Congratulations on bringing your new family member home. Like all families, adjusting to a new member can be a challenge for everyone involved. Be aware that new introductions take time and are best done through positive interactions.

There is NO anger or physical punishment recommended in your Pet Parenting lessons. Instead, your Pet enjoys learning and you have fun teaching your rabbit. Gentle training will help prevent fearfulness and aggression.

Your rabbit is changing homes and meeting strangers. Change is stressful for most living beings including rabbits. You can help your rabbit feel safe and secure by providing a confined area that is set up to meet all your rabbit's needs.

Put your rabbit's kennel inside the pen to give your rabbit the option to hide and chill out. You should also try giving your rabbit a special blanket or towel that they can feel comfortable with, but DO NOT give them a shirt because they might get tangled in it.

Why kennel train a rabbit?

Be patient and understanding. Don't expect to see your rabbits' true personality for days to weeks.

Do not introduce households pets until your rabbit has a chance to settle in and become comfortable with you and others in the household. Then, take introductions slowly and carefully by taking a new baby step forward each day.

First impressions are important. Set up controls so that your household Pets and new rabbit have a positive association with the first whiff (behind closed doors) of each other.

Prepare how your will introduce your rabbit to household Pets

In addition to lowering your rabbit's stress, another big advantage of confining your house rabbit in his or her pen during week one, is being able to control where your rabbit chews, scratches, and goes potty. Your rabbit learns your house rules because you limit the options (and therefore prevent mistakes). From the start, your rabbit learns to chew and go potty in the right places.

Why litterbox train your rabbit?

Litterbox cleanliness - toss out the litter every day.

Do not give your rabbit free roam of a room until your rabbit is in the habit of using the litter box and chewing on what you place in the pen.

After your rabbit uses the litterbox when given freedom in a rabbit-proofed room being let out of his/her pen, then you can consider taking more small steps toward enjoying a house rabbit who free roams your home.

When you see your rabbit use the litter box praise your rabbit in a soothing voice and offer a treat. This lets your rabbit know that you (the provider of treats) approve. This will make your rabbit more likely to repeat the good behavior.

If your rabbit does not use the litter box, put an additional litter box in the location(s) your rabbit chooses for elimination.