Clicker training- Bunny can’t here the Clicker?

[mocha200]

So I started my first clicker training session last night! Woot! I have had all the supplies and was going to start 2 years ago but never got around to it…. Woops… Any ways. Mocha is a Holland Lop and I have thought for awhile that his hearing was going. He can’t here me when I come into the room and FREAKS out when he sees me because he didn’t know I was there. I feel so bad for him…. I know he can her some because when I make a high pitch noise he freezes and I can see his ears perk up. Any ways. I did some clicker training last night and I thought about it…. Can he even hear the clicker? felt like he couldn’t at all! Should I just train without it?  I  feel bad for him… My parents of all people are worried about him! They always say “I think his hearing is worse then before!”. I tell them I don’t think you can do anything about a rabbit going deaf. It is really common in lops. My Dad thought maybe he just needed his ears cleaned out but I wasn’t sure it worked that way. I looked in his ears and they were clean. Does anyone have any tips to avoid scaring him every time I walk into the room!

[LBJ10]

I have thought about this too. I had wanted to try clicker training with Wooly, but then I thought what about Leopold? I don’t think he would know the difference and it would make it difficult to teach Wooly. So I suppose I would have to separate them if I wanted to try it.

Despite Leopold being deaf, it is difficult to sneak up on him sometimes. He has learned to keep an eye on the doorway or keep an eye on Wooly. So if he is where he can see the doorway, he will watch for me. If not, he will take visual cues from Wooly. I can only sneak up on Leopold when he has his head buried in the hay or when he is so focused on doing something naughty that he isn’t paying attention (especially if his back is turned to me). Perhaps as Mocha progress, he will learn other ways to make sure nothing is sneaking up on him.

Have you thought about maybe trying hand signals? I have heard mixed results with that, but you could certainly try it as an alternative to clicker training.

[mocha200]

LBJ: Mocha always keeps an eye on Lulu for visual cues as well! I don’t know what he would do without her! The problem is, he is a total flopper! He is always flopped out dead asleep! He loves to sleep with his eyes closed so that is part of the problem. Also when Lulu isn’t near him (as they have free range of a room) it is hard for him. I wonder if that is why he hasn’t ever connected wish me, because he can’t hear… Idk just a though.

I think I might try hand signals!

[RabbitPam]

Here’s a crazy suggestion, but what about using a small pocket flashlight? You could wave it against the wall he’s facing or across his head when his eyes are closed to get his attention. Once he begins to associate it with you, he will understand it as a signal you are there.

Because it may be that his hearing is lost in the lower register but not the higher ones. Try a very soft high pitched kids whistle and see if he hears it. If he does, I would use that instead of a clicker. It’s unique, fits with the clicker training technique and isn’t used for anything else. If he seems deaf to that too, then consider flicking the flashlight on and off fast instead of a click. It may be easier to place it on a table or counter when you enter his room, so you can grab it to announce your entrance, and pocket it for flicking sessions.

Mocha – LOL – how many ways can you spell “HEAR” ? I counted three.

[mocha200]

I have started flicking the light on when I walk into the room or if the light is already on, I flick it on and then off.

I have started feeling really bad… I feel like I don’t know how to connect with Mocha. He hates to be touched and is territorial over his cage. He also hasn’t left the cage area all day! I feel like he doesn’t enjoy me and just lays around and sleeps all day. What should I do?

RabbitPam: Oh my goodness! LOL I am sorry! I always type things when in deep thought or sometimes I don’t look at the screen and I am always to lazy to re read the post! :p

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