Anti-Aggression Training Phase 1

Having decided that the main problem with trying to bond the bunnies together is Cricket's agressiveness, we are now working on making Cricket like other rabbits and enjoy their company. The first step, associating the clicker to food, is complete. Now working on the second phase, clicking whenever they get close.



Toby inches closer

Decided to start the process with Toby since Toby's proven to be a fast learner and nothing really deters him from eating. He's picked up pretty fast that what I want him to do is stick his face next to Cricket. Unfortunately Cricket has not picked up on the liking Toby by her as quickly. She will sit there and tolerate it, which is a good first step. But she starts nipping after a little bit. I feel bad for Toby since he's just doing what I'm telling him to do and getting nipped at for it. It's at least a start though. This is pretty much what the last week has been. I've read that for rabbits it's better to clicker train in short bursts of 5 minutes in several intervals than to do long training sessions. It seems to hold true. After a bit, Toby will get bored and decide to hang out behind the toilet. Using pellets as their treat inspiration has been great so far though. It's small and convinient.

Another shot of Cricket being tolerant and Toby inching

I think I'll try the banana thing in a week or so - where you put banana on the top of one's head to get the other one to groom. In this case the banana will go on Toby's head. The last time I tried it, Cricket was too scared of Bunny to even come close enough to lick her. Hopefully by a week's time she'll start approaching Toby instead of it just being one-way. Toby really is a very quick learner. He's still maintained his stand-up on command trick even though it's been a week since we clicker-trained that last.

Random picture of Cricket

All in all, things have been progressing slowly but surely. I also increased the size of their x-pens since this process has been taking longer than I was hoping it would. It's kind of sad seeing all of their toys and bunny houses unused and empty in the bunny room.