I have been offered a 9 week old baby Lionhead buck rabbit. Before I decided if I want him I was wondering if anyone on here has experience with housetraining a rabbit? Especially the litter training bit! I do have a garden but would prefer to have him as a house rabbit. Also would it be a good idea to neuter him if I do go ahead and take him? I already have a dog and four cats, so the lady said it would be a good idea to neuter him! She said that Lionhead rabbits stay small about 3 1/2 pounds is as big as he will get. She also said he has a really friendly temperament. I had a Netherland Dwarf rabbit years ago and it was a female and had a terrible temperament with other animals, especially my cats and she used to attack them at all angles, the cats were about four times bigger than the rabbit but were petrified, so I ended up giving her to a friend, but have been told since that Netherlands can sometimes not be the friendliest, also I should have neutered her. Anyone with experience with rabbits on here I would greatly appreciate their advice.
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I had a big male Angora, Oscar, he came to me housetrained
but the previous owner said he was very easy to train. My cat
would stay away from him but i must say he didnt seem to be
interested in the cat.
All he wanted to do was lay on the sofa and watch TV
Wouldn't fancy Oscar's chances here now with the girls :unsure:
but the previous owner said he was very easy to train. My cat
would stay away from him but i must say he didnt seem to be
interested in the cat.
All he wanted to do was lay on the sofa and watch TV
Wouldn't fancy Oscar's chances here now with the girls :unsure:
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Ive got Netherland Dwarfs and a Lionhead too...but all mine live outdoors...
Im not a big fan of house rabbits....but suppose I do have whippets too... :lol:
there is no way mine could live in the house.
They are house trainable if you get a large litter tray with a drop front...rabbits tend to be very clean and use one place to do their droppings...
Most of my dwarfs/lionheads have been friendly little characters, but at the farm where I work we have come across one or two quite nasty ones....depends on how they have been handled sometimes. The ones we had that used to bite were the albinos..but that isnt always the case of course. We also have a lionhead called Dillon and hes really skitty when you first get him out for the children then he soon calms down once hes having a cuddle.. :huggles:
Im sure you could house train one successfully with lots of patience...otherwise why hot keep him or her outside and bring them inside for excercise and cuddles like we do. :thumbsup:
ooo meant to add I know some folks neuter their rabbits too....Ive never ever had one done...and they are housed seperatly...but can see each other. It is quite a simple procedure at the vets for rabbits, if you do decide to have yours done.
Im not a big fan of house rabbits....but suppose I do have whippets too... :lol:
there is no way mine could live in the house.
They are house trainable if you get a large litter tray with a drop front...rabbits tend to be very clean and use one place to do their droppings...
Most of my dwarfs/lionheads have been friendly little characters, but at the farm where I work we have come across one or two quite nasty ones....depends on how they have been handled sometimes. The ones we had that used to bite were the albinos..but that isnt always the case of course. We also have a lionhead called Dillon and hes really skitty when you first get him out for the children then he soon calms down once hes having a cuddle.. :huggles:
Im sure you could house train one successfully with lots of patience...otherwise why hot keep him or her outside and bring them inside for excercise and cuddles like we do. :thumbsup:
ooo meant to add I know some folks neuter their rabbits too....Ive never ever had one done...and they are housed seperatly...but can see each other. It is quite a simple procedure at the vets for rabbits, if you do decide to have yours done.
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our wonderful rabbit has recently died and as he was a house rabbit we all miss him so much
he started life as an outside bunny with his brother, but when his brother died Binks started to come in the house more and more - he used to just appear whenever the back door was open.
when we moved we decided to keep him inside as he enjoyed the company of our four cats who took to him really well - Binks would just run at them if they became too playful and the cats soon learnt
we kept him in an indoor wire cage with the doors open all day so he could come and go - i just always closed the door at night and partially covered the cage with a blanket.
he also had regular trips out in the garden - as long as the space is secure it is lovely to see them running around rather than being shut in a rabbit run.
we also had two whippets - talulla arrived as an 8 week old pup so she was easy to train not to attack Binks
Bean was a year old and it took a while for her to accept that he was not dinner but we got there in the end!
