How To Train A Rabbit To Jump On Your Lap?

It is a natural behavior of the rabbits to hop around, and they already know how to jump. Due to this, it is not that hard to instruct your rabbit on how to hop into your lap. Training the rabbit to hop into your lap is the start of an incredible bond. Below are six steps you can follow to make your rabbit jump into your lap.

1. Motivate The Rabbit To Jump Onto Or Over Something

Rather than forcing the rabbit to hop into your lap, it is better to take the slow start method. Motivate your pet to jump onto a small stick on the floor. This technique encourages your rabbit to get treats and learn fun tricks. Instead of making the pet jump on huge barriers, begin with minor obstacles. While the rabbits are trying to jump, it is better to navigate and motivate them. Remember, you have to take it slow!

Using healthy and tasty treats will boost their enthusiasm. When the rabbit performs well on small obstacles, do not overreact. They will feel uncomfortable because of loud sounds and over attention.

For a low bar, rabbits do not need to take the high jump, and a safe and quick leap is enough. When they accomplish this task, it is better to raise the bar level. You can increase the height every time the rabbit takes a high jump. But, your pet might need some days to hop over the high bar. Try your best to stimulate but not force the rabbits. Rabbits enjoy hoping, so let them be happy and active.

2. Stay Seated On The Floor Or Ground

Before wanting the rabbit to sit on your lap, make sure that your pet feels comfortable around you. Rabbits are timid animals. They want to make sure that you are not a threat to them before coming to you. When you sit on the floor, you can be near the rabbits’ level, and they can look at you as well. If you are standing near their pen, they would not feel safe. It is also hard for them to see and understand you.

Rabbits like to sit and stay on the ground. You can also give them smooth and casual pats on their head. This way, they can feel your touch and will start to feel familiar.

3. Bring The Rabbit’s Front Feet On Your Lap

Rabbits will feel safe only if all their four paws are on the floor every time. It is not good to force the rabbit to sit in your lap and lock it with your hands. The best thing is to sit on the floor near your rabbit. Your pet will feel relaxed and would not be anxious to even jump on high obstacles.

It is good to let the rabbits believe that it is their opinion to stay with you. At this moment, they will jump into your lap to seek comfort and care. Using treats to catch the rabbit’s attention is also one of the best methods. It can be any food that your pet likes to eat, such as carrots, fruits, or berries.

Enable both of the rabbit’s front feet to be on your lap. If only one paw of the pet is in your lap, do not let the rabbit take the treat. It is crucial to motivate the rabbit to come near you before feeding the treat. This treat or other food allows the rabbit to know that only one paw is not enough.

It is good to give tiny encouraging touches above the rabbit’s nose. This sign indicates that you feel proud of them and want them to continue doing that. Though giving treats is fantastic, your attention and care will be a big help.

4. Support The Rabbit To Stretch Into Your Lap

After your rabbit feels comfortable while laying its paws on your lap and staying in your hands, you can start the next step. Keep the treat near your body so that the rabbit can come closer to your lap. This way, your pet tends to reach further into your lap because it will keep its front feet closer to you. The pet hesitates to hop into your lap. It is good to stimulate the rabbit to come more towards your lap as much as possible.

While the rabbit is touching the treat, it is better NOT TO pull the food closer to you. Using the milestone strategy from time to time is the best. After that, your rabbit will be ready to come closer to your lap because it feels familiar with your lap and hand size.

Allow the rabbit to stretch in your lap. It is not good to pull the treat near your body immediately. If you want great results, be patient and bring it little by little towards your lap. Let the pet feel familiar with your scent. Rabbits, being cautious animals, are slow to understand if they are feeling anxious. After reaching your lap, the rabbit will know that you are not a threat to it.

5. Jump Into Your Lap

If your rabbit feels comfortable with you, you can start using the below method. Keep the treat near your body, so your rabbit tends to hop into your lap to eat the food. The moment your pet jumps towards you, stroke its head to show that you are proud. It makes the rabbit want to be near you, and it also enjoys your presence.

Sometimes, it is natural for the rabbit to go away from your lap after eating the treat. You do not have to worry because it is an ordinary and expected thing. If you are trying to hold the rabbit with force, the pet will never come towards you.

When the rabbits are roaming around outside their pen, they do not like it if you cuddle or surround them. It makes the rabbits feel suffocated and might come under stress.

But, after spending some time with you, the rabbits will change their behavior. They will feel safe with your presence and likes to stay in your lap. Every time you want the rabbit to jump into your lap, keep the treat closer to your body. It encourages the pet to grow comfortable sitting in your lap.

6. Attempt To Sit On The Sofa

As the rabbit is jumping and sitting in your lap without being afraid, it is better to motivate the pet to sit with you on the sofa. For this, you have to teach the rabbit how to jump onto the couch. Keeping a treat on the couch and encouraging the rabbit to jump on it is the best idea.

You have to give some time for your rabbit to feel comfortable jumping on the high couch. It will be afraid of the uneven and unfamiliar surface so stay closer to your rabbit. A minimum of one day is necessary for doing this. The rabbits will feel this as an odd adjustment, but they will enjoy eating the treat.

Now the rabbit can jump onto the couch and feel safe while doing this. It is time to keep the treat in your lap. Of course, the rabbits will go away after eating food on your lap. It is crucial to make them comfortable at first.

Stroke above the rabbit’s nose if it stays in your lap even after eating the treat. This sign shows that you are proud of the rabbit for doing an excellent job. After trying it for a few days, this will become a pattern, and the rabbit will feel relaxing in your lap.

Sometimes it is comfortable for the rabbit to sit beside you rather than in your lap. It is better to do only the things that your rabbits like to do. The rabbits are resilient same as holding an infant.

Is It Hard To Train The Rabbit?

It is hard to train the rabbits if they are too young or too old. Young and new rabbits have their thinking and do not like it when someone pushes them around. Sometimes it is better to spay and neuter the rabbits. Let the young rabbits adapt themselves before training them. There is a famous quote – it is difficult to teach new tricks to an old pet dog. It also applies to pet rabbits.

When the rabbits become old, they will have less energy. Rather than learning new tricks, they like to have plenty of rest and prefer to play outside the cage. It is possible to train an old rabbit with new tricks, but it takes more time.

Boost Their Play Time

Rabbits are active creatures and enjoy their playtime. It is better to bring them near the couch for their playtime because they can feel familiar with the area. Also, you can teach how to jump onto the couch. Offer them a bunch of soft willow balls so that your rabbit can play with them by rolling around. It will encourage and makes the pet happy by staying around you. By playing and being with you, the rabbit tends to make a strong bond with you.

Motivate the rabbits to play games and have fun. Small playthings such as willow balls will make your rabbit happy. Allowing them to play will boost their brains. This strategy will make it easy for the rabbit to jump into your lap.

Reduce The Expectation Levels

As the rabbits do not like to cuddle, it is natural for them to go away from your lap after eating the treat. It is better not to force them to stay there. If you want animals that prefer sitting in your lap or cuddle, you can get puppies but not rabbits.

At first, your rabbit likes to jump into your lap for treats. After some days, they might feel comfortable getting into your lap to seek your attention. To summarize this, it is terrible to force the rabbit to stay in your lap because it only makes them scared.