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Working with Molly
Topic Started: Apr 7 2014, 07:09 AM (413 Views)
ZRabbits
Love My Lions!
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My Molly has a bit of a food aggression in the morning. Always with a lunge and a nip. Just once as I guess she figures out afterwards that it's me.

So last night, giving treats to the Z-Tribe, I tried something different. Usually I give treats in their bowls, but with Molly I hand fed. She did really well. Very gently taking the treats from my hands. This morning, no lunge or nip.

Maybe I have something? She might now be associating my hand as getting something good to eat. Or maybe I got her on a good day, lol. Don't know but will try this method again. Nicely surprised this morning with a very calm bun.

Know she's a good girl. Have no problems with taking her out of her crate, grooming, or just allowing her to have exercise. And am not going to go to the expense of spaying her to try to relieve this one bad habit. There has to be a way. Maybe I hit that way. Will see.

KAZ
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sidd-says-gimme
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Let us know how it goes! Maybe she will start to recognize you by smell, rather than sight (or lack of). :D Good luck Molly!
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ZRabbits
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So far, knock on wood, it's going well. Second morning with Molly, sitting so nicely waiting for me. I think the "scent" thing is our key. Molly with all that guard hair in her face, plus with the pink eyes, might not be able to see as well as the others. She can hear perfectly. When my husband whispers her name, she always stops and looks at him. Hearing is good.

She takes the treats from my hand very nicely. Very petite and gentle. So will keep going with this. I think we did hit on something. Molly is a joy 90% of the time, and hopefully this will keep going well and she will hit that 100%. Last two mornings, what a pleasure seeing Molly.

Fingers crossed it continues.

KAZ
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ZRabbits
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So far, Molly has been a peach in the morning. It worked! I should have done this sooner, instead of dreading seeing my sweet girl. She is a very sweet girl.

Love the fact that in the morning, she finds a spot and stays there. And when I open her crate now, she will smell my hand and back off and wait until I return. I tell her I will be right back. I use the "wait" command.

She now watches me, which is a breakthrough. I hate to startle any bunny, in fear that they will injure themselves. So just changed my way of approaching Molly and it worked. Plus the fact that now she considers my hand a good thing as the feeding of the treats was the key.

KAZ
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sidd-says-gimme
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sidd says stay gold
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:D !!!
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ZRabbits
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sidd-says-gimme
Apr 10 2014, 04:23 PM
:D !!!
Thanks!

KAZ
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NeuBunny
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:P hope it is still working!
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ZRabbits
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Still working...like a charm! Molly now goes to her litter box and sits there until I come back with her morning pellets.

KAZ
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sidd-says-gimme
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Great, awesome, amazing news!
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ZRabbits
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sidd-says-gimme
Apr 14 2014, 06:42 PM
Great, awesome, amazing news!
Thanks Sidd,

I think I hit a maturing phase with Molly that has helped a lot with her "food aggression". These are just my observations with my Tribe. I really don't know if this would work with other rabbits and their food aggression, but it worked like a charm here.

Neville/Luna kits got their personalities, which are sweet, gentle, curious, affectionate, and funnier then all get out. So knew Molly had it in her. Just was a bit longer to mature than the others.

But like I said, I really don't know what I actually did, but just glad it's working.

KAZ
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NeuBunny
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Glad it is working for you too. That's all we can ever really offer each other -- what works for us and our bunnies. Never any guarantee that what works for one will for the next. More trial and error than we may like, but that's life.
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ZRabbits
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My Molly is a pleasure now in the morning. Love seeing her little face. No more attempts to nip.

Knew she had it in her. Lovely personalities from both her parents, so knew it was hidden inside her. Just needed a little bit more time and work.

Plus have to say, white rabbits with pink eyes, definitely a potential for "shortsightedness". Working with her strengths which is smell and hearing. She now knows my scent as well as my voice.

KAZ
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sidd-says-gimme
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This is seriously incredible. I saw a bit of nervousness in my REW doe when put in an unfamiliar place but my buck... well, he doesn't seem to care. He used to scan a lot, but now he's a relaxed kind of guy. He's about 3 months old now, hopefully he stays this way.
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ZRabbits
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sidd-says-gimme
Apr 24 2014, 08:24 AM
This is seriously incredible. I saw a bit of nervousness in my REW doe when put in an unfamiliar place but my buck... well, he doesn't seem to care. He used to scan a lot, but now he's a relaxed kind of guy. He's about 3 months old now, hopefully he stays this way.
Bucks have it a bit easier on the "nervous" department.

Definitely Molly scans still. So working with her strengths which is her hearing and her smelling ability (to pick up my scent). Fleur only scans when she hears something that startles her, or something new is in the room. Other than that, she never had a problem focusing on me when I feed her. Actually she's right there showing me where everything is supposed to go. lol.

KAZ
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ZRabbits
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Molly has really come around and is looking for us now. Mornings are a pleasure seeing that sweet face, and coming home from work, she's right there to greet me. Molly absolutely loves going outside playing in the dirt, enjoying greeting those Z-Tribe members around her. And snuggle, she snuggles right down now when I'm holding her. Loves her grooming time.

My shy girl is no longer shy! Amazing what just a bit more work and attention can do for a shy girl to open up!

KAZ
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