Silverleaf
Alpha Buck
I started clicker training with Meeple and Nemesis on Tuesday, and they've had two training sessions each per day since then, working with one rabbit at a time with a different-sounding clicker for each one. We've exclusively worked on "charging" the clicker, basically teaching them that a click means a treat will quickly follow. After a couple of days they clearly understood because as soon as they heard the click they'd look round for my hand for the treat, but I decided not to rush and made sure they were really solid on that before I started asking them to do anything.
Today I started clicking and treating if both front feet left the ground - I want to work up to a full sit up/periscope/meerkat position. The first 10 or so times I lured them into position by holding the treat above their head so they'd naturally sit up, but they quickly got the idea and started doing it with no help from me at all.
And my goodness, did they get it fast! Both did really well and were repeatedly sitting up just a few minutes into the session. Meeple especially did brilliantly, sitting up again when he was still chewing the last pellet! Nemesis was very good too. I was really surprised how fast they understood - I could tell already that they are smart, but I wasn't expecting them to learn so quickly.
I'm really very proud of them. It won't be long before I can teach a vocal cue like "up!" so they'll sit up when I ask.
As well as sitting up (which to be fair is for cuteness more than anything else) I'm planning to teach them to follow a target stick which will be incredibly useful for teaching other behaviours like going back into their cages, coming when called, going into the carrier for vets visits, etc. I may also teach them to navigate small obstacles like jumps, running through tunnels, and weaving/bending poles.
Very smart bunnies I have.
Today I started clicking and treating if both front feet left the ground - I want to work up to a full sit up/periscope/meerkat position. The first 10 or so times I lured them into position by holding the treat above their head so they'd naturally sit up, but they quickly got the idea and started doing it with no help from me at all.
And my goodness, did they get it fast! Both did really well and were repeatedly sitting up just a few minutes into the session. Meeple especially did brilliantly, sitting up again when he was still chewing the last pellet! Nemesis was very good too. I was really surprised how fast they understood - I could tell already that they are smart, but I wasn't expecting them to learn so quickly.
I'm really very proud of them. It won't be long before I can teach a vocal cue like "up!" so they'll sit up when I ask.
As well as sitting up (which to be fair is for cuteness more than anything else) I'm planning to teach them to follow a target stick which will be incredibly useful for teaching other behaviours like going back into their cages, coming when called, going into the carrier for vets visits, etc. I may also teach them to navigate small obstacles like jumps, running through tunnels, and weaving/bending poles.
Very smart bunnies I have.