MyBabyBunnies
Well-Known Member
Well as some of you may have already readthatI'm moving in about a year and my rabbits wont have runsfor a while so I decided to attempt leash training, much like you wouldwith a dog. I started my modified training today.
What I did may seem like baby steps to you all but it was a huge stepin their training. I started by letting them run with the harness toget that energy out. Then I attached the leash. I said "come" and gavea small tug on the leash, the second they stepped forward, I releasedthe pressure and rewarded with a treat. If they backed up, I kept thepressure applied and moved the treat closer so they could smell it and9/10 times they moved for the treat and forgot about fighting the leash.
Mocha was all for fighting the leash, he did what he could to get awayby backing up, despite pressure being applied from the front. I spent along time with him only to end up getting him to move one whole stepwith all feet in my direction. As soon as I got him to move that onestep closer to me, I gave him big rewards and stopped. I also found outhe responds best to food and pats both when being given as a reward,not one or the other.
Spice is by far the easier to train, that may be because as long as hecan smell his favorite (Kaytee pellets, oats, yogurt drops) he willmove forward. I put the harness on and attached the leash. I put atreat in front of his nose and applied slight pressure until he movedall the way to my hand (barely an inch, but it was a start) then Irewarded with releasing pressure, giving food, and petting him. I didthis and every single time he went forward and not back. In the end(only like 5 or 10 minutes but I was so proud I decided to stop on agood note)I got him to move about a foot forward, I was soproud! It's going so well with him, more than I could ever haveexpected and it's making me more optimistic that this may actually work!
I just thought everyone would like a training update.
[align=center]Laura[/align]
What I did may seem like baby steps to you all but it was a huge stepin their training. I started by letting them run with the harness toget that energy out. Then I attached the leash. I said "come" and gavea small tug on the leash, the second they stepped forward, I releasedthe pressure and rewarded with a treat. If they backed up, I kept thepressure applied and moved the treat closer so they could smell it and9/10 times they moved for the treat and forgot about fighting the leash.
Mocha was all for fighting the leash, he did what he could to get awayby backing up, despite pressure being applied from the front. I spent along time with him only to end up getting him to move one whole stepwith all feet in my direction. As soon as I got him to move that onestep closer to me, I gave him big rewards and stopped. I also found outhe responds best to food and pats both when being given as a reward,not one or the other.
Spice is by far the easier to train, that may be because as long as hecan smell his favorite (Kaytee pellets, oats, yogurt drops) he willmove forward. I put the harness on and attached the leash. I put atreat in front of his nose and applied slight pressure until he movedall the way to my hand (barely an inch, but it was a start) then Irewarded with releasing pressure, giving food, and petting him. I didthis and every single time he went forward and not back. In the end(only like 5 or 10 minutes but I was so proud I decided to stop on agood note)I got him to move about a foot forward, I was soproud! It's going so well with him, more than I could ever haveexpected and it's making me more optimistic that this may actually work!
I just thought everyone would like a training update.
[align=center]Laura[/align]