Having trouble bonding with your pet rat? Try these tips...
Bonding.: "If you’re having trouble convincing your rat that humans are the greatest -- DO NOT PANIC. I don’t how tough a cookie your rat appears to be: bites, runs away from you, won’t even approach for treats, you can’t grab him, you can’t hang on to him. Hear me: the day is going to come when you have to sneak pass the cage because as soon as the rat sees you: he wants you to pick him up and scratch him."
Here are some tips that will help: First, remember the 3 rules of being a good guest – rats or humans. When visiting: #1 Always knock before entering. #2 Bring a housegift (a treat) #3 When you leave, take out the garbage (handful of soiled litter).
That’s usually enough. But if your rat still isn’t coming around, begin the Forced Socialization Method. Right this minute. It gets fast and good bonding results with your rats. People who flatly state that their rat is incorrigible and untrainable, eat their words after using this method. If he’s a bitey rat, wear those cotton gardening gloves with the little rubber dots if you have to. But believe me, you probably won't need to use them more than TWICE.
Every day, you pick each rat out of the cage and hold him for 20 minutes. NO SHORTCUTS -- TIME IT. Rats can't maintain their fear for 20 minutes and it just burns itself out. Mix up the 20 minutes: hold the rat in your hands for a while, then put the rat in your shirt for a while, (wear a t shirt under a shirt and put the rat between them. Not your best shirts...), hold the rat on your lap for awhile, put the rat on your shoulder, let the rat walk on you: just don't let the rat get away. If you have to hold the rat in your hands for 20 minutes: so be it. Watch TV or something. My favorite story is from a ratter who was sure she had the Beast from Hell. At the end of the first session, the rat YAWNED. That’s when she knew it was all going to work out just fine.
Also, buy, in paperback, The Tellington Ttouch by Linda Tellington-Jones, and learn this method of animal massage: you will get results. They bond great with this, they get smarter, they get healthier. When you are holding the rat, give him the massage.
Additional note: if your rat intentionally nips, SQUEAK LOUD AND MAD when he does it and pull your finger back a little. THIS they understand. But please try to differentiate real nipping from "food testing": sometimes when you first get them, they go through this period of "nibbling" your fingers before they figure out what is food and what is you.
Remember, in the beginning, rats are like babies: treat them as such: with gentleness, patience, love and understanding. The first time they take a treat from your hand, appreciate what brave little creatures they are to come so close to the big giant.
Now tame as a kitten...
Here are some tips that will help: First, remember the 3 rules of being a good guest – rats or humans. When visiting: #1 Always knock before entering. #2 Bring a housegift (a treat) #3 When you leave, take out the garbage (handful of soiled litter).
That’s usually enough. But if your rat still isn’t coming around, begin the Forced Socialization Method. Right this minute. It gets fast and good bonding results with your rats. People who flatly state that their rat is incorrigible and untrainable, eat their words after using this method. If he’s a bitey rat, wear those cotton gardening gloves with the little rubber dots if you have to. But believe me, you probably won't need to use them more than TWICE.
Every day, you pick each rat out of the cage and hold him for 20 minutes. NO SHORTCUTS -- TIME IT. Rats can't maintain their fear for 20 minutes and it just burns itself out. Mix up the 20 minutes: hold the rat in your hands for a while, then put the rat in your shirt for a while, (wear a t shirt under a shirt and put the rat between them. Not your best shirts...), hold the rat on your lap for awhile, put the rat on your shoulder, let the rat walk on you: just don't let the rat get away. If you have to hold the rat in your hands for 20 minutes: so be it. Watch TV or something. My favorite story is from a ratter who was sure she had the Beast from Hell. At the end of the first session, the rat YAWNED. That’s when she knew it was all going to work out just fine.
Also, buy, in paperback, The Tellington Ttouch by Linda Tellington-Jones, and learn this method of animal massage: you will get results. They bond great with this, they get smarter, they get healthier. When you are holding the rat, give him the massage.
Additional note: if your rat intentionally nips, SQUEAK LOUD AND MAD when he does it and pull your finger back a little. THIS they understand. But please try to differentiate real nipping from "food testing": sometimes when you first get them, they go through this period of "nibbling" your fingers before they figure out what is food and what is you.
Remember, in the beginning, rats are like babies: treat them as such: with gentleness, patience, love and understanding. The first time they take a treat from your hand, appreciate what brave little creatures they are to come so close to the big giant.
Now tame as a kitten...
posted by Lee at 8:10 AM
1 Comments:
I have a beautiful blue haired rat. I adopted him from a rattery/pet store. He was all full of scabs when I took him home. Before he was in a tank full of other ratties. Once at home he seemed ok. Then a short while later he just up and bit me very, very hard. I have no idea why. If you approach his cage he will bite you through the wire. He just looks at you with a cute face and then out of no where he just takes a big nasty bite. What can I do? I feel sorry for him. I have many other rats and I have never seen anything like this. I would love some advice please.
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