Training to do tricks..bored bun?

[KittenMuffinPie]

I have been trying to train Jude a few tricks such as turn around and stand on his back feet (to get a treat of course). I use the lure method which is when you just kind of use the treat to get the bun into a position(standing up or laying down) or follow the treat and turn around. So far he does it with the treat and every time after he stands up or turns around I say the command “up” or “around”. Eventually he should want to do it without the treat because he’ll know he’ll receive a treat. Next thing I’m going to train him (I’ve already kind of started) is to come to me when called. Problem is..his treat bag is REALLY noisy. He always runs to me when he hears the bag crinkle..but I’d rather him come to his name..so I’m going to transfer all of his treats to a less noisy zip lock bag so he can learn to come to his name for a treat instead of the crinkle noise of the bag opening. XD Also.. Jude seems like he’s always bored. I make him diy toys and buy him chews and toys almost every time I go to the store because he never wants to play with them…he does occasionally but he’d rather run around and binkie than chew on things. Recently, he tries to pull things off of my side table (most of the time it’s my comb or his shedding brush) and he will drag it off and chew on it while staring at me like “pay me attention” but after paying him attention for a few minutes he’s back to napping or ignoring me! He’s just a naughty bun.  He’s also molting so bad right now that I can just pet him and pull out clumps and handfuls of fur. He’s never molted this bad.. I’ll have enough fur by the end of it to knit a sweater..!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I doubt your bun is bored. Sounds like he gets lots of attention from you and has time to run around and binky! My buns aren’t much into toys either. There favorite thing is probably a cardboard box with a few holes cut in it.

Have you done any clicker training?

[KittenMuffinPie]

I haven’t had time to get a clicker yet. The closest pet store to me is about 45 minutes away so I go about once a month and get everything I need then. I am planning on getting one though. When he gets a treat I do make a clicking noise with my mouth to let him know click=treat=good lol

[LJ]

I started trying to clicker train my bun as a way to spend more time with her, and found this article on the House Rabbit Society website helpful for learning a little more about clicker training:

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/4-12/clicker.html

(And another good site – http://www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/behaviour/how-to-clicker-train-your-rabbit/)

I am still working on associating the click with the treats, so I can’t report back about successful it is! (And in my case, treats = pellets, since she is on a diet.)

Also, I got the PetSmart brand clicker (it was only like $2-$3), and I feel that it is really loud! It was in plastic wrap, so I couldn’t “test” it before I bought it. Some things I read said that you can even use just a retractable pen with a clicker, if you want to try it out before you make it out to a pet store. I think most recommend using an object instead of a sound with your mouth, just so you don’t get tired of making that sound and so that it is the same exact sound every single time. Anyways, I’m no expert but I hope this helps!

[Author]

Messages