Clicker Training

[Usagi_Chan]

I did get a clicker-training book and clicker and have been trying it out on Thumper who threatens to be far smarter than I am.

For months now she has simply ignored me and given me a glassy stare when I called her. Now when I call her she actually leaves skid marks , well almost, when she puts on the brakes after running at full steam from wherever she was. This is after only a few days of training. I suspect I can probably teach her to stand up on her front paws and juggle two or three balls with her hind feet if I try. (kidding) But in truth I think she can be taught a lot.

Pegasus seems quite a bit slower but he seems to be getting the connection between action, click and treat. He also comes when I call her so I think it'll be a challenge to be able to call them separately.

The book, clicker and treats were $18.99 + shipping. I got them from rabbitstop.com. I am rather disappointed with the cost vs value. The book is actually a booklet of only 80 pages. However it does give the basics of clicker training and a few things to try to teach. Some of the 'tricks' described are really quite useful, for example getting your bunny to sit still for nail trims, grooming and vet visits.

The book does give a few websites and groups that may be helpful:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ClickerBunnyandCritters/

These may be useful but are for all clicker training so they'll probably not have a lot specific to bunnies:
http://www.clickersolutions.com
http://www.click-l.com

I'm not using the treats that came with the kit because they were just too big. Thumper and Pegasus LOVE their timothy pellets so a pellet makes a fine treat for them and it is tiny enough to use over and over without harming their diet.

Those who know of Thumper know she's a VERY intelligent bunny and intelligent bunnies can be a real pain in the... She watched me very closely and within a few minutes she saw that I was getting the pellets for the treats from a cup on top of the dresser. Later I went to the bathroom, heard a clatter of glass and simply rolled my eyeballs knowing full well it was Thumper not Pegasus and that she was helping herself to a cupful of treats.

Anyways, I would have to say that clicker training is certainly useful but I back it up with a VERY loud "HEY !!!" and sometimes my trusty squirt gun which Thumper is not really fond of. I have never had a need to use it on Pegasus. He's an angel compared to her.

Usagi_Chan

 

[JadeIcing]

I don't know about doing it for the buns but I have been thinking about doing it for my dog.

 

[seniorcats]

Hurray! It's great to hear the clicker training is working. Of course our rabbits are more intelligent than we are. They have us trained towait on them hand and foot. I believe the person who wrote the clicker training book for rabbits also does seminars at some of the HRS events. I haven't seen her around in a while but I understand the seminars are pricey.

The treat cup on the dresser story is priceless. I always get nervous when Melody stares at something I am doing. Sooner or later she is imitating. At Christmas I used a ladder to decorate the tree and she stared and stared. I left the room, cam back and found her on the top of the ladder. Not too bad for a rabbit.

 

[superchar42]

This thread's about a month old, but I was wondering if you could give us an update?

 

[Usagi_Chan]

Thumper will now:
1) Come when I call "Thumper" (usually)
2) Touch a target with her nose when she sees it
3) Jump up on a box when I say "Up"
4) Jump down when I say "Down"
5) Jump over my arm or an object when I say "Jump"
6) Kiss me when I say "Gimme kiss"
7) Stand on her hind legs when I say "Stand"
8) When on her hind legs and I say "Walk" she will shuffle forward in a walk
9) When on her hind legs and I say "Hop" she will hop forward

#2 - Touching a target is one of the first things to teach. The target is a ping-pong ball glued onto a stick. I first drilled a hole in the stick so the connection to the ping- pong ball is strong. Once she learned that, she could be led on the box and off it with the target. It also was used to teach her to jump over objects.

I am working on "Fetch" which is a LOT harder to teach. Thumper will pick up the ball and throw it but she doesn't fetch it yet. She knew this before I got her and plays with keys or other objects by picking them up and throwing them. I'm confident that in time I can teach her to fetch. I'm also working on "gimme ten", which is standing on hind legs and putting her paws in my hand. "Gimme five is similar but is giving one paw from a sitting position.

You do not have to wait until one thing is learned before starting another. I've been teaching her several things at once.

