Pooping on Bed

Question
I have a 8th month old non spayed female dwarf rabbit who keeps pooping and peeing on my bed. I've spent the last few months or so trying to train her out of the problem but I can't seem to find something that works. When I first got her she had a really small cage since I got her from the pet store and it came with the purcuse. I kept her in her cage for about two weeks, feeding her through the bars until she got used to contact and then slowly letting her out and getting her used to touch. I never gave her a lot of space quickly and slowly let her roam a little more each time and never had any problems with poo or pee, she always used her litter box in her cage.

I used to be able to let her on the bed and she would roam around and sniff and then jump down and roam around other places. About the time she hit three months old though she started pooing on the bed. So everytime I would pick her up and put her on the floor or squirt her with water when she jumped up, since there is really nothing more disgusting than going to lay down in your bed and there be a big pee mark on the bed.

Now I really don't want to put a gate around my bed, she doesn't have the whole house to roam in only my room, and frankly my room just really isn't that big. What is really weird is when I went on vacation in july, I left her at a friends house who allowed her free roam, and she never peed or pooed on anyones bed, always used her litterbox and went as far as chasing her cats around the house and riding her dogs.

When she got home, she didn't pee or poo on the bed agian, though she did take to a corner in the closet which I just cleaned really well and opened up and now shes fine. two weeks into the miraculous change she suddenly jumped up onto the bed while I was watching tv and proceeded to pee on the bed.

I spent some more time trying to break the habit and so far all I have managed is her not peeing or pooing while I watch, she won't go on the bed when Im around because she knows I'll squirt her but the minute I leave the room even if its only for five minutes she jumps up there and starts pooing and peeing. the same happens when im asleep, i'll kick her off at least once an hour as she keeps jumping up and sometimes she'll manage to sneak past my light sleeping habits and I'll wake up with poo and pee all over my bed.

I built her a whole new bunny condo with a nicer litter box, and got her new toys, I give her as much attention as I can but its getting out of control. There's got to be at least 50 some poos on the floor alone that I got off my bed and I know she never poos this much in her litter box every day. And as I was going to wash my bed sheets, again, I saw she peed all over rollerskating bag. Its like all her potty training is suddenly receeding. if shes gonna start pooing and peeing on everything shes just not going to be allowed out of her cage, and I don't think any animal deserves that. I don't want to get rid of her but I don't know what else to do.

Please help, thanks.

Answer
Hi Cassandra,

Since we breed our rabbits for meat and show only and sometimes have close to 100 of them, we don't let them roam free in the house so I don't have experience when it comes to housebreaking issues.  House Rabbit Society has a very informative site, and lots of articles on rabbit behavior and potty training that might be helpful for you http://rabbit.org  They also have a facebook page, and if you post your question there you might get lots of great help from others who've experienced the same issue that you're having.  I applaud you for really trying to work with your bunny and get her past this phase rather than dumping her off at the humane society, I'm sure HRS will give you lots of great insight in helping you and your bunny get over her "poo habit".  Blessings, Lori