Bunny Tricks

Rabbits are intelligent animals that can learn to perform tricks on demand. Training rabbits to do tricks using positive reinforcement is a way to enrich rabbits mentally. As pets, they do not get the same opportunity to do things that they would in the wild, such as find food and make a home, so they require mental stimulation. Training rabbits to perform tricks can be done using rewards.

  1. Sitting Up

    • You can teach a rabbit to do this trick easily as it can already sit up on his own. The trick, however, involves the rabbit sitting up on command. Hold a small treat in front of the rabbit and raise it when it sees or smells it. Say "up," when raising the treat slowly upward. Give the rabbit praise and the treat when it sits up. After going through this process a few times, wait longer to give the rabbit the treat. Always say the verbal command when training the rabbit.

    Coming When Called

    • A rabbit can be trained to come to you when called, but like other tricks, it is necessary to give him a reward, like a favorite treat. Get down on the floor close to the rabbit and say the rabbit's name, followed by "come." While the rabbit doesn't know you called, once this is repeated over and over, the rabbit will eventually associate the name and command with a treat. Begin to work from farther away. This trick should take a few weeks to work.

    Entering a Cage

    • A rabbit can be trained to enter a cage or carrier on demand. If a rabbit can perform this trick, taking it somewhere or getting it to enter his cage at night will be easier. Get the rabbit's favorite treat and put the rabbit close to the cage opening. Tell the rabbit to "go in," while attracting it with the treat. Put the treat in the cage and make sure it sees the process. Give it the treat after it enters the cage and tell him to "go in." The rabbit will associate the treat with going in the cage.

    Jumping

    • A rabbit learns to jump up on a piece of furniture on command in this trick. Make sure the chair or sofa is upholstered so as to avoid the rabbit slipping and falling. When the rabbit is hopping around the floor, hold the treat on the couch. When it approaches make sure it sees the treat. Hold the treat just where the rabbit can reach it when standing on its hind legs. Say the rabbit's name and "hop up," and give the rabbit the treat so he associates it with the couch. When the rabbit responds, hold the treat farther back on the couch. Repeat these steps and the rabbit will eventually jump up. Eliminate the treat once the command seems to be enough.

    Opening a Gift

    • You can teach a rabbit to open a gift. Begin with a small box without a lid. Put a treat in the box and set it next to the rabbit's food dish while it is eating. When the rabbit takes the treat, praise it with one word and remove the box. Repeat this two times a day for several days. Once the rabbit catches on, wrap the box with colorful paper, but do not cover the opening. Repeat putting the treat in and having the rabbit retrieve it. Take a piece of tissue paper, wrap it around the top edges of the box and over several days make the opening smaller and smaller until the top is covered with tissue paper. The rabbit will then "open the gift."