really, they are just on the back balcony making messes and costing money with food and supplies and they are not even making good pets. Lop ears are supposed to be among the most friendliest of pet bunnies :-( Anyone have any advice on what I can do with these rabbits to make them friendlier, or should I just get rid of them? My husband is adamant that he wants them to stay outside because they can really stink. But I noticed that they were much friendlier when we kept them inside and they were around the kids and more familiar with them. I will admit that most of their unfriendliness could be because of the younger ones torturing them a few instances before. We have tried to win back their affection, but it doesn't seem to be working. I really hate to get rid of them and I have grown very fond of them. They allow us to pet them, just not pick them up. If anyone is a bunny expert, I would appreciate some advice!
I would bring them in the house and clean out their cage every other day. That way it won't smell too bad. An easier way to hold them is to wrap them in a towel. I also wrap my crabby bunnies in a towel when I cut their nails.) Holding them often is really the only way to make them calm down. Also, only let your children play with them under supervision. Giving them special treats might also help them to warm up to you. Definitely make sure they are the same sex so that you don't end up with babies. Another thing that will help is giving them time each day to run around outside of their cage. Hope this helps :)
Spaying or neutering will help with aggressive behavior and litter training as well. Most bunnies instinctively don't like to be picked up, so getting down on the floor and petting them is the best way to interact. Changing the litter daily should take care of the smell. If you call a local animal shelter they should be able to give you help with any behavior problems. Hope everything works out for you and your buns. :)
I agree about bringing them in and cleaning the cage. What I like to do is along with placing them on our laps and petting them opposed to holding them so much with my hands if they are aggressive is the treats...our female was getting nippy so we fed her a carrot and she calmed down, let us pet her, slept on us..I have an outside pen she can't get out of and nothing can get in and she plays in the shade, and is in it at night (has a box she sleeps in and hides). My yard is fenced in and nothing can get her. Then daily she comes in. Her cage is small now but between the playpen outside and holding her and feeding her. She only sleeps in her cage during the heat of the day. Stores or pet supply stores also have fold up play yards up for inside excersize and they can have a litterbox in there to dig in and try to use. I always put poo in the litterboxes to help train them. Then put toys and a nice stick in there for them to chew and play. Get a harness and leash and let the kids excersize them in the yard...we just let ours run loose because he's a flemish giant and almost 20lbs. But he will go on a harness and leash to go somewhere, like gma's.
If the kids want them, you may as well work out the kinks. I have had bunnies for years and rescued some from the shelter when they weren't adopted and there are all kinds of attitudes with all sorts of breeds of bunnies. I think they are worse than cats in the respect of "you are beneath them" and get hateful if you can't obey bunny law. look up rabbit language on google or go to http://language.rabbitspeak.com (Language of the Lagomorphs)
I understood better when I knew they don't just eat and poo...
Fly Strike alert!!!
- missionarywifey
on Jul. 26, 2010 at 6:23 AM