Train rabbits to trim their own nails?!

[KittenMuffinPie]

I found a youtuber (I’m not even sure what her name is) who makes video’s on clicker training rabbits tricks. My rabbit, Jude, is getting neutered next Thursday then as soon as he feels better I’m going to start clicker training him to do tricks such as spin around and follow my finger or a target stick..there is one trick that she taught her rabbits to dig at something by putting a treat under clothes or something and when they dig at it she would give them the treat. They would eventually do it when she would scratch at the thing then they would follow her and do the same. She used this trick to train her rabbits to trim their own nails by buying a small wood block and attaching sand paper to the outside of the wood and every time she would make a digging motion at the sandpaper and the rabbits would scratch their nails at the sandpaper. She never has to trim her rabbits nails now and just does this every other day with her rabbits. I’m wondering if this is actually safe for rabbits feet and/or nails. 

[Cottontail]

I had been trying to figure out a way to get Pete to dig at things to help control his nail growth, since in the wild there would be no one to trim his nails and they would just naturally wear by the ground he runs across… so as long as you keep an eye out for any irritation on thier pads, I don’t see why this wouldn’t be okay.

[kirstyol]

I would love it if Bramble would trim his own nails! Ever since the vet done them one time he hates it, he had gotten a little better but last night when I did them he went into complete fear mode, actually I only did the back ones couldn’t have him like that any longer I will do the front ones tonight

[Sarita]

Funny! It really doesn’t seem practical to me but it sure sounds like a great idea. But kirstyol makes a good point too – maybe this MIGHT work for the front paws, but I don’t see this working for the hind feet so it just doesn’t make alot of sense to me.

[Cottontail]

True… back claws would still need attention, but it would help me a great deal to take care of Peter’s front paws. His back claws don’t seem to get as long as quickly, and I’m not sure if that’s because they grow slower or because I keep seeing him chewing on them and/or using them to pick his teeth.

[JackRabbit]

Now THAT would be cool! Some people bite their fingernails, why not bunny biting all their nails to keep them short!

[Author]

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