One thing this old bun has learned is that if you want to train your humans you have to change your mind set. Forget about being a lagamorph. For a house rabbit like me, stamping is no longer a sign for danger as with my cousins in the wild. No, foot stamping is for getting immediate attention. It now means Pronto, Subito, Imediatement and other foreign words of that ilk.
Last night, when I had nothing better to do, I decided it was bedtime for the old folk so I shot upstairs into their bedroom. Usually I potter along to mine for a bit of peace but this time I had something on my mind. I gave a couple of heavy stamps on the floor above them as only a rabbit can and waited. As sure as eggs are eggs up came my human mum. Right on cue. I stared very hard at her until she got the message and lay down on the bed. Good girl! Then I ran over and flopped out by her side for the night. Done!That was the successful part. Suddenly, not at all according to my plan and just as I had closed my eyes, she got up grabbed me and carried me downstairs. Not so good but an achievement in part for rabbit kind. I wonder where I went wrong.I'm running out of training ideas. Any new ones will be gratefully received. Something to encourage a constant supply of juicy raisins would be good.
Harve's complete faith and conviction that I will understand his wishes is quite astounding. Staring at closed doors, sitting with his front paws in his empty food bowl, waiting patiently at the foot of the stairs until the rug he uses for take off is put in place, pushing his face into my hand so I will cuddle his head and stamping for immediate attention whether it be for banana, which he can smell at a hundred paces or his running entrance into a room to tell us he has arrived. Why do I still find it so strange after eight years?
A family friend refers to him as The Cog. A combination of a cat and a dog. He encompasses the habits of both of these with a little more intelligence.
People still keep these wonderful companions in hutches.
1 comment:
Hi Harve,
I Know just what you mean. If my night time treat doesn't arrive I stamp and stamp and stamp until I get an explanation.
I'm not too keen on sitting or laying next to humans as I know that "scooping up" experience - it's been practiced far too regularly.. "to keep me used to it". Checking teeth and rear end. Trying to brush my tummy which makes me wriggle.
Though I have to say it sometimes depends if they are ignoring me I like to muscle in on what ever they are doing like computer stuff ..and get an ear tickle then I might snuggle up next to them on a chair or sofa.
My den has been re arranged and I now have some adapted wooden storage boxes to explore and a few wooden things on wheels to push around.
Keep them humans in order Harvey
Love Lennie
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