How to Teach a Rabbit Tricks

You're probably one of the many rabbit owners who thinks that your pet bunny, however cute it may be, is nothing more than a carrot nibbler. The fact is, however, that rabbits can learn a good number of tricks with relatively little amount of work. Even though you won't turn your rabbit into a Bugs Bunny wiseacre, you can get it to shake, sit up and jump through hoops.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Pick an easy trick, such as getting the rabbit to sit up on its hind legs, and stick with that trick. Get a ready supply of your rabbit's favorite foods or treats and set aside 15 minutes each day to work on the trick.

2. Hold the treat at a height that requires the rabbit to sit up on its hind legs to get to the food, and give a command word such as "up" or "sit up." Let the rabbit stay in this position for a few seconds.

3. Give the rabbit verbal praise in a soothing tone of voice and then give it the treat (or part of the treat). Repeat the exercise a number of times for a period of 15 minutes, each time using the same command word and waiting slightly longer while the rabbit sits up before rewarding it with the treat.

4. Perform the trick without the treat in sight after the rabbit has been learning for a few days. If the rabbit sits up, begin to reward it with a treat every few times it performs the trick. If it does not sit up on command, return to performing the exercise with the treat for a few more days.

5. Move on to more complex tricks since the first trick teaches the rabbit how to obey a command making subsequent, more complicated tricks drastically easier for the rabbit to acquire.

[aissalanis]

on 8/28/2008 Thank you very much. Im going to try this with my bunny.