Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Rabbits are very intelligent and sociable animals and are quite easy to train. However, many rabbit owners are unable to train their pets because of using the wrong approach or not arranging enough training time. If you want to develop a good relationship with your rabbit and properly train, just read the article below and start doing it!

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Understanding Rabbit Behavior

1. 

   Know what motivates your rabbit. Rabbits have high intelligence and are quick to respond to encouragement. This means that harsh penalties such as beating or yelling will never work. However, if you give the right encouragement, almost every rabbit will respond positively.
   • Food is a common motivator, but toys can also serve as a reward for your rabbit.
   • Rabbits are predators, so when they are scared they will run away and try to find somewhere to hide. If it does this behavior, find a way to make the rabbit feel safe and comfortable before you start training.

2. 

   
   
   Learn how the rabbit uses sight and smell. Rabbits do not clearly see objects close in front of them. The rabbits' eyes are positioned far above their head and can therefore see clearly on both sides at a greater distance than the opposite object at a close distance.
   • Rabbits use smells and mustaches to detect objects in their surroundings instead of their eyes, so place the food under the rabbit's nose and mouth.
   • You may notice that rabbits adjust their head position as you get closer. They do this in an effort to see you better, like when a person with bifocals lifts their goggles to see.
   • Rabbits are hunted animals, so they need to detect enemies from afar to escape and hide in time to protect themselves from the dangers. For this reason, before you want to touch your rabbit, get closer to the field of view and let the rabbit sniffle first. This will make it easier for you to reach the rabbit. When the rabbit sees and sniffs you, they can determine that this is not an enemy and will do no harm.

3. 

   
   
   Remember that kindness works for rabbits. Your rabbit responds with kindness and will make an ideal companion and will respond positively to your voice and presence if you treat your rabbit well. Even if you want to train your rabbit, you need to respect you, but if your rabbit loves you and feels comfortable with you, that is the greatest success.
   • Not all rabbits like being petted, but some enjoy it so much that it is more of a motivator than food. Spend plenty of time cuddling your rabbit, and for all of its basic needs to make it feel safe and comfortable in your home.
   • Never carry rabbit ears! Don't hurt the rabbit. Be kind and gentle with your fluffy friend and you will get a positive attitude in training.
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Method 2 of 4: Train a Rabbit to Do a Command

1. 

   
   
   Spend lots of training time. For best results, initially schedule a time each day to train your rabbit. Set aside two to three training sessions each day with 5 to 10 minutes each to get the rabbit interested in learning.

2. 

   Use the rabbit's favorite food. Training is motivational, so find the foods that give your rabbit the most positive response. If you don't know what they like to eat, you can try a few. Give your rabbit a new food in small amounts so that it does not disturb its digestion, once a day, and observe the rabbit's response. If the rabbit doesn't touch the food, this is not a rabbit's favorite. When the rabbit devours its food, you have found the right food.
   • If you are unsure about what food is safe for your rabbit, consult your veterinarian (someone with experience in rabbits). You should not feed your rabbit anything other than fruits, vegetables, or fruit.
   • If your rabbit is not used to eating a lot of fresh fruit or vegetables, you can give it to them slowly over a few weeks so they don't have diarrhea or digestive upset.
   • Rabbits often prefer blueberry or Kale or Carrot snacks (shredded first).

3. 

   Allow your rabbit to settle in position for training. You should do the training in the places and situations where you want the rabbit to behave. For example, if you want to teach your rabbit to jump over when called, bring the rabbit closer to the sofa. If you want to train your rabbit to enter the cage when it is dark, do it during that time and place the cage in a fixed position.

4. 

   Plan. Start with simple steps.Carefully plan the behavior of your rabbit and break it down into small steps. Once the rabbit has completed each step you will reward it. Once the rabbit is performing the command often and boldly, you can give it a name.

5. 

   Give the rabbit a treat right after doing the behavior you want to praise. For example, if the rabbit sits up when you raise your hand above the rabbit's head, give the rabbit a treat immediately to encourage the "sit up" move. Give your rabbit a treat within 2 to 3 seconds of doing it.
   • If the rabbit does another action before you give it a treat, reinforce the wrong behavior.
   • If you want to train your rabbit to come when called, start the lesson by placing the rabbit in a position close to you. When the rabbit approaches, give the rabbit a treat. You need to be persistent in order for this fluffy friend to understand the reason for the reward.
   • Use the correct command, such as “Sit down, (Rabbit's name),” or “Stand up, (Rabbit's name),” each time so the rabbit learns to recognize your commands and make connections. from there with the reward.
   • Add praise when giving rewards. For example, "Well done sitting" or "Good standing."

6. 

   Keep giving the reward until the rabbit responds correctly most of the time. As you teach new skills, don't forget to reward them. Make sure to thoroughly train your rabbit.
   • If you want to train your rabbit to wear the leash, you can start by rewarding the rabbit for entering the leash on the floor and sniffing or touching the rope. The next step is to put the leash on the rabbit's back and reward it when the rabbit will stand still. Then reward the rabbit to calm the rabbit so that you can lift your front legs and then secure the legs on the part of the leash. Continue to reward and take the rabbit slowly. Do not scare or urge them to go fast. Once you have the harness in place, leave it on the rabbit's body for a few minutes and then take it off. Let the rabbit pull on the leash itself around the house before you control the leash.

7. 

   Consider using a clicker to train your rabbit. There are many suggestions to use clicker (buttons) to reinforce correlation. Each time you feed the rabbit, press the clicker so the rabbit associates the clicker sound with the food. When you do the training, the clicker sound will let the rabbit know that a treat is about to be rewarded.
   • Click the clicker as soon as the rabbit does the desired action to let the rabbit know that it comes with a reward. Give your rabbit a treat or something else they like within seconds of the sound, even if you just accidentally click the clicker. The rabbit will understand that a sound is a food signal and will try to get it.

