Pet Rabbits are sharp, curious, and playful. You can train them to do many things like recognizing their names, retrieve objects, and even perform a few tricks. You may have noticed how rabbits in the wild hop about and wonder about your pet’s full potential. Is good bunny agility normal?
There are many reasons to be curious about whether your pet rabbit has agility or not. Agility is an outlet for fun and exercise, and without enough workouts, your pet bunny might get restless. In addition, it is a creative way to bond with your pet. As you read on, you will see ways you can help your pet rabbit have agility. In this article, you will get answers to some questions, such as:
- How Do Rabbits Jump?
- What is Rabbit Hopping?
- What is Rabbit Agility?
- How Do I Train My Rabbit To Do Agility?
- Do Rabbits Like Obstacles?
- How Can You Train Pet Rabbits to Jump Over Obstacles?
How Do Rabbits Jump?
Rabbits jump by using their powerful long hind legs. They usually jump in a galloping manner, during which the hind paws fall in pairs on the front and outside of the front paws. The hind feet are equipped with a thick pad of fur that helps to lessen the shock of jumping. Rabbits jump both vertically and horizontally.
With just one push with their hind legs, they can jump a long distance forward. They usually touch the ground with their front legs, which helps them maintain their balance, while the back legs bounce ahead into position to push on again
Rabbits can jump as high as 3 feet and, in some cases, even higher. After all, there is a world record of a rabbit jumping as high as 39.2inches (3 feet.2 inches). In fact, rabbits by nature can do acrobatic Jumps (for example, binkies) when they are excited.
Well, it might be a bit difficult to measure precisely how high or long rabbits can jump. This is because various breeds of domestic rabbits have different capabilities for jumping.
What is Rabbit Hopping?
Hopping is the natural and most efficient way rabbits move, and their hind legs are built for it. They can fling themselves forward in a hop covering considerable distance. The ability to hop is essential to rabbits, especially wild ones who need to escape attacks from their predators.
Obviously, Pet bunnies hop too, but they don’t cover the same distance and height as their wild counterparts. They are usually fatter because of their luxurious diet, and they lack the space and drive for such long jumps. Still, pet rabbits hop for leisure and exercise.
Rabbit Hopping is a Sport
This is a show sport where rabbits run through a line of Jumps ranging from 4-20 inches high. There is a long jump as well. It is a competitive sport where trained bunnies jump over different types of obstacles with increasing difficulty.
The origin of rabbit hopping as a competitive sport was in Sweden in the 1970s. The first rabbit hopping competition was in Stockholm, Sweden, in1987. It was called rabbit jumping at the time. Other Nordic countries later joined, and eventually, it spread to many countries. The American Hopping Association for Rabbits and Cavies (AHARC) is the national rabbit hopping group in the United States.
What is Rabbit Agility?
Rabbit agility, also known as show jumping, is when rabbits jump over hurdles, ramps, and through tunnels on command. You can help your pet rabbit have agility through training. Rabbit show jumping might bring to the mind equine or dog jumping shows.
Some benefits of agility training are that it provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen the bond between the rabbit and its owner and enables rabbits to exercise. It also allows mental stimulation for rabbits.
Not all rabbits can achieve agility or go through agility training. A rabbit must be physically fit for jumping and at a suitable age where agility training will not cause injury. Some rabbits have neither the disposition nor athletic build for show jumping
It is advisable to consult a vet doctor before embarking on agility training for your rabbit. This will ensure that they are fit and mature enough for the exercise.
How Do I Train My Rabbit To Do Agility?
To begin training your pet rabbit to do agility, you will need the following:
- Vest harness and leash
- Treats (vegetables or fruit)
- A few objects to jump over
- A pointer could be a stick not less than 2ft long.
- A clicker.
While an expert trainer can teach your rabbit to do agility in less time, you can do it too. The key is patience because it will take some time before you can get the desired result.
