QuestionQUESTION: We're new rabbit owners and getting a bit frustrated. Our Holland Lop is just over 9 weeks old and has been with us for about two weeks. Sometimes it seems like she's getting the whole litter training thing and then it seems like she's totally oblivious! For a few days she seemed to only urinate (although not poo) in her litter box in her cage. Now, she's spreading everything all over the cage. Also, I thought she understood to use her box when out of the cage. Now, it seems she's not into that anymore either. Is she too young to train? Should I just take the litter box out of her cage, let her pick a corner and try again in a week or so?
ANSWER: Dear Debra,
Sorry for the delay. We had a bit of computer downtime, and I'm only now accessing AllExperts. :(
A young rabbit can't be confidently litter trained until spayed/neutered, and things will get worse once she reaches puberty. Please read:
www.bio.miami.edu/hare/training.html
and
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/litter.html
for loads of litter training tips. But mostly be patient, as she really is a baby still.
Holland Lops are notorious for having big personalities and lots of attitude, so punishment is *right out*. Just love and patience with the techniques described above, and I hope things will work out soon.
Good luck!
Dana
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer at all, Dr. Krempels. No worries about the wait.
Sorry...I'm not sure I understood your comment about punishments. They should be avoided or are they appropriate? We've just told her a stern NO when we catch her urinating in the wrong place and stick her back in her cage if she's out. Is that a mistake. I can see what you mean about big personalities--I think she's definitely going to have one of those.
Debra
AnswerDear Debra,
Positive reinforcement works better with rabbits (and most any intelligent animal) than punishment. And if you have a bunny with Attitude, then punishment is going to do more harm than good.
If bun urinates in the wrong place, don't punish the bunny. Just mop it up with a bit of tissue, put it in the litterbox, and deodorize the "no" spot with some white vinegar to discourage repeat performances.
When she goes into the litterbox, praise her copiously! It also helps to cover the litter with a thin layer of soft timothy hay and create a pile of timothy hay for nibbling in the corner of the box. This will encourage her to jump into the box and "do her business" while she nibbles hay (kind of like reading on the john?).
I've found that any sort of punishment (except perhaps a little squirt with a water bottle for *really* bad behavior, but not accompanied by a "no". You don't want her to associate YOU with the water squirt--just the bad behavior.) is counterproductive in rabbits. It just makes them angry and resentful, and worst of all, will make them dislike you.
Rabbits don't behave badly on purpose. They just behave. And they think we are crazy when we punish them for doing what they think is normal and natural.
You just can't argue with that kind of bunny logic.
Hope that helps.
Dana