Ghille and Mabel also arrived as pups and never really seemed to pay him any more attention to him than they did the cats - he was just part of the pack
he was always very, very clean and only soiled in one corner of his cage - be warned that rabbits will chew cables and house plants.
Binks was also neutered - it makes for a happier and cleaner bunny (no spraying)
hope this helps and good luck!
house rabbits are lovely :wub:
he started life as an outside bunny with his brother, but when his brother died Binks started to come in the house more and more - he used to just appear whenever the back door was open.
when we moved we decided to keep him inside as he enjoyed the company of our four cats who took to him really well - Binks would just run at them if they became too playful and the cats soon learnt
we kept him in an indoor wire cage with the doors open all day so he could come and go - i just always closed the door at night and partially covered the cage with a blanket.
he also had regular trips out in the garden - as long as the space is secure it is lovely to see them running around rather than being shut in a rabbit run.
we also had two whippets - talulla arrived as an 8 week old pup so she was easy to train not to attack Binks
Bean was a year old and it took a while for her to accept that he was not dinner but we got there in the end!
Ghille and Mabel also arrived as pups and never really seemed to pay him any more attention to him than they did the cats - he was just part of the pack
he was always very, very clean and only soiled in one corner of his cage - be warned that rabbits will chew cables and house plants.
Binks was also neutered - it makes for a happier and cleaner bunny (no spraying)
hope this helps and good luck!
house rabbits are lovely :wub:
Hi,
I'm rabbitless now for the first time in 15 years I wont get anymore because of the dogs, however we've had 2 houserabbits and they were great.
They must be neutered to litter train properly, and you need to start off by confining them in a smaller area with a litter tray, letting them out to play, and building the time that they are out. When you see them returning to the litter tray to use it you know you've cracked it. I'd get a roomy indoor dog cage and put a blanket over the top to start off with. You can make litter trays more appealing by putting lots of hay in there, or even a hay rack next to it. Rabbits seem to like pooing and chewing at the same time :lol: Hay can make a mess indoors but its essential for them so there's no avoiding it.
He will chew and dig, obviously as he is a rabbit, so you'll need to provide places for him to do both - like a lovely deep litter tray filled with hay, and there are lots of chew toys available for rabbits nowadays. He is only 9 weeks, they are little hellers till they are 18 months, and they settle down,so be prepared for the accidents - I closed the kitchen door by accident once and prevented him getting to his water bowl and litter tray - when I got back home he'd tried to clear the avalance (kitchen door) by digging a lovely hole in the carpet, and he always nibbled the plaster off the fireplace. He loved lying on our bed and would come downstairs for a wee and a drink then go back up to bed again. When I'm too decrepid to walk dogs I'll definately have a houserabbit again.
I think being a house rabbit offers them a lot of freedom (the whole house to run about in when supervised) and companionship from the family. However, it's not free from disaster and I personally think that if you have a houserabbit you have to be prepared to put up with the odd poo on the floor and a few nibbles. If it doesnt work it's terribly unfair to rehome them on as outdoor rabbits cooped up once they've had a taste of freedom. (unless they go out in the warm weather and in a massive enclosure so they have lots of space - and with another neutered rabbit) Dont rush into it, make sure you can stick through it through thick and thin.
Remember that he'll need myxi (every 6 months) and VHD jabs (every 12 months) and loinheads often have teeth problems - meaning possible frequent dentals from the vet. Not all vets are good with rabbits (they are not little cats they are totally different) so make sure you find a vet that neuters / aneasthnetises them often and is happy to see them.
There's loads of info on this website
www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk
Females are always grumpier, especially if they arent neutered, perhaps that's why you found yours so tempremental.
:luck: with whatever you decide.
I'm rabbitless now for the first time in 15 years
I wont get anymore because of the dogs, however we've had 2 houserabbits and they were great.They must be neutered to litter train properly, and you need to start off by confining them in a smaller area with a litter tray, letting them out to play, and building the time that they are out. When you see them returning to the litter tray to use it you know you've cracked it. I'd get a roomy indoor dog cage and put a blanket over the top to start off with. You can make litter trays more appealing by putting lots of hay in there, or even a hay rack next to it. Rabbits seem to like pooing and chewing at the same time :lol: Hay can make a mess indoors but its essential for them so there's no avoiding it.