She is a VERY enthusiastic student and quite obviously enjoys learning and especially the treats.

Pegasus is also learning but he is slower and far less social than Thumper. I suspect that he was neglected or abused before I got him this June 1. He has gotten better so I'm hopeful he'll be much more social and loving in time. I have been able to get him to recognize his name. He'll sometimes come to his name but often he will look then refuse to come. He has learned "gimme kiss" but he's not as good a "kisser" as Thumper who is all over my face. Pegasus will also stand on his hind legs when I hold a treat over him and say "stand."

I have 2 clickers, one for each bunny. They give slightly different clicks and they recognize the difference. You can get clickers from Petco or Petsmart.

It's really not hard to do. First get your buns used to the idea that click=food. Every time you feed or treat, click. After a bit, "bunny" will probably come whenever she hears the click. Call her name as you click and soon she'll come to her name. Work with one buns at a time and use different clickers, one for each bun.

Next pick a behavior which is easy and somewhat natural for a rabbit (like stand). When she does it, click and treat right away. After she gets the idea usually after 10 or so times, add the verbal command. Slowly quit using the clicker and use only the verbal command.. Still give treats. Slowly ween her off treats by giving them less often until they are not needed at all. Still give treats from time to time to keep the behavior.

Another thing to keep in mind is break a behavior into smaller ones and teach each. Start with the desired end result and add things. For example, if you want her to jump over 2 objects then pick up a ball, start with pick up the ball. Then add one jump, and finally add in the last. Even then each of those might need to be broken down into smaller pieces.

I am a member of a Rabbit Meetup group and I will be giving a clicker-training demo on Nov 11 at Animall in my home town, Raleigh, NC.

Usagi_Chan

 

[superchar42]

That's really amazing and inspirational. Do you think I should buy the book?

I'm going to get separate clickers for all the buns. I was worried about that, so thanks for the suggestion.

I'd love to keep hearing of your progress.

 

[Usagi_Chan]

The book was too expensive in my opinion, $18 or so + shipping. What I've said here in this post pretty well sums up what's in the book. I'd use web resources if you want to know more.

It might be hard to get enough clickers with different sounds. I can't think of another noise-maker but probably others would work.

I started working on "spin" today. I used the target to lead her in a circle. She seems to be getting that.

UsagiChan

 

[gwhoosh]

My bunny is always so bad, and I wonder if it's lack of mental stimulation? I'm going to start training her, but I need a cheap easy idea for the target, like what kind of stick is it and where can I get one?

I wish they had toys to stimulate a bunny's mind! Like they have for babies. But I wonder what something like that would look like....

 

[superchar42]

Have you tried giving your bun new toys? Like ones that make noise and stuff?

Anyway, it'd be cool to hear your progress on the clicker training - so far I don't think my buns have gotten it and I'm going through a lot of cheerios!

 

[monklover]

Buddy is clicker trained, target trained, and almost trained so that when I say "circle" he spins.

Buddy was clicker trained and target trained in one day. Some rabbits are smarter than others. You have to find a treat that they really love. For Buddy it is pellets!

We just started clicker training Roxie yesterday and she isn't getting it as fast as Buddy. :biggrin2:

I sure hope that Buddy will be able to do all kinds of cool tricks soon!

 

[superchar42]

Wow. One day. The problem with my buns is that they love sugary treats like raisins! Should I do it when they're by their selves?

 

[Usagi_Chan]

I'm not trying very hard with Pegasus. He's also a slow-learner and since Thumper is so smart it's hard to give him more attention. Besides he seems to prefer being left alone. He has learned "stand" and "gimme kiss."

Each buns seams to have a personality of their own. Thumper is more "dog-like." She likes to please her human. Pegasus has a personality more like a cat: "Pleeese! I can't be bothered now (yawn)."

Thumper learned many of her tricks within a day also, often after being shown 5-10 times. She has learned "spin" now and when on the box she will combine that with "gimme kiss" or "stand."

The hardest part of training Thumper is that she is hyper-active during training sessions. I have to concentrate hard to click at the right instant. Her hyper-activity makes her try kiss, stand, etc to get treats before I give her the verbal command.

