Behavioural Problems in Rabbits: A Clinical Approach

Cover
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Preface
Key points
1 Introduction
	Changing expectations
	Domestication
	Considerations for behaviour modification in rabbits
		Weaker human–animal bond
		Cultural perception that rabbits are cheap
		Rabbit bites rarely cause severe injury
		Low awareness of treatment options
	How ‘ownership styles’ affect owner beliefs
		Authoritative
		Authoritarian
		Indulgent
		Uninvolved
	How common are problem behaviours in rabbits?
	Empathising with the owner
2 What is the problem behaviour?
	History taking
		Asking about early history of the rabbit
		Asking about how the rabbit spends its time
		Asking about signs of pain
	Keeping a diary of the behaviours
	Home visits
	Photographs and videos
	Clinical examination
	Reviewing changes and assessing success
3 Why is the problem behaviour occurring?
	Physical/functional domains: Survival-related factors
		Nutrition
		Environment
		Health
	Physical/functional domain: Situation-related factors
		Interactions with physical environment
		Interactions with other rabbits
		Interactions with humans
		Interactions with other pet species
	Affective experience domains
		Why do individual rabbits have different reactions to the same stimulus?
4 How can I change behaviour?
	Understand the rabbit’s communication
		Minute-to-minute communication strategies
		Longer-term communication strategies
	Changing behaviour through changing environment
		Comparing the effect of diet, environment and companionship on behaviour
		How to provide companionship
		Providing a more stimulating environment
		Reducing the need to pick up a rabbit
		Changing diet
	Changing behaviour through behavioural modification
		Types of rabbit learning
		What motivates rabbits?
		Why is punishment usually ineffective in rabbits?
		How can positive reinforcement training be used with rabbits?
		Training techniques
		What cued behaviours are useful in rabbits?
		Tips for improving clicker training efficiency
	Changing behaviour through pharmacological means
5 How can I resolve a specific behavioural problem?
	Resolving an unwanted behaviour
		Method 1: Remove opportunity for the rabbit to show the behaviour
		Method 2: Punish the behaviour
		Method 3: Negatively reinforce the behaviour
		Method 4: Wait for the behaviour to go away on its own
		Method 5: Train an incompatible behaviour
		Method 6: Put the unwanted behaviour on cue
		Method 7: Shape the absence of the behaviour
		Method 8: Change the motivation of the rabbit
	Rabbit–human interactions
		Aggression
		Fear-related problems
		Difficulty catching rabbit
		Sexual or reproductive behaviour directed at people/objects
	Rabbit–rabbit interactions
		Aggression
		Sexual behaviours
		Barbering
		Conspecific overgrooming
	Rabbit–environment interactions
		Elimination
		Destruction
	Self-directed behaviours
		Undergrooming
		Overgrooming
		Self-mutilation
		Stereotypies
		Food neophobia
6 Conclusion
	Key points
	Contact details
	Acknowledgments
Appendix: Advice sheets
	Advice sheet 1: Structuring the behavioural consultation
	Advice sheet 2: Questions for history taking
	Advice sheet 3: Keeping a behaviour diary
	Advice sheet 4: Changing the diet of adult rabbits
	Advice sheet 5: Improving an outdoor environment
	Advice sheet 6: Improving an indoor environment
	Advice sheet 7: Constructional approach training
	Advice sheet 8: Clicker training
	Advice sheet 9: Bonding
	Advice sheet 10: Litter training
	Advice sheet 11: Puzzle feeding
	Advice sheet 12: How to interact with your rabbits
	Advice sheet 13: Training rabbits to be lifted or moved
Glossary
Further reading
Bibliography
Index