He will chew and dig, obviously as he is a rabbit, so you'll need to provide places for him to do both - like a lovely deep litter tray filled with hay, and there are lots of chew toys available for rabbits nowadays. He is only 9 weeks, they are little hellers till they are 18 months, and they settle down,so be prepared for the accidents - I closed the kitchen door by accident once and prevented him getting to his water bowl and litter tray - when I got back home he'd tried to clear the avalance (kitchen door) by digging a lovely hole in the carpet, and he always nibbled the plaster off the fireplace. He loved lying on our bed and would come downstairs for a wee and a drink then go back up to bed again. When I'm too decrepid to walk dogs I'll definately have a houserabbit again.
I think being a house rabbit offers them a lot of freedom (the whole house to run about in when supervised) and companionship from the family. However, it's not free from disaster and I personally think that if you have a houserabbit you have to be prepared to put up with the odd poo on the floor and a few nibbles. If it doesnt work it's terribly unfair to rehome them on as outdoor rabbits cooped up once they've had a taste of freedom. (unless they go out in the warm weather and in a massive enclosure so they have lots of space - and with another neutered rabbit) Dont rush into it, make sure you can stick through it through thick and thin.
Remember that he'll need myxi (every 6 months) and VHD jabs (every 12 months) and loinheads often have teeth problems - meaning possible frequent dentals from the vet. Not all vets are good with rabbits (they are not little cats they are totally different) so make sure you find a vet that neuters / aneasthnetises them often and is happy to see them.
There's loads of info on this website
www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk
Females are always grumpier, especially if they arent neutered, perhaps that's why you found yours so tempremental.
:luck: with whatever you decide.
Thanks so much for all your advice :thumbsup: I appreciate it. It's good to get first hand knowledge of people who have experience, as I want to make sure I am making the correct decision if I go ahead and take him. As you said it wouldn't be fair to take him, then pass him on a few months later to a home that would maybe keep him in a hut outside all the time, after having so much human contact.Rae said:Hi,
I'm rabbitless now for the first time in 15 years
They must be neutered to litter train properly, and you need to start off by confining them in a smaller area with a litter tray, letting them out to play, and building the time that they are out. When you see them returning to the litter tray to use it you know you've cracked it. I'd get a roomy indoor dog cage and put a blanket over the top to start off with. You can make litter trays more appealing by putting lots of hay in there, or even a hay rack next to it. Rabbits seem to like pooing and chewing at the same time :lol: Hay can make a mess indoors but its essential for them so there's no avoiding it.
He will chew and dig, obviously as he is a rabbit, so you'll need to provide places for him to do both - like a lovely deep litter tray filled with hay, and there are lots of chew toys available for rabbits nowadays. He is only 9 weeks, they are little hellers till they are 18 months, and they settle down,so be prepared for the accidents - I closed the kitchen door by accident once and prevented him getting to his water bowl and litter tray - when I got back home he'd tried to clear the avalance (kitchen door) by digging a lovely hole in the carpet, and he always nibbled the plaster off the fireplace. He loved lying on our bed and would come downstairs for a wee and a drink then go back up to bed again. When I'm too decrepid to walk dogs I'll definately have a houserabbit again.
I think being a house rabbit offers them a lot of freedom (the whole house to run about in when supervised) and companionship from the family. However, it's not free from disaster and I personally think that if you have a houserabbit you have to be prepared to put up with the odd poo on the floor and a few nibbles. If it doesnt work it's terribly unfair to rehome them on as outdoor rabbits cooped up once they've had a taste of freedom. (unless they go out in the warm weather and in a massive enclosure so they have lots of space - and with another neutered rabbit) Dont rush into it, make sure you can stick through it through thick and thin.
Remember that he'll need myxi (every 6 months) and VHD jabs (every 12 months) and loinheads often have teeth problems - meaning possible frequent dentals from the vet. Not all vets are good with rabbits (they are not little cats they are totally different) so make sure you find a vet that neuters / aneasthnetises them often and is happy to see them.
There's loads of info on this website
www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk
Females are always grumpier, especially if they arent neutered, perhaps that's why you found yours so tempremental.
:luck: with whatever you decide.
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