The basics in training pet rats
They were accused of causing the black plague in the 1930's and other minacious behavior right up to this moment, but did you know that training pet rats is possible? As dreadful as their history and reputation may be, many pet owners consider raising pet rats for their playfulness and comical acts, and because of the fact that they are trainable. In fact, Colombian police authorities are even training pet rats for mine-sniffing tasks because it takes half the time to train them than dogs.
When trained, pet rats can display various antics which will certainly melt your heart and make you feel proud as its owner. Depending on the type of tricks you want the rat to learn in training, pet rats can be taught to do different tricks or use the litter-box! Rats, like the conventional house pets, can be friendly too.
When training pet rats
Trust. This is the first thing owners need to gain before even starting to train or play with pet rats. Rats tend to shy away at first which makes training pet rats almost impossible at this stage. Make the rat feel comfortable with its new cage, surroundings, and your presence for the training to be successful.
Handling. Rats can be elusive creatures when you apply incorrect handling. For one, always use a spoon when feeding your rat with soft food to prevent its teeth from getting stuck in one of your fingers and cause you to scare it away. Also, avoid holding a rat with its tail which is not only injurious but frightening to a rat. Instead, hold the pet rat gently both your hands but only do so when the rat approaches your hand.
Positive reinforcements. Treats and praises work well when training pet rats as these help enhance their natural intelligence. When training pet rats to do a trick, always call it by its name and repeat the word while holding the treat in your fingers. Maintain a positive relationship with your pet even though it's just starting to learn or fails to learn a trick. One of the most beneficial tricks that rats can learn is to use the litter-box as this saves you the effort from picking up its dirt in its cage.
Keep sessions short. Make training time short, such as 10-15 minutes to avoid tiring the rat and cause its aversion for training. Moreover, keep distractions away when training pet rats. This also means keeping the training area as consistent as possible with no additional items that can lure its explorer instinct to work. Train male and female rats in different areas because the scent of female rats can be distracting to males.
Training pet rats should be fun for both the owner and the pet, because learning should be where the fun is.
