Rabbit Training Pt. 2: Why Clicker Train?
When I first heard of clicker training, I was nowhere near convinced it would work. Why would some noise help teach a rabbit to do tricks? It wouldn’t, not the way I was thinking. I didn’t understand why clicker training worked or even what it was. It wasn’t until I completed a ton of research and went through plenty of trial and error training sessions that I learned the true magic of the technique.
If you’re in a similar position as I was, this article should help speed that process up for you. I’ll walk through the reasoning behind clicker training, what clickers to use, and how to get started.
Why does clicker training work?
Clicker training works through positive reinforcement that teaches the rabbit the meaning of a click and puts is to use. Every time you click, you follow it up with a treat. Eventually, they learn that the click means they did the right thing, and they’ll want to repeat it. You essentially create a simple language both you and your rabbit understand. Soon, you’re well on your way to having a trick trained rabbit!
Why is clicker training better than just my voice and treats?
The main reason to clicker train is that it increases the speed your bunny can learn tricks exponentially. The distinct click tells them exactly when they completed the desired behavior, eliminating unnecessary confusion. Without a clicker, your rabbit will have to figure out what part of its action you are rewarding. This increases the length of time it takes for them to learn each trick and can cause frustration for both the owner and the bunny. The sound of the clicker also tells the rabbit it is training time, and helps it focus faster. Since most owners don’t limit treats to training only, a rabbit that isn’t clicker trained won’t immediately understand that it is time to learn things rather than sit down and enjoy the banana.
What clicker should I use?
Depending on your price range, there are a couple different clickers you can use.
1. $0-2: Ballpoint pen
Most people have a ballpoint pen laying around, or can buy one for a few bucks. They work great for those who can’t always afford to spend more money on their demanding little bunnies. If you choose to use on, make sure it has a consistent sound.
2. $0-$3: Jar Lid
Another budget-friendly option, most jar lids that “pop” can be used as clickers. Just quickly press on the center of the lid to make a popping/clicking sound. They have a relatively soft sound and are my favorite choice from the “household items repurposed as clickers” category. If you don’t have one at home, most jelly, baby food, or similar lids work well and can be purchased for around $3.
In my opinion, this is one of the best clickers available for rabbits. The finger loop makes it easy to use while holding treats, and it fits comfortably in your hand. Most importantly, it has a softer sound than most dog clickers, but still clear enough to be heard distinctly.
What clicker should I not use?
Not all clickers are created equal, and here are a few you might want to avoid.
1. Loud Clickers:
One of the worst things you can do in clicker training is to use a clicker that is too loud and sharp sounding. Rabbits are naturally prey animals, and loud sounds scare them. Using a startling noise as a clicker essentially punishes your bunny for doing the right thing and can make it harder to train them in the future.
2. You
I’m not saying you can’t use words or sounds that you make in place of a clicker, but I don’t think it’s the best option. It is difficult for humans to reach the level of consistency needed, and that can confuse the rabbit. If the sound you make varies in pitch or volume, your bunny will have to think harder about whether or not it was the right sound.
How do I start?
So you have your clicker, your treats, and your bunny. Now what do you do? Well, contrary to popular belief, your bunny has no idea what the click means. It’s a blank slate of a sound for you to define. You’ll want to start by teaching your rabbit something simple. One of the easiest tricks to start with is “up”, where the rabbit raises onto its hind legs.
You can teach this trick with either a verbal cue, a visual cue, or both. Rabbits have a difficult time differentiating between words, so make sure to be very clear and consistent in the way you say each trick name. A quick “up” is a good cue for this trick. For the visual cue, slowly bringing your hand up, allowing them to sniff whatever treat you are using. Once they rock back and even partially lift their feet off the ground, click, stop raising your hand, and give them a treat. You can continue training like this in short intervals. Eventually, your bun will connect the dots and understand what the clicker means.
Once your rabbit masters the trick, you no longer need to use the clicker. You can simply reward them with the treat, as they know the desired behavior.
Whenever you train for a trick, follow these steps:
1. Break down the trick into smaller parts. If you want to train your rabbit to pick up a toy, the steps would be sniff/interact with the toy, nose the toy, nibble the toy, pick up the toy. Your rabbit will rarely know exactly what you want it to do right off the bat, so you’ll need to encourage them no matter how small the improvement.
2. Establish a visual and verbal cue: For the visual cue, make a distinct movement with your hand. To pick up the toy, you might tap the toy or move it a few inches. For the verbal cue, you can use sounds, or find a way of saying the name of the trick that is distinct to your bunny. You’ll want to have your cues picked out before you start training so you don’t confuse your rabbit.
3. Use your cues, clicker, and treats to work through each part: Now that you have a plan for your trick, you can start training at the simplest step. Cue your bunny and click as soon as they complete the first part of the trick. Immediately after the click, end the cue and give them a treat. Once they master a step, wait longer before clicking. They will likely begin to try harder, and you can reward them for their progress. If they do not, you may need to spend on the current step. Train for 2-5 minute intervals, or as long as your rabbit is entertained. This should be fun for both of you!
In the next article in this series, we will go over several common tricks you can teach your rabbit using these techniques. Check back soon!