I Need Ideas! (Rabbit People Look Here!)

iluvdogs111 · June 2009

Well Summer's coming and my rabbits are getting kinda fat. They look pretty bored in that hutch and for there health and enjoyment, I'd really like to give them some more exersice and play time. So...I have no playpen for them. They are in a hutch which is in an area surrounded by a chainlink fence-But there's a wood pile in there they could hop under, and gaps around the gate of the fence so that's a no-no. I have a rabbit leash, but they hate it. I put it on them and they went crazy. That would not be enjoyment for them at all. Anyways, with Summer here I have a lot of time on my hands and I want them to be able to exercise and play more. I want something outdoor because putting them inside is too much of a hassle for playtime. I need ideas on either: <ul class="bb-list-unordered">A. Getting them used to the leash (Possibly?) B. Where to find a cheap playpen C. Any other play/exercise ideas </ul> Please help! :D

NickelbackLuver · June 2009

What kind of leash do you use? I use a harness, and I keep it fairly loose around the neck. Clover tries to rip it off for a couple minutes, but she sits still when I put it on and everything. I think she gets mad because she thinks its stopping hr from going some places xD

DiamondPuppy0809 · June 2009

My rabbit spazzed when I first put him on the harness, too. I keep the part around the neck tight enough to stay on, but loose enough that he doesn't think it's going to choke him. Eventually, he got used to the fact that he wasn't allowed past where I allowed him on the harness and dealed with it. He was stubborn and reluctant at first, as most rabbits are/should be, but I broke him from the habit of freaking out. I made a little pen for Remi one day when I was bored and trying to find out a way to let him have some fun off the leash. I just used plastic-net-like stuff that we had leftover, some thin wooden poles to support it, and wah-lah! Perfect little play-area (with supervision). Remi loves it. And I like that it's all dirt, so he can dig and not wreck our grass... or eat anything in the grass that could be dangerous... o.o I suggest getting your rabbit used to the harness, but also trying to find/make a pen for him/her. And just play with them and pay lots of attention to them this summer :] They always love that. xD

NeverwinterCC · June 2009

Find a fenced guinea pig pen, they're relativly cheap and 2-3 of them should be enough room, linked together... How big are you're rabbits?

TheProtector · June 2009

Haha I have the same problem with my iguana! He hates his little iguana leash but I'm breaking him to it. I alwasy let him run around the bathroom, if that might work.

iluvdogs111 · June 2009

OK, thanks a lot, that should help. I'll try putting the harness on when they're eating, because that's when they're happiest.

I'll try putting it on often so they get used to it. And my rabbits aren't very big, but they are escape artists.

Boz · June 2009

Put the harness on and let them run around with it on to get used to the feeling of it before hooking the leash to the harness. :] What sort of rabbits do you have? Make sure to never leave them outside unattended!

iluvdogs111 · June 2009

Ugh, I'm so frustrated I'm close to tears. :x I went outside, and decided to focus on one rabbit at a time. I started with my little sister's, Muffin. (She named it.) Anyways, he is most happy when eating, so I gave him some food and put the first part of the harness on. I got the part that goes around his neck on fine, and he didn't seem to mind it. But when I started trying to strap the part that goes around his body on, he hopped away. At first it was no big deal and he simply went back to his food. I tryed again. Same results. But the more he moved, the more the half-put-on-harness moved, and soon it was turned around. Well he did not like that, and when he hopped around the little clips that were supposed to hook around his body started getting caught on the hutch floor because it's made of wire. That got him even more freaked out, and he started hopping around like a maniac. I took it off and took a break. And I really don't want him to hurt himself! Well, I decided that if my little sister could hold him still after I got the neck strap on, it would be easier to put the other part on. This time, of course, he was a little more scared when I put it around his neck because of the past incedent, and he hopped away before my sister could grab him. Well, the same thing happened, and he went to the one corner of the hutch where it's extremly hard to reach him, of course. Then, he came right up to the gate where my little sister was standing, and I yell at her, "Get him and take that off before he hurts himself!" but she just freezes and then he hops away. Finally, I tryed to gently push him away from that back corner. It worked, and I took it off, but I'm so mad because I know that it's just going to make it even harder to get it on the next time. Next time I try he will probably run away as soon as he sees the thing. It's so frustrating! Ugh!

MondyFlax · June 2009

You shouldn't try if he is afraid of it. It probably did hurt him. He could get trauma[sp?] from that. Leave him alone for a few days, then try again. Or else he'd be afraid of it for his life. Then if it doesn't work, I'd suggest not using it and finding something else.

iluvdogs111 · June 2009

Yeah, I'm gonna wait at least a week before I try again, and I'll get my friend to help so it's easier. If it doesn't work, I'll get a playpen.

a-sap · June 2009

I made a 8x8 foot (I think) rabbit pen for about 20 bucks. I can just put my rabbits out all day and they are fine.

iluvdogs111 · June 2009

Well, I did some research and I think if I take it slow I can get him use to it again. If not, a playpen, definatly. Thanks for the advice everyone.

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I Need Ideas! (Rabbit People Look Here!)

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