Clicke training my bun to be more social is wroking wonders! and it’s only day 2!

[The Rabbit]

If you’ve ever read my posts, or my profile, you know my Bunny Zelda isn’t the most social of bunnies. She had clearly been an abused bun, afraid of most people. slowly we worked with her and got het boded to  my other bun, Pixel. Now her big issue is she’s still got massive food/litter box issues(her motto is, “anywhere I lay my paws I lay my poop.” and conventionl training methods don’t seem to be working.) She takes food very roughly, and gets very upset if you move it away from her, or she thinks you are going to. you have to be very careful or you’ll get bitten. She also steals food out of Pixels mouth, usually big pieces, and she always runs and hides after getting fruits/veggies, usually with a thump, and taking the item along with her.

 

anyway I’ve been meaning to clicker train her with some of these issues, particuarly the litter training, and the fact that if you aproach her she’ll run away(makes it hard to get her into a cage or clip her claws, or brush her) and if you do manage to corner her and pick her up she’s incredibly frightened and squeeks and grunts at you.

Day before last, I was cleaning out the temporary cage (we’re waiting for a super big one to come in) because once again, she pooped all in it. She was actually in the cage, which is rather small (  ). I started scooping her poop into the corner litter box, to show her, and she freaked out. she tried to bite me, boxed my hands, and atatcked the cup with teeth and claw.  I tried to pet her to calm her down, but she ran into the litter box grunt/snuffling. I lured her with a treat to the other side, petted, waited till she accepted the petting, clicked, and treated. I did this a couple more times, using papaya pills and regular bunny food.

 

Yesterday, I didn’t have much time to work on it. But tonight, I tried again. I petted her for about five minutes clicker training her in the cage! Then, just a few minutes ago, she actually let me pet her outside of the cage! Pixel came up and wanted petting to, so I pet them both. Zelly actually closed her eyes, and looked so happy! I’ve never seen her do that before. she didn’t run, squeek, or grunt at all! then when I gave her and pixel a treat the *both* scrambled at me to get it! and then, after wards, when pixel hopped on my lap, she started kissing my pants!  I did attempt to pick her up(probably way to soon) and she got upset and hopped away. I’ll not do that again for awhile!

 

 

Sorry for the length, but I’m so excited! I wish I could have gotten video, it’s absolutely amazing. she was purring and everything!

[LizzieKnittyBun]

I am so impressed with you!! You are being kind, loving, and patient with a bunny who has probably been abused and is having trust issues. So many people would give up, but you’re working hard to earn her trust and teach her at the same time!

I think it’s wonderful what you’re doing, and clicker training is just another way in which we bunny people can show the world how smart they are!!

Also, I love that her name is Zelda. From one videogame nerd to another… right on ; )

[Deleted User]

That’s very encouraging to hear~ Many owners find their newly rescued rabbits to be antisocial and this success you are reporting could help many people.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

That’s awesome!!

I don’t know if you’ve found her site or books yet, but Karen Pryor is awesome and basically started clicker training (using whistles with dolphins) her site is fab and her books are great too. It’s not really on ‘how to’ clicker train (you obviously got that right!) but more on how it works, if your interested her book ‘reaching the animal mind’ was a great read and made me so much more excited about clicker training. This is her main site and there are a ton of great articles and podcasts on it
http://www.clickertraining.com/

[jerseygirl]

It’s good to read this.
Someone suggested clicker training to me with Jerseys territorial traits and litter habits. Thanks for the reminder! I should really get onto this – I have nothing to lose. I know they’re trainable as they already respond to a whistle and mouth clicks I do. I’m inspired now!

I hope you’ll keep posting about progress.

[RabbitPam]

I was reading Reaching the Animal Mind this morning (on the beach) and only have 50 pages to go to finish it.
It’s really fascinating. She talks about how there is a part of the brain that is more basic (sometimes referred to as the reptilian) and we actually get programmed to a direct path there. Once that happens, we react very quickly, so when clicker training is done, it sends signals to that part and that’s why it works faster than any other verbal or behavioral type of training. Also, any negative training has already gone to that portion of the brain, so her grunting, biting and running is a fear response programmed previously. It’s hard to know what exactly the trigger is, but it doesn’t change back well – the thinking mind can’t seem to reverse the programming. However, by clicker training, you program a new stimulus and response that goes to that part but is pleasurable, so it’s totally new and good in her mind. Keep using that clicker! She writes that animals can experience excitement, and the fun of the search for activities that lead to the reward with the click. It’s so cool.

[bunnytowne]

Wow this is great.    Zelda is starting to come around.   Clicker training what a great idea.

I am going to check out that link now too.    Very interesting info.

[The Rabbit]

Things are even better now! She lets me pick her up sometimes, and lets me pet her most of the time. Her litter box issues still need a lot of ironing out, but she’s already a happier bun. Pixel loves jumping on the top level of his bunny maze at treat time, and yesterday she followed him! and, today I caught her “arranging” pillows on the bed. She’s even purred a couple times when I’ve petted her. I’m still having issues with her food (I gave them a small apple to eat, cored of seeds, and when Pixel approached she ran away with it thumping, and this kept on for a good while) but she’s coming around. I’m super proud.

also, Bunnytowne: Your bunny is so fluffy! She looks like a big ball of cotton!

[LizzieKnittyBun]

That is so cool!! If possible, I’d love to see some videos of you clicker-training her : )

[LoveChaCha]

I am interested in it as well.. what does it exactly do?

[RabbitPam]

I would love to see a video, too, please.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I am interested in it as well.. what does it exactly do?

I think you mean ‘what does clicker training do’ -I hope that’s what you mean-or else my answer is going to make me look like an airhead

Clicker training is just like any normal ‘treat training’ where you give an animal a treat for doing something. But using the click makes the animal learn a lot faster.
A common misconception is that the click is the cue (ie. you click instead of telling the dog to sit) but what actually happens is you ask the dog to sit and then click and then give it a treat.
You pair the sound of the click with a treat.
Just like in dolphin training-they whistle to the dolphin and he knows he did it right and comes for a fish treat
And because the click/whistle happens at the exact second they do the correct behavior-learning is sped up.
Clicker training can be used on any animal (http://reachingtheanimalmind.com/chapter_04.html watch the fainting fish vidoe)-even fish! And can be used to teach them *anything* they are capable of doing

[LittlePuffyTail]

Congrats on your success with Zelda!

I’m also interested in clicker training. I think anything that can help pets and people understand each other is a great gift. I bought a clicker for my horse but never did much with it. I’m gonna check that site you suggeste, K&K, and look into it for bunnies and horses. My horse is just getting back to work after a year off and she is being a complete nut.

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