How to train a rabbit and improve bonding

As a prey-species, rabbits are instinctively wary of anything new or potentially threatening, so it’s vital to ensure you have your rabbit’s trust before engaging in training. ‘It’s important that your rabbit feels comfortable and familiar with you, before you make any demands on them,’ explains Petplan Veterinary expert, Brian Faulkner.

As your rabbit spends more time with you, they’ll start to trust you, bond with you and feel more confident in your company.

1. Sit quietly near your rabbit’s enclosure. If your rabbit is new, or particularly timid, they’ll naturally try and hide. ‘You need to be patient,’ explains Brian. ‘Simply being present with your rabbit without touching them will help them to get used to you.’
2. Be patient and wait for your rabbit to come closer. ‘Offer a small treat when they pop their head out of their hiding spot,’ says Brian. ‘When they learn that you won’t chase or try to grab them, your rabbit will eventually begin to feel comfortable enough to explore around you.’
3. Continue giving your rabbit treats whenever they approach, along with a few quiet words of encouragement.

Ideally, rabbits should be kept in pairs – but training is most effective on a one-to-one basis. Once both rabbits are comfortable in your company together, try separating them for a short time. Repeat the above steps until each bunny is confidently spending time with you. Remember that each rabbit is different, so may progress at different speeds.

Rabbits respond well to the samepositive reinforcement techniques used to train dogs and cats. This involves offering them a high-value reward, like food, whenever your rabbit does something you want them to.

Training sessions are also a great way for children and rabbits to spend time together. But make sure that whoever is training the rabbit has spent time creating a bond first.

The foundations of this command can start well before any formal training session. Start incorporating the following steps into your daily routine:

• Once your bunny trusts you enough to sit near you, gradually start to drop treats closer so they’ll have to move towards you to get them.
• As you drop the treat and your rabbit hops over, call their name. Remember to keep your voice calm, as rabbits don’t like loud noises.
• Repeat this twice a day for two or three weeks.
• To reinforce your training sessions, say your rabbit’s name every time you fill up their food bowl, or add new grass and hay to their enclosure. Your rabbit will soon start to appear every time you fill up their food!
• Once your rabbit consistently comes when called, you can start calling them from different places.

‘Repeating this over a period of weeks will build your bunny’s confidence and train them to come when you call,’ says Brian. ‘Rabbits are very intelligent animals and will learn quickly.’

During any training session, if your rabbit is showing any signs of stress or fear, like moving away or freezing, stop the session and give your rabbit their own space.

Top tip: To ensure your training sessions remain fun for both you and your pet, keep them to only three or four minutes long.

Rabbits naturally sit up on their rump and hind legs when they see or hear something interesting, so this can be an easy behaviour to train. Use these steps to get started:

• Sit or crouch near your rabbit, or call them over to you.
• Hold a treat near your rabbit’s nose, and then ‘lure’ them into the correct position by lifting your hand up and back. Keep your hand close to your rabbit’s nose.
• As your rabbit sits up to sniff the treat, say your chosen command, for example ‘up’ or ‘sit’.
• Repeat two or three times a day.
• Once your rabbit is sitting up consistently, you can slowly phase out the treats, or swap them for something lower-value.

Top tip: Don’t hold the treat too high, or your rabbit may end up standing on their hind legs and falling over.

It’s best to avoid commercially-sold rabbit treats, which can be high in calories and might even cause damage to your bunny’s teeth.

‘You can get fantastic, healthy snacks straight from nature,’ Brian advises. ‘Try tempting your bunny with dandelion leaves or, for a special treat, buy fresh herbs like parsley and basil. Rabbits love these – soon your bunny won’t just come on command, but will start to follow you around too!’

You can also try tempting your rabbit with:

• Celery
• Carrot tops
• Green peppers

However, when teaching your rabbit a new trick for the first time, it’s best to use a high-value treat that they don’t get regularly.

Experiment to see which treats your bunny likes best. Don’t forget to account for any treats by reducing your rabbit’s portion of pellets, and keep an eye on their weight.