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EARNING THE TRUST OF PET RATS Sub-Categories

PET RAT TRUST TRAINING CONCEPTS

3 galleries with 24 photos.

Updated: Sep 20, 2009 9:06pm PST

MUST MUST READS

12 galleries with 10 photos.

Updated: Nov 07, 2009 11:08am PST

EARNING THE TRUST OF PET RATS Galleries

Documentary on Socializing Pet Rat Jerry : Documentary Series on Socializing Pet Rat Jerry If you are working with a shy rat and hope to help him become a squishy lap rat of sorts, what can help? This is a series of 3 sessions, about 20 minutes each, filmed one per day, of Gwen working with Jerry Rat. Shown in their entirety, this is an opportunity to follow along with a human who tries to help Jerry calm down and feel better about being held. Is there improvement over time? A good question. Can watching this series help you with your own rat? An even better question. The answer to both, hopefully, is yes. The idea is to explore what's involved in holding your shy pet rat for 20 minutes (minimum) per day. That means holding a skittish rat who does not want to be held, and doing so without the use of force. This series explores: What the scared and confused rat is doing, moment by moment, as he is held for about 20 minutes. How a human may help him calm down. How to explain what the rat is "saying" over the course of the 20 minutes. How to assess if he is calming down, and what might be helping that process. How to use a "1-10 anxiety scale" to work with a rat. Gwen doesn't quite know how all this adds up, and she is certain there is more to understanding what it takes to socialize pet rats than is covered here, but she makes a good effort with Jerry Rat. As the minutes roll by, Gwen talks about various things. She: Relates to Jerry while he wiggles and shows he is worried about the whole thing. Talks about various trust training concepts as they apply to Jerry. Talks about what she sees Jerry doing, why he does what he does, and why she does what she does in response. Compares and contrasts what she is doing to Jane Adamo's original presentation of "Forced Socialization"*. (*Note: Jane Adamo's "Forced Socialization" has had widespread influence in the pet rat community as an essential method to socialize a shy rat. It has incredible importance for it's helpful content, yet sometimes humans report they feel "doing it" results in use of excessive physical force with the rat. This series seeks to describe how to insure you do not use excessive force with your rat. Gwen also hopes this series may contribute to advancing the original ideas in "forced socialization" to a new level of understanding.) About the Star, Jerry Rat: Jer-Jer is a retired adopted lab rat who owns Karen Borga. As a former lab rat, he was "lucky" because he never did participate in the non-invasive, standard psychology tests at the university research laboratory. Typical for lab rats, though, he was only minimally socialized as a baby, and human contact was always minimized. One of six adopted lab rats in Karen's home, he is the newest and youngest, and has only recently been integrated into the happy group. Jerry is fidgety and has a "nervous" demeanor in that he constantly looks around, darts here and there, and appears to worry about everything around him. He is not comfortable being held, being on the couch where the sessions take place, or being away from his cage and cage mates. There are two cats in the house, and while they have been locked away for these sessions, Jerry knows they are out there somewhere and he does not like them. Gwen has held Jerry only briefly before. As best we can tell, he has never been held for this length of time, or in this manner. NOTE FROM GWEN: "I am extremely interested in any constructive feedback about what you see in these videos, positive or negative. There are huge gaps in my understanding of what I do and how to interpret the results. I welcome anyone who wishes to dialogue about any of this, to contact me."

Documentary on Socializing Pet Rat Jerry

Documentary Series on Socializing Pet Rat Jerry If you are working ...

Updated: Feb 28, 2010 9:57pm PST

Holding Techniques : How do we help rats feel comfortable being held? Some are natural snuggle bunnies, but those who did not get held as babies are probably going to feel vulnerable in your arms and hands. (You can also see embedded videos on this subject from YouTube on many other pages, starting with Page 2)

Holding Techniques

How do we help rats feel comfortable being held? Some are natural s ...

