I just got a rat from the pet store and I heard they can be trained. Does anyone have any tips or ideas? I don't even know where to start!
2007-03-09 16:39:18 · 8 answers · asked by Lauren A. 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
It's easy to train a rat, if she's older then 4 months old. Young males and young females are very active, too busy exploring to pay much attention to serious trick training.
But as soon as you get her home you can start training her to
bond to you and learn to trust you. It will go a long way in her training when she totally finds you the neatest person in the world.
Bonding with your rats: Too much good info for just one link
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Bonding+with+your+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Bonding+with+your+rats
And learn about your rat's behavior so you know why she does the things she does.
http://www.ratbehavior.org/
Rats are personable, inquisitive, and alert to anything, and this makes them easy to train. Rats combine the behaviors of three year old children, dogs, cats, monkies, and rodents, so they can learn some of the things that each of the above can do. Sitting up, gathering blocks, chasing string, etc.
For trick training get yourself the lid off a baby food jar (feed the contents of the jar to your rat) and some rice crispies, because rats can be clicker trained.
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2002b/rats.htm
First thing you should do is to teach her to come when you call her name.
Trick training rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=trick+training+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=trick+training+rats
And rats can be litter box trained so she will keep her cage cleaner.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Litter+box+training+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Litter+box+training+rats
Rats like the company of their own kind:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Rats+like+the+company+of+their+own+kind&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Rats+like+the+company+of+their+own+kind
You are going to have so much fun with your new little friend. And feel free to e-mail me anytime if you want to talk ratty :)
spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"
2007-03-09 17:25:38 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rats are so awesome!! I trained mine to come when I clicked my tongue. To get them to actually do it, first I'd click my tongue over and over to make sure they heard it. Then I'd shove some food with a strong scent in their face, and take it away before they could eat it. Then while they were desperatly looking around for where it was, I'd click my tongue again, then give it to them. After the first 3 days the got the hang of it. Now they come whenever I want to ^^ And let me tell you, that has been INCREDIBLY useful for all the times they've run away! xD
Basically you have to give them some sort of signal, and constantly use that signal until they understand what it is. Food is the perfect tool to get them to do what you want.
Hope this helps!
2007-03-09 17:17:27 · answer #2 · answered by Jin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had rats my whole life. My dam just had eight pups. Any way food is the best reward for rats. The easiest trick to start with is to teach her to come to her name. Before you teach her to do anything I would suggest is to go buy her a buddy. Rats are very social animals and need to be with their own kind or they can develop behavioral problems. I am surprised the pet store you bought her from did not tell you this.
2007-03-09 17:03:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
As ur girls get used to you, you'll find that they will have no problems running up ur arms to get to ur shoulder. Maybe start by putting a rat on ur shoulder and giving her a treat. keeping doing this, while putting her further down your arm, while her treat is held at ur shoulder. Over time they will be able to do this without food. I didn't actually train my two female rats, they sussed it out them selves, although i would give them a treat while sitting on my shoulder. I hope this helps you :)
2016-03-28 22:23:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it takes weeks even months with constant training with an animal like a rat and even after all you training they still probably wont obey half the time. it took almost 6 months to train squirrels for parts in movies , same for rats as well.
Just imagine to repeat an action with the rat over and over and over for hours a day for it to get it down , but still have to do it more.
treats for when they get it Rightt but after they get it righ you still have to do the same action over and over again. They are not like dogs, cats or birds. You have to stick with it big time
2007-03-09 16:48:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The same way you train a plain rat....
sorry, couldn't resist.
2007-03-09 17:51:02 · answer #6 · answered by Algernon 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hold a carrot above him to make him stand up, you can make him dance by moving it around.
2007-03-09 17:48:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
U COULD EITHER GIVE IT FOOD READ BOOKS OR HIRE A PROFESSIONAL TRAINER.
2007-03-09 16:49:20 · answer #8 · answered by POOTY 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