How to Train Your Rabbit Not to Chew or Dig Household Items

Rabbits love to chew and dig; it's part of their nature, and house rabbits are no different. But there are ways to get them to stop chewing or digging to the point of destruction.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bitter Apple Sprays
• White Vinegar
• White Vinegar

1. Clap loudly and shout, "No no no no no!" along with your rabbit's name when you catch her digging or chewing something in the house.

2. Continue to do this until your rabbit stops chewing or digging. You may have to do this a number of times in a row; rabbits will often pretend they don't hear you, or will look straight at you, then decide to ignore you.

3. Walk toward her, clapping and saying, "No no no no no!" until she stops or hops away. Walking toward her will get her attention and show you are serious about wanting her to stop.

4. Stomp on the floor with your foot (like a rabbit) and shout, "No no no no no!" and your rabbit's name. Rabbits stomp with one back foot when there is danger, when they want to communicate their displeasure, or when they want to be noticed. When you use this same behavior with them, it often gets results.

5. Use bitter apple spray or white vinegar on the items your rabbit tends to chew on. She may eventually return to the item after the smell has worn off, but you can apply it again.

6. Keep computer cords and cables, telephone cords and other electrical cords out of reach or your rabbit may decide to chew on them.

Tips & Warnings

• Shouting and clapping will get your rabbit's attention. Unfortunately, until your rabbit associates the shouting and clapping with their true meaning, she may just ignore you. Sometimes you have to reteach a rabbit because, like children, they may forget.
• If you call your rabbit's name when you verbally scold her, she'll get used to hearing it, and so will any other rabbits in the house. This is especially helpful if you have more than one rabbit, so the other rabbit will know that you're not scolding him.
• Do not hit your rabbit or scare her with loud noises. Hitting will not help and will only make your rabbit fear you. You can also seriously injure a rabbit if you hit her, because a rabbit's bones are fragile and break easily.

[rabbitlover]

on 4/5/2009 I take a plastic box, like those Tubberware or what ever it's called, and make a little digging box. Fill it with sand. Maybe sometimes you could hide treats or their favorite toy in there. Praise them when they dig in their box, not your stuff. If you don't put treats hidden in the sand, then when they get out of the digging box, give them a treat or a favorite toy to praise them.

[chanz]

on 2/28/2007 from what i read in many web, clapping and speak loudly can make rabbit's ears hurt. because sounds of clapping can be very sharp for them.
so i think, much more better if we use crittercord, just like J.White said.

on 12/15/2005 Try a product called Crittercord. I've noticed that rabbits rely on smell more than taste. What tastes bad to us doesn't always taste all that bad to rabbits. Crittercord has a built in smell deterrent, which rabbits don't like, and it also covers the cord so there is an extra level of protection. Oh, and it's clear so you don't have that that ugly black or yellow cord cover showing all the time!

on 11/22/2005 I had a hard time stopping my rabbit from chewing, until I started using vinegar. He hates the smell, and will run from whatever has been sprayed. You will need to re-spray after a few days (if they go back). I also would tell him he was being a "bad bunny" a few times and put him in time out (in his cage) for a few minutes. Now, all I have to do is say "bad bunny," and he knows he had better stop what he is doing or he will be punished.

on 11/22/2005 Never scare or scold a rabbit! Instead, outsmart him. For digging rabbits, place a phone book under an overturned box with entrance holes cut in it. Put a treat inside. My rabbits love their "phone booths," and they go through a phone book a year!

For chewing rabbits, temporarily cover the item they want to chew and put chew toys in their food area, along with a treat. I buy wooden spoons at the thrift shop, and they love to chew them! Also my rabbits love banana-flavored dog chew bones.