8. 

   Slowly cut back on the rabbit treats. Once your rabbit has mastered the skill, you can begin to reduce the frequency of your rabbit treats. Give it one bonus and one no-time alternate, or give it a bonus once in a while. After all, you won't need any more food.
   • Over time, you can reward your rabbit by petting and providing toys, and using food only occasionally to reinforce long-term behavior.
   • Rabbits love to gently stroke the head. Don't stroke your rabbit's body, as this can be confusing. Be patient and take it slowly so you don't scare the rabbit.

9. 

   Reinforce training if needed. After a while the rabbit needs retraining. This means re-encouraging, but don't be afraid to do it.
   • Do not scold, punish, shout or even say "no" to the rabbit during training. This will only backfire and will frighten the rabbit and delay training.
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Method 3 of 4: Training Rabbits to Use Cleaning Trays

1. 

   Locate the rabbit used to "deal with your sadness". The rabbit instinctively chooses a specific place in the cage to go to the toilet. Rabbits tend to go to the toilet in certain places, so you can take advantage of this.

2. 

   Spread some dirty shavings and feces on the litter box. This step helps to encourage the rabbit to use the tray. But remember to clean the rest of the cage and leave only a little for the litter box.

3. 

   Place the tray in the place where the rabbit usually defecates. There are a number of rabbit trays that are designed to fit in the corner of the cage or you can use a rectangular tray if the cage is large enough. If you put the tray in the right place, the rabbit will go to the toilet in that position, but this time in the tray.
   • You can of course use a larger litter box as the rabbit enjoys “bouncing” time outside of the cage.
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Method 4 of 4: Handling Aggression in Rabbits

1. 

   You need to let your rabbit know who is in control. Maybe the rabbit wants to rule your house. While you can't be submissive like a dog, you need the respect of your rabbit in order to train them.
   • A common way to assert a leading role that rabbits use is to bite you to drive you away or get you out of position. If this happens, give a loud, short yell in a very high voice and place the rabbit on the floor (if the rabbit jumps on your seat) or pick it up and move away (if the rabbit is on the floor). home). Be decisive but still gentle. Don't hurt or frighten the rabbit, simply assert that you are the owner of this house. If your rabbit continues to do this behavior, keep the rabbit in the cage so the rabbit "takes a break."

2. 

   Deal with rabbit aggression. First, approach your rabbit slowly so that it doesn't feel scared. Play with the rabbit on the floor. Have snacks available on the floor. Reward the food when the rabbit is near you. Keep your hands outstretched. If the rabbit comes close and doesn't seem scared or willing to bite, just gently pat the rabbit's head for a few seconds.
   • If you do not step back and do not react "defensively" when the rabbit attacks you, the rabbit will gradually learn that this behavior cannot frighten you.
   • Do not hit rabbits. You should only use your hands to feed and relax your rabbit, such as gently rubbing the top of the rabbit's head.
   • If you are afraid of getting hurt, wear long pants, shoes, long sleeves and gloves if needed to protect them from getting bitten.

3. 

   Find out if your rabbit's aggressiveness is related to the underlying cause. Any changes in your rabbit's behavior, including being aggressive, should be checked, in case this happens because the rabbit has a health problem. See your vet (experienced in caring for rabbits) to see if the cause, such as pain from illness, should be seen by your rabbit, because that is what causes aggressive behavior in the rabbit.
   • Hormones also partly influence rabbit behavior. You should therefore have your rabbit sterilized as it will most likely reduce your rabbit's typical territorial competition.
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Advice

• If the rabbit squeals or squirms while being held, safely release it to avoid injury. Hold your rabbits firmly in position so they don't have to fear that they will fall.
• Some good rabbit training books to look at include: Bernice Muntz Hitting the Rabbit, Patricia Bartlett's House Rabbit Training, and Getting Started: Using the Clicker with the Rabbit by Joan Orr .
• When you are holding the rabbit struggling or stressed, you can wrap the rabbit with a cotton towel or blanket. The rabbit will calm down a little.
• Be gentle and sympathetic to your little friend as they have just gone through a big life change when they were separated from the mother rabbit. For baby rabbits, this is not a very good experience and they do not want to experience any more problems, so put yourself and your rabbit's shoes to sympathize with them.
• Make sure the bunny sniffs or knows you well before the training starts.
• Do not be rough with rabbits. They are susceptible to fracture, and if panicked, the rabbit will struggle and run away resulting in self-harm.
• Do not use a leash during training or walking your rabbit. Many rabbits have died because of this. The rabbits' necks are very weak and they will accidentally break their neck if they try to escape or resist.
• Do not hold the rabbit in the four-legged manner (like a baby).This frightens the rabbits, damages their relationship, and is not good for them.
• If you let the rabbit lie on the ground and raise its legs on its own, that means the rabbit is very happy.
• When training you should use two-syllable commands, the rabbit will learn more quickly.

Warning

• Never intentionally leave a rabbit hungry and have to wait until training to eat. You should always have fresh or dry grass and clean water available for your rabbit. Otherwise the rabbit will be hurt.
• Do not overfeed your rabbit during training, and avoid using unhealthy treats. Special attention should be paid to the industrially manufactured snacks for them. Many types can have an adverse effect, especially if consumed in large quantities.
• Do not hit the rabbit under any circumstances, as this could cause serious harm to both you and this little friend.
• Don't expect the rabbit to do the command every time you want. Even if the rabbit has been properly trained, the rabbit won't want to perform the action a couple of times. Don't get angry or worry that the coaching hasn't worked. As long as your rabbit responds frequently, you don't need to worry too much when your rabbit doesn't.