Simon and River have been doing this trick for quite a while and this is the first time we've thought to catch it on video. Simon follows my voice command, while River follows my hand signal.
Hi Sylvia! It's amazing how quickly they learn and the cute little "Victory!" look they give when they get their favorite treat after they follow a command! Definitely give it a go! :)
I started training them to do this trick by using their food dish with oats in it and voice command with Simon (food dish in one hand and using my pointer finger of the other with River--that was awkward, but it worked). Once they made a complete circle by following the food dish, I'd let them have a mouthful of oats, then repeated the command a couple more times.
I've found repeating a trick command 3 times in a row once or twice a day helped them to learn it in a week tops. You just need to keep repeating it every so often once they've learned it and give a reward--and only give the reward when you give the command for the trick. Otherwise, you'll have spinning little buns trying to coerce you into giving them oats/treats whenever you walk into a room!
The key is to keep their interest because unlike a dog, a bunny will only follow a command if 1) they trust you and 2) they want to do it because it's fun--they have no innate desire to please like a dog does.
4 comments:
Very smart! I should try it with my buns. ~Sylvia
Hi Sylvia!
It's amazing how quickly they learn and the cute little "Victory!" look they give when they get their favorite treat after they follow a command! Definitely give it a go! :)
I started training them to do this trick by using their food dish with oats in it and voice command with Simon (food dish in one hand and using my pointer finger of the other with River--that was awkward, but it worked). Once they made a complete circle by following the food dish, I'd let them have a mouthful of oats, then repeated the command a couple more times.
I've found repeating a trick command 3 times in a row once or twice a day helped them to learn it in a week tops. You just need to keep repeating it every so often once they've learned it and give a reward--and only give the reward when you give the command for the trick. Otherwise, you'll have spinning little buns trying to coerce you into giving them oats/treats whenever you walk into a room!
The key is to keep their interest because unlike a dog, a bunny will only follow a command if 1) they trust you and 2) they want to do it because it's fun--they have no innate desire to please like a dog does.
Thank you. We'll see how well Betty & George follow my command :)
You're welcome and good luck! You'll have to let me know how things turn out. :)
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