Usagi_Chan

 

[Leaf]

I was thinking about you the other day, and some of the training techniques you post about.

I can't wait until I start reading about you starting to train in agility.



LOL - I have a small dog set and have been giving it the eye the last few days before I clean equipment and put it away. I bet - if I can train a deaf dog to do agility I could get a rabbit to do the same.... or not.

 

[Bo B Bunny]

I am going to send BratBunny onto this thread and see if she can get started with Tony. I really want to let her do agility with him - I have to find out about the rules for 4H cause Luke will get to show him there this year ..... she's not happy but she can probably do agility things - are there places to find where to enter them? or is it at the shows now? or any info like that? we are rabbit show impaired here. :embarrassed:

 

[Usagi_Chan]

Well, I have thought about agility or rabbit hopping but I'm 61 and Thumper is 3 1/2. It seems to me that we might both be a bit old for those things. I'm under the impression that 4H might be or is interested in rabbit hopping or agility. I think 4H is for youngsters? I suppose I could ask around...

Usagi Chan

 

[superchar42]

Just wondering if you have any updates? I haven't been keeping up with it, but the buns I've worked with will still follow their stick thing to get me to click for them.

 

[Usagi_Chan]

We have a meetup group here in my hometown (Meetup.com) and we had an adoption/education event at AniMall, a local place that helps place animals with owners. They host events like this. On last Nov 11 of last year, Thumper and Pegasus demonstrated clicker training at "Rabbit Day at AniMall." Initially they were shy but after an hour or so they settled down and were able to show what they can do.

The rather humorous part is that I brought a regular litterbox for them. They had been using an open pan with a screen over it, no litter. The screen is sized so their poop drops through into the pan. Anyways I got to AniMall at about 11:30 am and left about 6:00 pm. When I was about 1/2 way home I noticed that the car was beginning to smell really bad. When I got them home and opened their carrier I knew why. They were both so soaked in pee that I had to give them a bath in the bathroom sink. When I checked the litter tray that I had taken for them, they hadn't used it at all. They had managed to hold it for 6 hrs, quite a trick in itself. I guess they just were used to using the tray with the screen or perhaps they were excited about the event and the people that came.

I still can't get Thumper to do a "fetch" but the ball I use for that has slots and a bell inside. She picks it up and throws it as her form of "fetch". I have a small basketball, the size of a softball and she will nudge that when I say, "Play ball" I haven't tried to get her to do other things, more for a lack of imagination on my part.

Since my last post here they have become closer to me and more trusting, especially Pegasus. Thumper used to attack the sofa and rip at it but she has gotten over that now. I allow her on the sofa and I've discovered that she and Pegasus both love craisins and raisins. They'll both hop on the sofa now when I'm there and beg for treats. Getting on the sofa is not new for Thumper but it is for Pegasus.



Usagi_Chan

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

Wow! Thumper sounds like she has got it down! I wish my bunnies were as smart as Thumper! She is soo smart! I wish you could get video/pictures of her in action! That would be way cool.

I am currently training like all my rabbits in clicker training, and so far some of my bunnies know the beginning stages of Spin, and Beg, but that's pretty much it, and I don't think they'll be able to do it without the clicker/treats; well my baby can, but not my older ones. How do i do that? Get them to do the tricks w/o the clicker and treats? basically, how do I get them to do it on command?


Thanks,

Emily

 

[Usagi_Chan]

Thumper doesn't need the click any more but she expects to be treated. I don't have to treat her every time but she does lose interest if I don't treat some at least.

One thing that helped a lot was to get her to touch a target with her nose. The target is a ping-pong ball glued on the end of a stick. From there I was able to use that to get her to jump over an object and on and off a stool.

She is a mini rex which I have heard are the Einsteins of the rabbit world. She certainly is a lot quicker than Pegasus.

Start with clicker and treat, then later add the voice command. Then slowly stop using the clicker and switch to the voice command. I pat the stool and tell her "up" I do the same to get her to hop "down."

I have a camera and I'll post some videos of her.

Usagi_Chan