Rabbits are easily frightened animals and can lose their trust in us if we scold them inappropriately. But, how to scold a rabbit? Our friends have the right to be treated with respect and affection, therefore, we must find the appropriate way to educate them and make them understand what we want to convey without having to punish them.
If you have adopted a rabbit and want to learn how to correct its behavior correctly, keep reading this article on our site to find the best way to train a rabbit.
Is it wrong to punish a rabbit?
Some people may think that bad habits can be broken by patting or hitting the animal with a newspaper. But actually, it is very dangerous to do so. If you hit or discipline your rabbit violently, the rabbit may be seriously injured and will only become afraid of youfrom then on.
We must bear in mind that rabbits are very small, fragile and skittish animals by nature, so if we try to educate them using violence or yelling, the rabbit will not only not understand what is happening but will try to run away from you. In other words: you won't learn anything
To properly educate your pet, it is best to use positive reinforcement, something that we will explain throughout this article. Read on if you want to know how to "scold" a rabbit correctly!
How do you train a rabbit with positive reinforcement?
Rabbits are very intelligent animals and can learn many things if we are patient and spend time with them. How much and how quickly a rabbit learns depends on each one, since some like mental exercises and others not so much. On command, these animals will not learn anything and will not have fun with it. When we want to educate our friend it is recommended to start as soon as possible, because older rabbits can become more stubborn, while young rabbits understand much more Quick.
Rabbits are docile, so if we do it right we can easily train them. They will not be able to resist delicacies such as fresh vegetables or fruits, so a good way to educate them is through positive reinforcement, that is, rewarding the desired behavior, always following the following rules:
- Rewards are always given immediately when the rabbit has done something right.
- You should always give him just a small bite for his tiny mouth.
- You never punish a rabbit for unwanted behavior.
- There are many ways and methods of teaching, such as clicker training for rabbits.
- Rabbits respond mostly to tone of voice and facial expression and not so much to certain words.
- Avoid loud commands and yelling, because rabbits are easily startled.
For more information, you can consult this other article on How to train a rabbit?
How to train a rabbit to go to the toilet?
Do not scold your rabbit for slips, but train it patiently and lovingly. If your rabbit does its business everywhere and we punish it, it can lose our trust, and since they are sensitive animals they could start to be afraid of us if we scare them.
If he poops outside the place designated for them, say "no" in a firm voice but without shouting and put him in his tray. It's very important that you catch him red-handed so that he understands. After finishing, remember to reward him with delicious food. If he still has trouble understanding that to relieve himself he must go to his tray or corner, restrict his space; start with just one room or leave it in a controlled enclosure. Once he relieves himself in the sandbox, start opening his perimeter.
In any case, it is important to clarify that it is normal for unsterilized young kits or rabbits to relieve themselves outside the cage from time to time, since it could be due to marking, and not so much to a lack of understanding. Therefore, it is best to spay or neuter your bunny while he is still young.
In this other article you will find more information on How to teach a rabbit where to relieve itself?
How to teach a rabbit not to bite?
Rabbits are very delicate, they tend to run away and hide and when they get scared they can pinch us. The first thing we need to find out is the real reason why it bites us. It is very unlikely that it will bite because it is aggressive. If we want to teach him not to bite we must observe him and we will often find ourselves in the following situations:
- If the rabbit bites when you pick it up: it doesn't like being picked up, because it is afraid and feels insecure. Maybe he's just not used to being held down yet. It is not natural for them that someone picks them up and lifts them up into the air. He has to learn to trust you. To do this, be patient, take it gently without squeezing it too much, but safely so that it cannot fall, and return it to the ground after a few minutes. If it bites you, do not yell or punish the rabbit, but talk to it in a calm voice to strengthen ties with it.
- If the rabbit bites when you reach into the cage: The rabbit is likely to be frightened or feel persecuted and threatened when you put your hand in the cage. When rabbits can't run away, they resort to their last resort to defend themselves and bite. Remember that your rabbit needs to feel safe. First show him that you are not a threat and offer him food from your hand in the cage. This way he will learn that a hand in the box is a good thing and that there is no reason to be scared.
- If the rabbit bites when you feed it: Sometimes rabbits bite the hand that feeds them, but usually it is unintentionally. Rabbits don't see very well up close, and if your hand smells of fresh food, it may inadvertently bite you. No hard feelings!
In this other article on Why does my rabbit bite me?, we explain in more detail the reasons that lead a rabbit to bite her guardian.
