Rescued Rabbit - Training Help?

Question

This past weekend I adopted (rescued?) a male lop-eared rabbit. He has been neutered but I gather that his past living conditions were less than optimal, though he was not mistreated. I suspect he is about 2 years old and weighes nearly 7lbs. He was never litter-box trained and unlike what I've read in countless books, he is not "tidy" (ie, he will poop and urinate by his food, or wherever he pleases, never in the same spot, but never over the edge of the cage). I've tried moving the soiled bedding to the litter box but it's not working! Any other suggestions?

Also, he is EXTREMELY skiddish and does not like to be touched or held. Any ideas on bonding? He has already scratched my arm up pretty badly and thumped at me. Will he 'stay mad' or 'get over it'?

Thanks for any responses! I really do appreciate it!

Answer 1

Well, the peeing or pooping anywhere is partly common. You might try moving his food to a different corner of the pen or buying a J-feeder that is up off the ground. Rabbits normally pick a corner that they like to pee or poop in the most. Notice that I said, the most and not all the time. You might be putting his feed in the corner he likes to pe and poop in. Try moving it to the middle front or middl of his cage.

Also don't make any sudden moves around your cage. That can scare your rabbit. Sudden sounds will also do that. I'd recommend you play a radio around his pen 24/7 if you can. That will get your rabbit accustomed to sound so it doesn't get scared when it hears sudden sounds.

As far as taming your rabbit down, start petting him on the head between the eyes. Some rabbits don't like to be held. However, some of what can cause a rabbit to kick and fuss while you are holding it is how you hold it. The rabbit has to feel balanced. If you or I feel off-balanced, what is the first thing we do? We stick our arm or leg out to rebalance ourself. A rabbit will do the same thing, however when they do since you are holding it that results in a scratch.

The best way to pick a rabbit up is to place one hand under his chest and the other on his rear end then lift him up and put his head in the armpit of the arm that is holding his but. That gives him a place where he feels like he can hide. And by picking him up that way he feels more balanced. It can take sup practice. Until you get better at it, cut out the ends of an old pair of socks you have and slide one over each one of your arms or where a semi-thick old coat.

Unless your rabbit is really used to you holding it, NEVER hold it like a baby. You risk getting your stomach and possibly your arms all scratched up.

If you want to give your rabbit a snack, give it a half slice of bread a day. No more than a half slice though. Rabbits tend to like bread.

It will take patience and practice. For petting, I recommend you get take your rabbit out of the cage and place it on a table with a small carpet pad (you can pick some up at almost any carpet store for free, they should have plenty of old sample carpet pads they plan to get rid of). For rabbits that are a little on the aggressive side, it is best to take them out of their cage before petting. The cage is THEIR territory and the rabbit will behave much better once it is out of the cage usually.

If you have too much trouble picking up and holding your rabbit, ask a local person who shows rabbits. Local 4-H fairs should be coming up so, so you should be able to ask one of the 4-Hers. Ask someone who has raised and shown them for a number of years.

Answer 2

Also, do you have bedding in your cage? If so, take it out- just stick with a solid bottom. Then he'll be more likely to just use the litterbox.