rita1234 wrote:
Thanks so much guys! I got one and guess what? They saw how in love with her I was and now she's inside
they don't mind as long as I keep her clean!
Awesome!. Glad that worked out. Rabbits are usually very food motivated, and surprisingly intelligent! Most are very trainable.
The main thing to remember is that they are prey animals, and respond badly to aggressiveness. When you train a bunny you need to use positive reinforcement, rather than negative (look that up on google if you're not sure what it means). Positive reinforcement and Operant Conditioning work very well with rabbits, so read up on that.
Of course, if they are doing something very destructive or dangerous some negative intervention may be necessary, but be gentle about it. Clap your hands or stomp your foot loudly and shout NO!". And if that's not enough of a deterrent, pick her up and move her away, or place some kind of barrier in font of her and gently push her away. Some people find that a squirt from a water bottle is also effective.
There are some rabbits that just don't seem trainable, and for those prevention is the only solution. Keep them contained (easier said than done), and barricade off areas they're not allowed when they're out playing.
Also, in regards to your screened in patio, that sounds like an excellent play area for your bunn, even if she is kept indoors most of the time. Bunnys need a lot of "out" time and room to run around. Just be aware that their teeth are sharp as knives and they can chew through just about anything. Typical home screens will not be much of a barricade, since a bunny could chew trough that in no time. Get some cage wire or pet screen protection grates to cover the lower parts of the screens.
Give the bunn lots of stuff to chew on. Old phone books, cardboard boxes (I usually use food grade cardboard, like cereal boxes) and plain, untreated wood are cheap chew toys. My bunny, Zoom-zoom loves the
eCOTRITION Snak Shak Treat Stuffer chew logs. A large one will usually last him several weeks to a month.
Congratulations on your new companion. Keeping a rabbit is quite an adventure. They are always surprising, and you will probably learn as much from her as she will from you. Give her lots of love and play time and she will reward you in unexpected ways.
I used to be a dog person, until a chance encounter brought the Zoomer into my life. And now, after nearly two years together, I can't imagine a better pet. He is awesome!