A pet rat is a good pet that is if you don’t have an innate fear of them. If you don’t like mice, then it might not be a good idea to get a rat as a pet. Don’t be fooled though, a rat is a lot cleaner, and more sociable with other rats and humans than mice are, so if a rat suits your fancy, then get a rat for a pet. Before you do though find out all about the benefits of owing a pet rat, and how you should care for them.
Contrary to popular belief, rats are not smelly creatures, in fact they spend more time on hygiene than a dog or cat does. If you’re a good owner and clean their cage regularly you won’t find any smell with your pet rat either. In their cages they’ll even mark off where they use the bathroom. You’ll find evidence when you clean their cage that a certain part of it has a heavier weight and a different texture to the hay or pellets. If you buy rats as pets, make sure that their bedding is dust free because they will get a respiratory infection if you don’t. A dust free kitty litter works great for their home. Another big misconception is that rats on live a few months, when in fact, they will if taken proper care of, live up to three years, and some even more, if they’ve that good genes in their bloodline.
A sturdy cage should be bought because rats love to chew, and because their teeth grow it feels really good for them to chew. Whatever types of cage that you buy or make at home have a sturdy gage wire for the outside of it, but line the bottom with a heavy plastic. Rats will injure their feet on the wire cage, if you don’t. Another good thing about rats are that you can buy prepackage rat food pellets at your local pet store. That’s really all they need to survive and be happy. However, if you want to make your pet rat really happy, feed them some hard nuts or crispy fruit. Rats consider it a holiday when you take the time to go out and dig up some outside critters for them to enjoy too! Grasshoppers and fresh crickets will make your rat smile for days. In other words, some of their food is free, and the other costs a little at your pet store.
Rats don’t spread disease either as most people think, especially if you don’t bring one in from the outside. It’s not the Middle Ages anymore, and domesticated rats from pet stores or breeders are very cautious about selling rats to the general public that might have fleas. Fleas off of rats are how the plague got started in Europe and China, but today you don’t have to worry about this at all. Always though remember to buy from a reputable breeder and pet store. They can give you advice too on how to care for your new pet rat. Rats live a good while too, on average up to four years old, and are under a foot in length from the tip of their nose to the end of their hairless tails. A small child might have difficulty holding them, when they move about, but an adult will not have a problem.
You won’t be bored with having a rat in your house either. Rats will require you to pay attention to them because they are social, and a little while out of their cage is necessary because they get bored easily. When you buy a rat it’ll be good if you get two of the same sex, so you can just watch them play and interact. Any type of tunnel or rope will let them have hours of entertainment, and you’ll love watching them. When placing their toys inside the cage look at the attachments toward the top because if there’s the slightest gap because of the toy, they’ll push out the top and get lost in your house. Rats are highly intelligent animals, so be prepared for a chase if they get out.
Even though a pet rat will require just as much attention as your family dog, don’t let that stop you from buying one. They’re cute and very social able animals and they’re clean, and like to be with people once they’re trained. Having a rat in your house isn’t a scary thing, and your family will enjoy them in time.
Showing posts with label rat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rat. Show all posts
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
How to Train Your Pet Rat
After you have built up a great relationship with your pet rat, you can start to train him. Imagine the fun you will both have when you train together. The enrichment will really add to his day and will impress your friends too.
It is great that you are spending extra time with your rat, but you will still need to make sure that you provide a stimulating environment, for all the times when you are not around. You should also be sure not to be too pushy with your little friend. Cuddles and time out are important too you know. Keep up the training, but be aware that your rat has more important things to think about - like exploring.
Litter Training
Ok so this isn't the most impressive party trick, but it will make things a lot easier for you. You will have to spend less time cleaning out the cage and less money on bedding and the rats can live in a cleaner environment. Everybody wins!
The first step is to make a litter tray out of something such as the bottom of a tissue box or a shoe box. Put some bedding in it, so it looks a bit inviting and then place it in your ratties cage. If there is already one area your rat likes to go to the toilet put it there.
Place your ratty into his new litter tray. Move the poops your rats have done into the box, so that they can smell it there. This will encourage them to go there again. When you find that they have pooped outside the litter tray simply move the poops inside the box again.
It may take time, but persevere and they will learn. Rats like to be clean too you know.
Recognizing Their Name
This is an excellent place to start with your training. It will make your party tricks a lot easier to learn and it is easy to teach.
Every time you say your rats name pick it up and give it a cuddle or even a little treat (it's favourite food). After a while you can drum you hand on the floor and call it's name and again, when it comes to you give it a little treat.
It won't be long before you can call your rat by name and it will come to you. Continue to reward it with tickles, kisses and of course the occasional treat.
