Any good methods on getting your rabbit to NOT CHEW THINGS?

[leid]

One of my rabbits, Apollo, seems to love chewing chords. I just found my printer cable chewed to shreds. Now, granted, I know that HE knows he isn't supposed to chew, because whenever I catch him chewing he'll run straight for his cage to hide. Also, when I'm watching him, he'll behave. It's when he knows I'm not looking he'll misbehave.

Yes, my rabbit is THIS smart. It's kind of scary. I've tried vinegar on the cables, but to no avail. Any rabbit experts? I want him out to get exercise, but he's so naughty. My other rabbit, Bernard is like perfectly behaved. He just hops around and plays in my patio blinds. LOL. How do I get Apollo to be like him?

 

[kenya]

You need to bunny proof the rooms your rabbit is allowed in. They WILL chew cords...and many other things. It is instinct as their teeth are constantly growing. I will look up some links for you really quickly.

Edit:

http://www.willasark.com/bunproof.cfm

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/rabbit-proofing.html

http://www.binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/BunnyProofingYourHome/tabid/61/Default.aspx

There are tons of other sites with info, but these are some of the top.

 

[BunnyGirl]

Hello,
I am rabbit breeder in NH. You should go either online or to a Homedepot/Lowes and find cord protector. The are long pieces of plastic that you put the cord through and they cannot get to it to chew it. You shoudl also give them hard food like carrots, and lots of wooden toys to chew on.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Rabbits are more intelligent that some people give them credit for. Give him something more interesting to chew on (as was indicated above, they must chew to wear down their ever growing teeth) or remove cord hazards and anything else you dont want messed with.

When I had a rabbit some years ago, she was trained on where she was allowed to be, where to poop, and what was a good thing to chew on (rewards work well).

 

[leid]

Well first he really enjoyed paper. He would literally sneak up on me while I was doing my homework, grab one of my assignments and run off. I'd spend 15 minutes chasing him down trying to get it away from him.

So problem was solved by throwing down a couple sheets of paper in spots he liked to hang out. He'd just chew it up and spit it out; I made sure he wasn't ingesting it. Well now he's bored of paper and the only thing he seems to like more than wires is carpet.

He's a beautiful belgian hare and -needs- his exercise. Ill get the wires bunny-proofed but any advice on the carpet?

 

[blackbetty]

Plain Ivory soap.. Rub it on whatever..Heard they dont chew.. I dont have that prob. We used PVC to cover the cords and the Applebitter spray for baseboard..

 

[leid]

I know!

I could give him a lobotomy.

 

[blackbetty]

I think that falls under animal abuse/cruelty...

I dont know..set boundaries..when he does that, put him away either in a cage or a corner that you have cut off..or even the bathroom.. its apain but eventually he will associate it and figure it out... They are smart enough to be litter trained!! Does he have any toys? I find tyhat baby toys work wonders..like teething keys and things that they they can throw around..

 

[leid]

LOL. Oh god. I punish him so much. He doesn't care. I don't want to hit him or anything.

I'll like to to the bathroom, come back, and he's sitting there with carpet in his mouth. Without me even saying anything he will THUMP loud and start running. He -knows- he's a naughty bunny!

Every toy ive ever given him he doesn't like.

that lobotomy comment was a joke btw. ;p

 

[blackbetty]

I know it was..Doesnt mean others do

Ha, sounds like you got a fiesty bunny!! Sam ate carpet too.. We would just have to confine his roaming space..trying covering it with a blanket or something? I dunno hun..Mine live on concrete!

 

[BunnyGirl]

I cover my carpets with indoor/outdoor carpet from Homedepot/ Lowes. They can still have a carpet to dig at (digging is a nautral habit, they usually dig warrens in the wild) Hope this helps!

 

[blackbetty]

What about getting his the woven mat to chew on? I get mine at Petsmart (shh dont tell anyone I go there). I also buy them the woven balls with bells in them. three for 9.99 or like 3.99 each.. they love this. Its safe to chew and they like to play.

 

[kenya]

Sounds like your guy needs more interesting toys. Try some of the ones I mentioned. They are easy to make. He needs more stuff to chew. A phonebook without the cover is a lot of fun for buns- they will rip and dig in it and tear it up. They also like tossing type toys. If all else fails, get a puppy play pen and put it around his cage so he has his own out of cage play area and line the floor with a sturdy tarp so he can't eat the carpet.