Updated: Jan 23, 2010 2:31pm PST

Snug Holding Pet Rats : At the bottom of this description are several videos of helping pet rats with a "snug hold" or "grip cave." Pet rats - how to help them calm down when they're wiggly in your hands? I'm still hunting for what to call this - "snug hold", "grip cave," "snuggle cave". Many pet rat owners do some version of this, but I've seen it briefly described only on RattyRat.com. If you know of other sites that describe this kind of holding, please let me know. Holding the rat to give her snugness, a cave, and a hidey-place is tricky when you also must not apply *force*. In these examples, I do ask the rat to tolerate a snug hold, but when she calms or stills, she always chooses to do so. If she does not choose to calm down, she will wiggle free, and there are many examples of doing just that. The rat and human do a give and take: Human asks rat to calm down under a snug "hold", rat may do so; then rat's anxiety returns and she wiggles free, and human supports her doing that. Then the pattern repeats. After dozens and dozens of repeats, the rat becomes calmer and calmer in the human's hands. The importance of not forcing the rat into a tight unyielding grip, is that if one does that, the rat will panic. As a prey animal expecting a hawk to swoop down any moment, the rat needs to feel she can escape (to safety). And sitting still, which is part of this exercise, is also scary, because a rat in a still position is a great target for a meal. So the human supports the rat's need to move around, in other words, wiggle out of the snug hold, by letting her. She will move here and there, perhaps up to the shoulder. After a moment of calming in this fashion, the human can again invite the rat back into a "grip cave", or "snug hold," for lack of a better term. Somehow I've got to find a better descriptor for a holding action that involves snugness, snuggling, covering, and providing a cave, where there is indeed a snug hold, but not force. One way it feels, is as if the rat is running from a predator, and dives into a hole in the ground, jamming into the tightest corner, tight tight tight. That seems to provide her with the best safety, the most out-of-sight, perhaps. In my hands, the rat may shove her nose into the butt-end of my palm, and push into it. Early on when I was trying to understand this behavior, I thought that was a signal she was trying to get away from me, and so I would loosen the "snug", but this resulted in the rat moving forward to the new position of my palm, and pushing into it again. I found I needed to push back into her nose. So we both pushed, and I needed to push exactly as much as the rat pushed. When I do that, the rat will often stop pushing, but hold the tension, and then after a bit of time, evidence a sigh of relaxation. Sometimes this is followed by the rat stretching herself out lengthwise (all under my hand) in a more relaxed shape than the bunchiness with which she starts off. There are also rats that absolutely do not feel helped by this, or feel helped only sometimes, but not always. Here it is tricky to figure out, does this rat want me to hold more snugly? Or is her wiggling a sign that I'm holding too snugly? Which is it? I don't know how to answer that, but I have a limit to how much snug holding I exert on a rat. Hopefully over time with more videos, finding that balance of, add more snug, or let up, will become clearer. There is one video in particular that shows a rat that absolutely did not appreciate a snug hold, and there my response is, of course, to help him wiggle free. This video, of Gwen and Keith practicing on two different rats, is a bit funny because I was trying to show Keith how to help a rat, and he had better luck with his rat than I did with mine. Good examples of, go with the flow of the particular rat. Do not impose an expectation on a rat, as that will probably result in applying inappropriate force that will frighten the sweet ratty-kid.

Snug Holding Pet Rats

At the bottom of this description are several videos of helping pet ra ...

Updated: Feb 07, 2010 4:12pm PST

Groom To Bond : Grooming, yes! Rats groom each other to establish social order, their place in the hierarchy, to communicate approval or disapproval. Rats will groom you - hope they do and encourage them. I'm realizing almost every way I touch my rats is some form of grooming them. Petting is not just snuggling. When I scritch my rat - where scritching is a combination of scratching, itching, rubbing, massaging, tickling, stroking, nuzzling, cuddling - I may signal approval, or disapproval, of her behavior. There are lots of forms of grooming and I hope to show many of them, because I'm trying to learn to scritch my rat with awareness and signal something deliberate in my intention. I want to communicate in her language. Here is a slideshow of the photos in this gallery, they can be viewed in detail, and with descriptions, at the bottom of this page. You can also see embedded videos from YouTube on many other pages, here: 2  3  4  5  6  7  8

Groom To Bond

Grooming, yes! Rats groom each other to establish social order, ...

Updated: Dec 20, 2009 6:00pm PST

Groom to Bond - from YouTube : 1 / 3  4  5  6  7  8 Groom to Bond, page 2 Embedded YouTube videos of grooming and scritching that demonstrate great techniques to help you and your rat bond.

Groom to Bond - from YouTube

1 / 3  4  5  6  7  8 Groom to Bond, page 2 ...