There are important things to note before giving your rabbit Agility training. Firstly, the best age to train is when your rabbit is between four to six months old though some can learn at an older age. The bones and joints of younger rabbits are not mature enough to endure agility training.
Secondly, rabbits startle easily, so expose your rabbit to different noises and environments so that it can learn to relax, focus on the obstacle course, and not be distracted. Another vital point is that training an overweight rabbit might get it injured.
Thirdly, ask for advice from experts before building an obstacle course. This will ensure the safety of equipment needed for Jumps, tunnels, ramps, etc. Check that the harness is well fitted. Also, let a vet check your rabbit before agility training.
Is your rabbit behaving wildly? See our article on what should I do with a wild rabbit for ideas.
Training a Pet Rabbit for Agility
Let your rabbit acclimatize to the harness and leash to lay the groundwork for training your pet bunny for agility. Walk around with the rabbit ahead of you. Touch or tickle the rabbit’s rib area to make it keep moving. Typically, the rabbit will start moving when you approach it from behind, especially if your shoe is white.
Instinctively, rabbits don’t run in a straight line but zigzag. So, when your rabbit starts to go off course, bend over and put your hand beside it. It will make the rabbit move in the opposite direction and remain on course.
At the beginning of the training, the practice sessions should be short, like 15 minutes daily. Gradually increase to two sessions of 15 minutes each. In addition, let the rabbit get familiar and respond favorably to basic training before you attempt complex activities.
An easy way to help your pet rabbit have agility is by using the clicker technique. This technique is usually a technique for training dogs. It involves using a pointer and a clicker sound to help your rabbit get the action you want it to perform. The pointer leads the rabbit through obstacle courses and hurdles
When your rabbit can perform the expected jumps, you can then use the clicker sound and reward your rabbit with a treat. In time, your pet rabbit will get to carry out agility without the pointer, and it will respond to voice commands.
Do Rabbits Like Obstacles?
Naturally, rabbits like hiding, jumping and burrowing. As a result, they take pleasure in jumping over obstacles. An obstacle course can help your rabbit get the exercise it needs to maintain strong muscles and a healthy weight.
You can build obstacle courses for your rabbit from low-cost materials available at home. Or you can get obstacle toys for rabbits at animal toy stores. After all, most rabbits are happy with homemade obstacle courses. However, care must be taken to prevent your pet rabbits from falling and sustaining an injury while jumping over obstacles.
How Can You Train Pet Rabbits to Jump Over Obstacles?
Training your pet rabbit to jump over obstacles can be fun. Still, you need to be patient and consistent. It is improper to physically coerce your rabbit to jump or shout at it during training. An encouraging reward style works best.
Having said that, the first step to take in training a rabbit to jump over obstacles is bonding. The rabbit should be able to respond to its name. Next is teaching it how to walk comfortably on a leash and obey a few simple instructions. This lays a solid foundation for training your rabbit.
Now, provide a simple obstacle like an 8 inches high small wooden board or cardboard box. Let the rabbit walk up to it and sniff. Then speak the command ‘jump ‘and give the rabbit a mild boost over the jump. Keep at it until the rabbit is comfortable about walking to the obstacle jumping. Reward with a treat.
Set up a second obstacle that is similar to the first but a bit higher. After jumping the first obstacle, take it to the second one and still use the same command word jump as you did before; if it refuses, give it a gentle boost.
As long as the rabbit understands what you expect, keep the hurdles low and safe. Some rabbits will catch on immediately and fly over the jumps. Others will hesitate just before them. If the rabbit tries to avoid jumping, don’t raise the height of the jump. Add a third one a few inches higher after the rabbit does well with one or two hurdles.
Conclusions
Pet rabbits are delightful and trainable creatures. Whether you want to enter a rabbit hopping competition or for you and your pet’s amusement, you can help your pet rabbit have agility. The time and effort it might cost you are definitely worthwhile.