thetwobunnies
Well-Known Member
I taught my rabbit a few tricks, and surprisingly he picks it up incredibly quickly. I taught him how to grab a small block (safe for rabbits, of course) and lift it and place it into a small dish, in a few hours. He knows how to lift the block on command but sometimes has trouble placing it in the dish, but 85% of the time he does it properly. I also taught him to nudge a ball on command - I'm trying to teach him to nudge it into a small box and - like with the dish - he is successful 85% of the time, and he learned this in a day as well.
He can also spin, and comes when called (but I think this isn't really a "trick")
I am interested in teaching him more tricks, but my mom says it seems a little harsh to always make him work and teach him things like a "circus" animal. I NEVER punish him, I ONLY use positive reinforcements with single timothy pellets as rewards.
And I have to wonder, is it really hurting him? Perhaps mentally? Or is this good mental stimulation? I have 2 rabbits, but I only train one of them as it's too hard to train 2 at the same time. I might train the other one later, but so far I am only focusing on one.
Are there any harms with teaching rabbits tricks?
He can also spin, and comes when called (but I think this isn't really a "trick")
I am interested in teaching him more tricks, but my mom says it seems a little harsh to always make him work and teach him things like a "circus" animal. I NEVER punish him, I ONLY use positive reinforcements with single timothy pellets as rewards.
And I have to wonder, is it really hurting him? Perhaps mentally? Or is this good mental stimulation? I have 2 rabbits, but I only train one of them as it's too hard to train 2 at the same time. I might train the other one later, but so far I am only focusing on one.
Are there any harms with teaching rabbits tricks?