Updated: Nov 29, 2009 11:45am PST

Working In the Cage : You can use the cage as a place to build trust with your rats. Assess for any cage-aggression first - that problem should be dealt with first and separately. (See "Working with Biting Rats" for ideas.) But if your rat is curious and shows relaxed body language, increase the trust with them using the cage areas. All areas are useful: the cage door, the hammocks or boxes, the floor. Offer treats at the cage door. There you can encourage them to jump up to your shoulder. Back and forth, over and over. They'll learn to like your presence. Scritch them inside the cage. Bring your hand and as much of your arm as possible, into the cage, and lay them on the floor, and let the rats explore you. Be passive. Become part of the cage. If they are in a hammock,"knock on the door" by speaking softly to them, touch the hammock door, scritch it, wiggle the edge, and be sure you let them know you are there and wake them up softly. Then offer a treat from the outside. Make sure each rat gets her own treat. After you offer a few treats to each rat, they know you are there, they have sniffed you, and they show some interest, then slowly move your fingers inside and scritch whoever you encounter. Wait for them to sniff and lick you, then move a little more of your hand inside, and repeat the introduction process. Hang out inside for awhile, scritching each rat. They can become accustomed to you belonging there with them. Bring your face and head inside the cage as far as possible and let them explore you. Lay your head on the door edge, whatever is most comfortable. Or, remain there uncomfortably, for the sake of your rats. :) Become one of the rats in their environment. All these activities will build trust with them and help them avoid becoming cage-defensive.

Working In the Cage

You can use the cage as a place to build trust with your rats. Ass ...

Updated: Aug 02, 2009 1:40pm PST

Bringing Rats Into Your Shirt : If you have unsocialized rats, one of the best ways to help them gain trust is to bring them into your shirt, against your skin. This allows them to feel save inside the "cave", and as they inevitably touch you, they experience you do not hurt. They learn to like it inside the shirt as a hidey place, and they learn you are part of that safety. Use any shirt you don't mind getting some wee or poo on, button the shirtsleeves or tie them to your arms, plan to wash yourself off later, and let them in. Do this both in groups and singly. As your rats lose their fear, they will gain better control over the wee and poo, and because they naturally prefer not to make mistakes, they will get better at holding themselves until you return them to the cage. If you can leave them in your shirt for half an hour at a time, all the better. Exposure exposure exposure.

Bringing Rats Into Your Shirt

If you have unsocialized rats, one of the best ways to help them gain ...

Updated: Jan 23, 2010 12:28pm PST

Pockets Pockets! : At the bottom are several videos of pet rats in t-shirt pockets. Rats can figure out t-shirt pockets. It's not easy though, t-shirt pockets are rather small. The rat needs to pretend to be a snake (gasp) and do a "u-ee". Once in, they feel pretty safe, and you can practice scritching and snuggling. The standard recipe is one t-shirt with pocket and add one rat. My rats are female, though, and I'm doubtful that a male rat can fit in a t-shirt pocket. Surely there are other larger pockets out there, though. I have to share some about this pocket business. I remember the first time the first rat, Bonny Bon-Bon, figured out the pocket. I had Bonny alone, and several times over several days she climbed into it and stood there, upside down, her rear end popped out the top. She snuffled and poked at the pocket bottom and seemed completely engrossed in something important. I was puzzled at the time, because when she was done, she would back herself out and stare at the pocket thoughtfully. I just rolled my eyes and patted her rump and told her she was a good girl, look what she had done! (Who am I to say what turns someone on?) The triumphant day came. Bonny slid into the pocket upside down and stood on her head for a while. Then, she started to poke and shove and yank and twist. Slowly she began an agonizing u-turn like a snake, pulling her bottom down inside while her head and shoulders began to travel upward, always keeping part of her body into the very bottom. I confess my jaw dropped and my eyes slightly bulged. The thought crossed my mind that she might even hurt herself. When Bonny was done her whole rear end was stuffed into the bottom of the tight pocket. When she first popped her head out the top, she was clearly in heaven. She promptly closed her eyes and bruxed loudly. I cannot tell you how much I praised and kissed that rat. She did not come out for a very long time and I didn't make her either. Then came the day when I had all four rats on my shoulder. I knew this would be interesting. Sure enough, Bonny dove head first straight off the top of my shoulder down into the pocket, a dive of 10 inches, and once inside the pocket, she did a neat and fast u-eey. Chancy, Lila, and Melody *froze* and stared, and their eyes bulged out, sparkling with jealousy. After a moment they made for Bonny and froze right over her, staring. Bonny had her eyes half closed in delight and paid no attention. One by one, they tried to oust Bonny. I remember Chancy plopped her rear end down on top of Bonny's head. For some reason that didn't get her inside the pocket, and Bonny seemed not to notice her. Lila, the smart rat in the mischief, took top honors for her creative solution. She dove straight down alongside Bonny, to the bottom of the pocket, and squished her over, remaining vertical and upside down. This made for an incredible tight fit of two rats in a pocket. Then Lila shoved her nose into Bonny's bottom, as if to nudge her up and out. At that Bonny's eyes popped open and she erupted into protest squeaks, looking bewildered but also like she had no intention of going anywhere soon. Lila never did move Bonny's bum even a little bit, but being smart and stubborn, she buckled down for the long haul and sustained her upside down stance. After awhile, when I realized I was witnessing a stand-off, I squeezed the pocket bottom gently and extracated Lila, who emerged with both disappointment and grim determination on her face. At the end of that experience, the three loser rats looked mad, jealous, and determined. Naturally the next time they got alone time with me, each immediately focused on figuring out the pocket. Over and over, each would manage to get only partly in, meaning they basically fell out. I loved watching them look puzzled and disappointed, yet never give up. They did all eventually figure out the pocket u-eey, and now there is fair competition. The rule is similar to "King of the Mountain." Whoever is closest gets first dibs, occupies the pocket as long as she wants. When she leaves, whoever is closest to it makes the dive for ownership. And so they take turns. We spend lots of time snuggling in pockets. Pocket adventures can be a great part of ratty experience and social interaction between you and your rats. -- Gwen

