Pet Care

House Training Rabbits

Before a rabbit is brought into the house for training you must ensure the house is bunny proof. There are many things around a house which can be dangerous to an inquisitive rabbit.

Electrical wires should be out of reach or protected so they cannot be chewed.
Doors need to be wedged open so the rabbit cannot get trapped in them. However, external doors should be locked so the rabbit cannot escape.
Any stairs should be blocked off so the rabbit cannot fall up or down them.
Any appliances, such as a washing machine, should be kept shut as inquisitive bunnies may climb in un-noticed.
Plants may be poisonous and need to be out of chewing reach.
Slippery floors such as lino, tiles or wooden flooring are not good as rabbits find it difficult to grip.
Rabbits find magazines and books very tempting. It is not because they enjoy reading but they enjoy chewing and they will be in shreds in no time!
Rabbits like to chew and will chew table legs, wooden furniture and even the wooden trim on the settee. There are repellents that can be used to try and stop chewing if the item cannot be removed.
Heavy water and feeding bowls are needed so a rabbit cannot tip them or chew them.
Plenty of toys should be provided to enrich the environment and prevent boredom. A bored rabbit may begin to show behavioural problems.

House training a rabbit does require time and patience, although it is not very hard to do as rabbits are intelligent animals which are eager to learn and enjoy food rewards.

Rabbits need a house or a den where they can eat, sleep and feel safe. Rabbits like to toilet in the same place/area so a litter tray with absorbent litter should be provided. Litter which clumps can be problematic if eaten, whilst dust litter such as sawdust may cause respiratory problems. A rabbit will quickly choose where it would like to go to the toilet and a litter tray should be placed in that area. This is the first step to training.

Rabbits may leave droppings on the floor when they are first moved in; this is territory marking. The droppings should be picked up and placed in the litter tray. The rabbit will soon get used to using the tray. If you see the rabbit going to the toilet outside the tray, you should pick the rabbit up and place the rabbit in the tray. Putting the rabbit in the tray if an accident happens also reinforces the litter tray rule.

If a rabbit is house trained and starts urinating outside the litter tray, a veterinary opinion will be needed as this could indicate an infection.

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