How to Teach a Rabbit Tricks

You're probably one of the many rabbit owners who thinks that your pet bunny, however cute it may be, is nothing more than a carrot nibbler. The fact is, however, that rabbits can learn a good number of tricks with relatively little amount of work. Even though you won't turn your rabbit into a Bugs Bunny wiseacre, you can get it to shake, sit up and jump through hoops.

Instructions

    • 1

      Pick an easy trick, such as getting the rabbit to sit up on its hind legs, and stick with that trick. Get a ready supply of your rabbit's favorite foods or treats and set aside 15 minutes each day to work on the trick.

    • 2

      Hold the treat at a height that requires the rabbit to sit up on its hind legs to get to the food, and give a command word such as "up" or "sit up." Let the rabbit stay in this position for a few seconds.

    • 3

      Give the rabbit verbal praise in a soothing tone of voice and then give it the treat (or part of the treat). Repeat the exercise a number of times for a period of 15 minutes, each time using the same command word and waiting slightly longer while the rabbit sits up before rewarding it with the treat.

    • 4

      Perform the trick without the treat in sight after the rabbit has been learning for a few days. If the rabbit sits up, begin to reward it with a treat every few times it performs the trick. If it does not sit up on command, return to performing the exercise with the treat for a few more days.

    • 5

      Move on to more complex tricks since the first trick teaches the rabbit how to obey a command making subsequent, more complicated tricks drastically easier for the rabbit to acquire.