Skittish rabbit? Teach them a trick! (Video now!)

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I am so excited to post this. I’ve had Rupert for one year now. He definitely has preferred Dave and avoided me (I give him bum baths and am generally very evil of course ). It was really fine with me, he has his girlfriend and happy home-he doesn’t have to like me-just a little disheartening you know? He’s also a very skittish rabbit-any sudden noise sends him bolting (which unfortunately is rather comical as his one crooked leg makes him very ungraceful!)

 

So anyways I decided to clicker train him. Kahlua won’t because she doesn’t eat treats (She will beg for a treat, only to chin it and run away The only reason she knows how to beg was she copied Kokanee).

 

So I got a hoop and worked diligently to train him to go through it (starting with come up to me for a treat, no the hoop isn’t scary). It was a ton of work because he would suddenly decide something frightened him and run off frantically in the middle of a training session. Also as you know you can only train for maybe three minutes a day-so as to not frustrate them or give them too many treats! I thought training dogs was slow going!

But all of a sudden he’s finally clicked. Training an animal gives them the power to control their environment and I think they find it very empowering (I’ve seen it in dogs for sure)-they can do something and get a treat or other reward. And it finally clicked for Rupert!

 

I say “Rupert do you want cookies’ and he actually runs up to me, and goes through the hoop very willingly. I decided to teach him ‘touch’ yesterday with our carrot rattler-so I touched his nose-clicked/good boy!-treat. It took three raisins and he seemed to have it! I couldn’t believe it!

This morning while stumbling around getting ready for work he chased me around doing the happy dance around my feet. I couldn’t believe how teaching him a trick changed him! I know it’s not just the treats because I always gave him the same treats-making him work for them, and teaching him something really made him so much more confident!

 

Sorry I am so excited!!!

[LilynJestersMama]

Video time (hint hint! hehe)! That is soooooooooo cool!! Yay for new bun tricks and for his newfound confidence!!!

[LilynJestersMama]

Maybe I should try this with Lily- she is still a little skittish of me and I wish she wasn’t that way! I don’t know what her past was like so maybe she has good reason to be that way. Hopefully she’ll learn to fully trust me…this clicker training might be just what we need.

[Beeslee]

You go Rupert and mom!!!! Buncheons are so smart!!

Hmmmm wonder if Beeslee could be trained. She does get all excited and knows to hop on her perch when I say “It’s night night time” so she gets her treat. Even the cat knows it and jumps on the bed to get her treat the same time. Wondering if Beeslee would do the hoop thing like Rupert. Hmmmm….time to go buy a hoop and clicker! This could be lots of fun for Beelsee, Minxzie(cat) and me!

[dlscanne]

ohh that is a great idea. I would like to try that with Winston, he’s also very skittish. Although, food really is the key to his heart. He’ll even take treats right from my mouth now if I sit on the floor. Its a big step for him.

Congrats! That is so exciting!

[dreamlessforever]

i will have to try that because my one rabbit “food” is very skittish.

[LittlePuffyTail]

That’s awesome! Maybe Rupert just needed some direction in his life before he warmed up to you

[bunnytowne]

OH boy bun is so excited he can do something new.   

I think I had the clicker too close to cottons face it scared him.  I should try again with him.   You and your buns success is encouraging to us.

[bunnytowne]

Yes training bunnies is sooooo very slow…. and the appropriate smiley you inserted

[Cassi&Charlie]

Must try this on Layla! Thanks!!!

[Lily]

Man i need to try on Bella, shes really jumpy!!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

OK here’s my performer

 

(Yes I know the hoop isn’t high, he’s still learning and his back leg isn’t great so we likely won’t go very high!)

 

s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc181/kokaneeandkuhluha/Bunnies/

 

s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc181/kokaneeandkuhluha/Bunnies/

 

 

[LilynJestersMama]

I love those videos! He needs a cape to wear when he’s performing…

[jerseygirl]

This is really interesting! I guess it is a real bonding exercise too. Lesley, I’m actually wondering if something like this would be beneficial for Guss?
As you know, with dogs, if they don’t have discipline or exercise, they can manifest nervous/anxiety habits. Some even display nervous aggression as they don’t know their role within the household (Pack) and have excess energy that need to be vented somewhere. Be super interesting if similar is true for rabbits. That they have roles within a warren that need to be re-created to a degree in a household.

[babybunsmum]

i  rupert!

great training job k&k

[Cassi&Charlie]

I’m keen on training Layla but she’s deaf. How would I go about teaqching her? I cant use voice commands like I do with Charlie. Any suggestions?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Jers-genius!! I’m going to contact the foster home (he learned to beg in one try-your right he’s smart!) and see if they are interested in training him if I tell them how.

C&C -yes in fact I don’t give any command (Well I’m pretty sure I don’t-I just chatter away at the rabbit’s all the time) I use the treat to lure them to do things. So for the hoop I first showed him the hoop and gave him a treat, then slowly lured him towards it and then eventually through it.
For the ‘touch’ all I did was touch his nose with the carrot-toy then give him a treat, then repeat. He got it right away and started reaching to touch it all on his own-this is a super thing to master because it leads into everything else-once they know to touch something you can modify that to lead them through weave poles, jumps, hoops, tunnels, on objects/under/over! It’s really the basis for most training!
So in short-yes just lead with a raisin or craisin to train-instead of using a voice command like you would with a dog!

[jerseygirl]

Oh Cassi, I didn’t realise Layla was deaf! Makes more sense now with her fears of being held or handled. It’d be great to have her realise the commands on her own as K&K described. But if she’s not getting it, she may benefit from watching Charlie do it.

[Beeslee]

That was a great video Of Rupert!!!

I went to find a hoop and can’t find one. Where did you get yours?

[MooBunnay]

Good Rupert! Don’t worry, we won’t tell him how close the hoop is too the ground

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I got the hoop from my mom, I guess it’s for sewing?
I’m going to pick up some small pvc piping and make an agility set (weave poles, jumps etc)

[BinkyBunny]

That is awesome KK. what a rather drastic turnaround that this created! This is great to know! Great to be able add to the options of helping skittish and/or shy bunnies!

[Author]

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