How To Train Your Pet Rat

You have spent the time to get to know your pet rat. Now you can start to train him. It will be loads of fun for you both and will add enrichment to his day. Plus you can show your friends just how lovely rats really are.

Even though you will be spending extra time training your rat, make sure that you take time to ensure they have a stimulating environment to live in. You will be at work or school, or asleep, so give your rat things to do whilst you are not around. Remember training is not everything. It is just as important to give your rat plenty of cuddles and time out. You should keep up the training, as rats have plenty of exploring to do and may forget the new tricks.

Litter Box Training

Training your rat to use the litter box, will make life a whole lot easier for you. It will mean less time cleaning out the cage and less money spent on fresh bedding. Your rats will love being in a cleaner house too.

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.

Jumping

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.