Jump
Place your ratty on your lap and make a little gap between your legs. In one hand hold a delicious treat. Your ratty will have to jump the gap to get to the treat. Wave the treat and say "jump Wombat" (insert your rats name here) When your pet has done it give them the treat and lots of praise. Get them to do it a few times. Soon they will do it even without a treat, but don't forget plenty of praise.
Teach Your Rat to Clap
This is a cute one. Hold a delicious treat above your ratties head (a thin piece of carrot dipped in hommous is ideal). Say "clap Wombat" and he will reach up for the treat, lift it up a little so his hands meet. Each time he "claps" say "good boy Wombat" and after say three times give him the treat and let him enjoy it, as well as lots of praise from his favourite person (you I hope).
Fixing Bad Behaviour
If your rat keeps trying to chew the wires or do other naughty ratty things, don't get mad, just spray a little water from the plant mister in his direction and say no. But never be mean to your ratty. They can't help being so inquisitive after all.
Clicker Training
Can you really clicker train a rat? Of course you can. If you have a trusting and fun relationship with your ratty anything is possible.
Teaching your rat to respond to the clicker
First get a clicker from a pet shop or online. Have your ratties favourite food at the ready (give yourself a quota of treats for the day so as not to overfeed) Give your rat the irresistible treat and at the exact time he takes the treat click the clicker.
After a while of doing this, wait for ratty to do something. It can be anything from simply moving, raising a leg, turning around, yawning, whatever he may do. When he does it click the clicker and give a treat at the exact same time. Repeat this. It won't be long until your ratty realises that he is controlling the game. He can decide when he gets the treat. You will find that he starts to repeat behaviours to get a click and a treat and will really start to enjoy the game.
Why the clicker?
You can train your rat without a clicker and simply use treats on their own, but if you do choose to use a clicker this will give your rat the definite message that "yes that is what I want you to do". There will be no need to scold, which can be very detrimental to the learning process. The rat will work out what he needs to do after you have clicked the same action a few times. Treats are a good way to train, but a clicker gives that definite yes that your pet craves. It will definitely make training easier for you.
If your ratty is intolerant of the clicking sound (they have sensitive ears) you can use the lid from a jar, which has a security button. You can simply pop this little button in the lid, instead of a clicker.
It is up to you. You should judge how your ratty reacts to the click sound.
Word Commands with the clicker
After a while you can add word commands to your clicker training. For example if you have trained your rat to clap, and he has started to clap to get a click and a treat, say "clap Wombat" when he is doing it and then say "stop Wombat" when he stops give him a click and a treat. He will eventually associate the word "clap" with the action of clapping and with the click and the treat. You can choose to only reward your rat with a click and a treat when he claps on command, so as to avoid begging behaviour.
To teach your rat a new behaviour, for example pushing a ball along, you need to click and praise it at every step of the way. When he looks at the ball, click and treat, when he walks towards the ball, click and treat, when he touches the ball, click and treat, when he pushes the ball, click and treat. He will soon get the idea.
After a while you will not need to give a click and a treat every time. You may simply be able to praise. Remember keep it fun. This is playtime after all.
You can teach plenty of things with a clicker. The limit is your imagination. You can teach your rat to come to you, to sit on your shoulder as well as party tricks, such as rolling over or even dancing.
It is important to keep it short. Remember rats have a lot to do. There's exploring everything in sight for a start. Five minutes is plenty to start with. You may wish to do your first training sessions in a room where there are less distractions.
Not all rats are as trainable as others. If your rat isn't into school, enjoy playing other games instead like chasing with your hand, tickling, massaging and just watching them have lots of fun.
Keep your rats healthy. A healthy, happy ratty is the most trainable and keep them well fed too, or they'll be in no mood to do anything for you.
Oh by the way...don't scold your ratty during training. If he's not getting a trick straight away give him time. It will pay off in the end. You don't want to damage the trust you've built up.
It is great that you are spending extra time with your rat, but you will still need to make sure that you provide a stimulating environment, for all the times when you are not around. You should also be sure not to be too pushy with your little friend. Cuddles and time out are important too you know. Keep up the training, but be aware that your rat has more important things to think about - like exploring.
Litter Training
Ok so this isn't the most impressive party trick, but it will make things a lot easier for you. You will have to spend less time cleaning out the cage and less money on bedding and the rats can live in a cleaner environment. Everybody wins!
The first step is to make a litter tray out of something such as the bottom of a tissue box or a shoe box. Put some bedding in it, so it looks a bit inviting and then place it in your ratties cage. If there is already one area your rat likes to go to the toilet put it there.
