Rabbit Agility

Rabbit agility, also known as rabbit hopping, is a sport that has just recently been discovered by many rabbit owners and lovers. Similar to agility with dogs, rabbit hopping incorporates a series of obstacles such as a variety jumps, tunnels, pause boxes, and more. If you would like to learn more about rabbit agility, you've come to the right place!

Training Methods

The most common method of training is with a harness. This is the method people interested in show jumping must use. The first step in this method is to Harness Train your pet. From there the rabbit will learn to run a course while being led on a leash.

Personally I have never started straight from harness training. All my rabbits have been trained with clicker and target training. I then introduce the harness once my pet has been trained to jump.

Harness Training

Introduce the harness slowly. Begin with 5 minute sessions with only the harness and make sure the h or vest style harness fits correctly. With an h-style harness, be able to fit a few fingers in between the rabbit’s neck and stomach. Once your pet can stand the harness for an extended period of time, add the leash. This is the point where most rabbits get annoyed. Offer lots of treats and patients and soon your pet will be harness trained!

Clicker Training

A lot of people have no idea what a 'clicker' even is. This is a tool commonly used in dog training that makes a distinct click sound when pushed on. Trainers use it to inform an animal that they have performed a correct behavior and will soon be rewarded with a treat. A lot of people ask, "Can I just give my rabbit a treat?" You could, but a clicker helps. It tells your pet exactly what behavior you're looking for. For instance, if you're training your rabbit to spin; you can click as soon as they begin to spin, the click will trigger something in their mind as if to say, "Yes, that's what I'm looking for!" Compared to a treat after the behavior has been completed and their mind has moved on. To start clicker training, simply click, and give a treat. Click and give a treat. Repeat this until your pet comes running for a treat when they hear the noise.

Target Training

Target training isn't necessary for agility training; the alternative is the harness method. I prefer target training. To create the target you can simply remove the end of a broom so you're left with just the broom stick and attach a cat ball or something similar to the end. Once you have your tool, offer the stick to your pet. When they touch it with the end of their nose, click your clicker and give a treat; your pet should be clicker trained before you start target training. Eventually you should add the word "Touch," To the command. "Touch," Can be used for so many other tricks than just agility, so explore!