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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR Training Bunny

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    • Quittenton
      Participant
      11 posts Send Private Message

        Hi, 

        I’ve seen videos and heard a lot on these forums about training a bun to do things like “come”, etc. (not litter training – I had my bun for two days before he official litter trained himself, I’m so lucky!!) and I was wondering if anyone had tips and suggestions for training a bun along with things that your bun has been trained to do that you find helpful/enjoy. I have seen a few methods.. but not sure how to keep his attention long enough for him to grasp anything and I’d just like a method that has proven to be successful!! I’d like to give it a try with my bun and see if he has any interest in it! 

        Thanks! 


      • RabbitPam
        Moderator
        11002 posts Send Private Message

          Yes! It’s called Clicker Training, and it works really well with bunnies, who are so smart.
          Check out this website: http://www.clickerbunny.com/

          Sometimes BB has this book and the clickers for sale right here in the site’s store. You can also find this book in bookstores if you don’t want to order it from here or from the link. I have it, have tried it with Sammy, and found it to be very successful. Other members have trained their bunnies on actual courses, but the principles are great for simple commands as well as performances. It’s fun to do, and bonds you with your bunny.

          In a nutshell: positive reinforcement with special noises that only mean one thing. Negative reinforcement never works well. So the idea is, either reward a behavior or ignore it. Read the blurbs on that site to get the idea. Have fun!


        • Quittenton
          Participant
          11 posts Send Private Message

            Ya! I’ve seen a lot of the clicker training results on YouTube! And I’d really like to try it! My roommate saw them and thought it would be easy-peasy so she has tried by just making a clicking sound with her mouth .. but my bun doesn’t want to focus or sit still long enough to go along with her! She has since given up trying to make him focus.. and I just laugh because he’s so young all he wants to do is play and I get that. But I am looking into it!


          • Elrohwen
            Participant
            7318 posts Send Private Message

              With most bunnies, you need to go really slowly at first and they will let you know how long they can focus. Eventually he will be super excited to train and will work with you for a while, but his attention span will be very limited at first.

              I would get some high value treats, like craisins, break them into tiny pieces, and sit down on the floor. When he comes up to you, click and treat (a clicky pen will work for this too). He might run off again, but just wait and when he comes back, click and treat. Soon he won’t want to leave you alone because he’ll understand you have treats. At that point, you can try something easy like luring him into a stand, and click/treat when he’s standing up.

              It took my first rabbit a couple weeks of just luring a trick and click/treat when he did it, before he really figured out what training was all about and started to offer the trick on his own.


            • bunnylova123
              Participant
              255 posts Send Private Message

                Some bunnies don’t like training, like Vienna who just thumps at you, and gives you a look that says: Why don’t you just give it me now, what’s the point of all this? I can see your treat bag, I’ll just get that instead. Some love the attention though. I’ve never tried clicker training, instead I just use a target stick, and train them to follow that ( whenever they touch it with their noses you give them a treat, eventually they will follow it anywhere ) It’s very useful at meal times.


              • mrs. coach
                Participant
                52 posts Send Private Message

                  I am hoping to do this soon (just ordered clickers!).  I had watched a few videos online & thought maybe my bun wouldn’t be up for it since she doesn’t really follow objects with her eyes very well yet (even favorite treats!  she just seems confused), but then I saw this article that really broke things down to the basics, which seems super do-able for my bun.

                  http://www.rabbit.org/journal/4-12/clicker.html

                  Good luck!

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              Forum BEHAVIOR Training Bunny