Place your ratty into his new litter tray. Move the poops your rats have done into the box, so that they can smell it there. This will encourage them to go there again. When you find that they have pooped outside the litter tray simply move the poops inside the box again.
It may take time, but persevere and they will learn. Rats like to be clean too you know.
Recognizing Their Name
This is an excellent place to start with your training. It will make your party tricks a lot easier to learn and it is easy to teach.
Every time you say your rats name pick it up and give it a cuddle or even a little treat (it's favourite food). After a while you can drum you hand on the floor and call it's name and again, when it comes to you give it a little treat.
It won't be long before you can call your rat by name and it will come to you. Continue to reward it with tickles, kisses and of course the occasional treat.
Jump
Place your ratty on your lap and make a little gap between your legs. In one hand hold a delicious treat. Your ratty will have to jump the gap to get to the treat. Wave the treat and say "jump Wombat" (insert your rats name here) When your pet has done it give them the treat and lots of praise. Get them to do it a few times. Soon they will do it even without a treat, but don't forget plenty of praise.
Teach Your Rat to Clap
This is a cute one. Hold a delicious treat above your ratties head (a thin piece of carrot dipped in hommous is ideal). Say "clap Wombat" and he will reach up for the treat, lift it up a little so his hands meet. Each time he "claps" say "good boy Wombat" and after say three times give him the treat and let him enjoy it, as well as lots of praise from his favourite person (you I hope).
Fixing Bad Behaviour
If your rat keeps trying to chew the wires or do other naughty ratty things, don't get mad, just spray a little water from the plant mister in his direction and say no. But never be mean to your ratty. They can't help being so inquisitive after all.
Clicker Training
Can you really clicker train a rat? Of course you can. If you have a trusting and fun relationship with your ratty anything is possible.
Teaching your rat to respond to the clicker
First get a clicker from a pet shop or online. Have your ratties favourite food at the ready (give yourself a quota of treats for the day so as not to overfeed) Give your rat the irresistible treat and at the exact time he takes the treat click the clicker.
After a while of doing this, wait for ratty to do something. It can be anything from simply moving, raising a leg, turning around, yawning, whatever he may do. When he does it click the clicker and give a treat at the exact same time. Repeat this. It won't be long until your ratty realises that he is controlling the game. He can decide when he gets the treat. You will find that he starts to repeat behaviours to get a click and a treat and will really start to enjoy the game.
Why the clicker?
You can train your rat without a clicker and simply use treats on their own, but if you do choose to use a clicker this will give your rat the definite message that "yes that is what I want you to do". There will be no need to scold, which can be very detrimental to the learning process. The rat will work out what he needs to do after you have clicked the same action a few times. Treats are a good way to train, but a clicker gives that definite yes that your pet craves. It will definitely make training easier for you.
If your ratty is intolerant of the clicking sound (they have sensitive ears) you can use the lid from a jar, which has a security button. You can simply pop this little button in the lid, instead of a clicker.
It is up to you. You should judge how your ratty reacts to the click sound.
Word Commands with the clicker
After a while you can add word commands to your clicker training. For example if you have trained your rat to clap, and he has started to clap to get a click and a treat, say "clap Wombat" when he is doing it and then say "stop Wombat" when he stops give him a click and a treat. He will eventually associate the word "clap" with the action of clapping and with the click and the treat. You can choose to only reward your rat with a click and a treat when he claps on command, so as to avoid begging behaviour.
To teach your rat a new behaviour, for example pushing a ball along, you need to click and praise it at every step of the way. When he looks at the ball, click and treat, when he walks towards the ball, click and treat, when he touches the ball, click and treat, when he pushes the ball, click and treat. He will soon get the idea.
After a while you will not need to give a click and a treat every time. You may simply be able to praise. Remember keep it fun. This is playtime after all.
You can teach plenty of things with a clicker. The limit is your imagination. You can teach your rat to come to you, to sit on your shoulder as well as party tricks, such as rolling over or even dancing.
It is important to keep it short. Remember rats have a lot to do. There's exploring everything in sight for a start. Five minutes is plenty to start with. You may wish to do your first training sessions in a room where there are less distractions.
Not all rats are as trainable as others. If your rat isn't into school, enjoy playing other games instead like chasing with your hand, tickling, massaging and just watching them have lots of fun.
Keep your rats healthy. A healthy, happy ratty is the most trainable and keep them well fed too, or they'll be in no mood to do anything for you.
Oh by the way...don't scold your ratty during training. If he's not getting a trick straight away give him time. It will pay off in the end. You don't want to damage the trust you've built up.
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