Rat Training!

[KTyne]

So today I started to teach my ratties to come when called! I started off having a ten minute session with each of them alone and once they were getting the hang of it I brought them all out for a bit of play time! While they were out on my bed I would call one of them and usually they'd run right over to get some yummy treats!
I was using Rice Krispies, and they were perfect because they can be eaten by the rats in one bite. ^_^
Rat's are so smart, they learned to come as fast as my brother's new puppy learns tricks, lol.
I was also teaching Pashmina to walk on her hind legs after she got the gyst of coming (she caught on very quickly!).

What kind of tricks have you guys taught your ratties?

 

[jorats]

That's excellent. I've never really took the time to teach my guys tricks but in the future I might do that cause I'm sure the rats love it...stimulates the mind.
I knew of a guy who taught his little rat to go on top of a dresser, let down a rope and very small toy bucket, the guy would put a treat in it and the rat would yank the rope back up.

 

[M0onkist]

Good thing to look at if you want to do in-depth training is Learning Psychology - helps with all the techniques and stuff of Classical and Operant conditioning. I used very gentle variants of operant conditioning to de-spaz my grandmother's dog (to some extent, anyway).

 

[KTyne]

I would definitely recommend anyone to train their rats now, lol!!
They all seemed to be having SO much fun! I've never seen my Penelope run around and be soooo, not shy!

 

[Cinderwolf]

Oh man, I've been trying to get my rats to learn their names for a while no, but I don't think I'm doing it right. :giggle:

Maybe I will try again tonight, so I can dazzle my friends and show them how smart my little girls are tomorrow : )

How did you get them to start coming to their names?

 

[KTyne]

First I would just say their name and immediately give them a rice krispie and praise them, did that a bunch of times and then when they were wandering around my bed I'd say their name and lure them to me (or show them the treat) and they'd come over and I'd give it to them and praise them. After a while they just get it! If you want to train them faster I'd use a clicker!
I've experienced with dogs that they learn tricks/commands much quicker if you use a clicker because they know immediately that they did something right so I think it'd work great with rats! ^_^