Post by Karen R Quinn on Aug 11, 2009 23:53:46 GMT -7
Rats can be taught their name, to come, among other things. They also have been taught to play basketball, do “Rat Olympics,” and perform complicated mazes with many intricate maneuvers.
Allow your new pet about one week to become adjusted to his new home and family members. Hand feed your new pet as much as possible for the first few days. This means that every time you handle or approach your pet, it will have a positive reward waiting from you.
Start with placing your hand inside the cage and letting your pet approach on its own, smelling and walking around. Be gentle and talk softly to it. Don’t be surprised if it doesn’t take the food right away. Sometimes you may have to leave your hand in the cage for several minutes, but eventually your pet will come to you. The next step is holding your treat just outside the cage so that your pet must reach out and get it.
To teach your rat his name, call him by name whenever you take him out to play and give a treat such as a Cheerio. Hand him the Cheerio the first couple of times and after that say, “His name, and come,” and hold the Cheerio a little further away, increasing the distance each time and your rat will not only learn his name, but also to come to you when you call him. Remember to give a treat when he comes to you. Each time you end a training session, your rat should have gone a little farther than before. Eventually when you call his name, your rat will try to go to you wherever you are. At this point, it is best not to reward with food every time, but trade off with lots of hugs and kisses.
Rats will soon learn to shoulder sit and make that their second home when out with you. This is useful if you plan to take your rat with you to different places. Some people also use a hip-pack to put their rat in when visiting friends. Place your rat on your shoulder for short amounts of time at first; you can try giving small treats while he is there. Sit quietly by his cage in the beginning and gradually increase the time he spends on your shoulder. After a few days you can start walking around a little with him. When he is comfortable, then you can start taking him places with you.
Some mice and rats will even enjoy riding around in your pocket.
Your rat will also learn to housebreak himself if you don’t keep him out for too long a period of time. If he starts to fidget and get nervous, it’s a good indication he needs to go potty. Place him back in his cage, and after he relieves himself give him a treat. Many rats have been known to housebreak themselves without any training at all.
Some rats will not eat a treat while out with you, preferring instead to eat in their cage. Don’t be offended if your rat is this way. When they feel completely safe and secure, then they will eat while out of their cage. Others will take their treat and run to their cage, drop it, and come back for more. Some are natural pack rats and will try to steal just about anything to hoard in their nest. Some people have found many unusual items stashed in their rat’s cage, or hiding place because they were allowed to run loose in the house.
Remember, they should always be supervised when let out to run in the house. Not only will they find things to chew on they should not, they could get stepped on by an unsuspecting person.
They should be thoroughly socialized and trained so they won’t become frightened when let out on the floor for the first time. Sit on the floor with the rat in your lap and he will naturally want to explore the surrounding area. As he gets more brave he will wander farther from you, but if something startles him, he will come running back to the safety of your lap. It is a good idea to just confine their play area to a safe place where they are not likely to be frightened.
Allow your new pet about one week to become adjusted to his new home and family members. Hand feed your new pet as much as possible for the first few days. This means that every time you handle or approach your pet, it will have a positive reward waiting from you.
Start with placing your hand inside the cage and letting your pet approach on its own, smelling and walking around. Be gentle and talk softly to it. Don’t be surprised if it doesn’t take the food right away. Sometimes you may have to leave your hand in the cage for several minutes, but eventually your pet will come to you. The next step is holding your treat just outside the cage so that your pet must reach out and get it.
To teach your rat his name, call him by name whenever you take him out to play and give a treat such as a Cheerio. Hand him the Cheerio the first couple of times and after that say, “His name, and come,” and hold the Cheerio a little further away, increasing the distance each time and your rat will not only learn his name, but also to come to you when you call him. Remember to give a treat when he comes to you. Each time you end a training session, your rat should have gone a little farther than before. Eventually when you call his name, your rat will try to go to you wherever you are. At this point, it is best not to reward with food every time, but trade off with lots of hugs and kisses.
Rats will soon learn to shoulder sit and make that their second home when out with you. This is useful if you plan to take your rat with you to different places. Some people also use a hip-pack to put their rat in when visiting friends. Place your rat on your shoulder for short amounts of time at first; you can try giving small treats while he is there. Sit quietly by his cage in the beginning and gradually increase the time he spends on your shoulder. After a few days you can start walking around a little with him. When he is comfortable, then you can start taking him places with you.
Some mice and rats will even enjoy riding around in your pocket.
Your rat will also learn to housebreak himself if you don’t keep him out for too long a period of time. If he starts to fidget and get nervous, it’s a good indication he needs to go potty. Place him back in his cage, and after he relieves himself give him a treat. Many rats have been known to housebreak themselves without any training at all.
Some rats will not eat a treat while out with you, preferring instead to eat in their cage. Don’t be offended if your rat is this way. When they feel completely safe and secure, then they will eat while out of their cage. Others will take their treat and run to their cage, drop it, and come back for more. Some are natural pack rats and will try to steal just about anything to hoard in their nest. Some people have found many unusual items stashed in their rat’s cage, or hiding place because they were allowed to run loose in the house.
Remember, they should always be supervised when let out to run in the house. Not only will they find things to chew on they should not, they could get stepped on by an unsuspecting person.
They should be thoroughly socialized and trained so they won’t become frightened when let out on the floor for the first time. Sit on the floor with the rat in your lap and he will naturally want to explore the surrounding area. As he gets more brave he will wander farther from you, but if something startles him, he will come running back to the safety of your lap. It is a good idea to just confine their play area to a safe place where they are not likely to be frightened.