Pockets Pockets!

At the bottom are several videos of pet rats in t-shirt pockets. ...

Updated: Aug 15, 2009 2:18pm PST

Squeaker Rats! : Some rats are more vocal than others. Do you have a video of your rat talking - I mean, squeaking? Would you like to let the world hear him or her? Let me know!

Squeaker Rats!

Some rats are more vocal than others. Do you have a video of your rat ...

Updated: Jan 23, 2010 10:49am PST

Cuddling Baby Rats : How do you handle baby rats? You can encourage bonding between rat and human, or discourage it. Good touch has a profound effect. Exposure to human skin (tactile, olfactory - touch and smell) are critical. This is a place to demonstrate touching and bonding with baby rats.

Cuddling Baby Rats

How do you handle baby rats? You can encourage bonding between rat ...

Updated: Nov 15, 2009 2:25pm PST

Baby Rats YouTube : Page /2 3 Embedded Youtube videos on holding baby rats - Page 1 Embedded YouTube videos of baby rat wrestling. Are your babies or new rats being too aggressive with each other? These snapshots of normal play will help you decide, as well as help you learn to play with your rats.

Baby Rats YouTube

Page /2 3 Embedded Youtube videos on holding baby rats ...

Updated: Nov 29, 2009 11:45am PST

Rodentistry : Rats inspect each other's teeth for available excess food, and this behavior is normal for rat relations, which is a signal to us humans to permit them to inspect our teeth as well. This can be part of the bonding experience between rats and humans, as rats then treat us more like rats.

Rodentistry

Rats inspect each other's teeth for available excess food, and this be ...

Updated: Nov 29, 2009 8:57am PST

Links : A great collection of links. (Source: Cindy Grover, me.) Please email me with update or additions. CAREFUL: If this is a recent development in a previously social rat, first try a complete wellness exam to try to determine if there is a health problem behind the change in behavior: http://ratguide.com/health/basics/health_check.php http://www.ratz.co.uk/healthchecks.html http://www.fancyrat.net/rat-health/10-step-rat-health-check http://ratplanet.0catch.com/healthcheck.htm Trust training: http://www.wikihow.com/Tame-a-Rat http://members.shaw.ca/ratanist/Socializing_Rats.htm http://rattyrat.com/guidebook/guidebook_index.html http://www.rattyrat.com/guidebook/bonding.html Bonding, Picking Up, Handling, Petting, Rat Language & Behavior, Grooming You, Pecking Order, Biting Prevention, among many other great topics. http://www.afrma.org/trusttraining.htm http://www.ratfanclub.org/trust.html http://e4n.kuddlykorner4u.com/behavior.html http://www.petrats.org/formspoliciesshelters.html http://ratplanet.0catch.com/biteandtrust.htm http://fatratcentral.com/interacting-with-rats/communicating-with-rats/ http://fatratcentral.com/interacting-with-rats/trust-training-rats/ http://www.funnydogsvideos.com/pets/simple-steps-to-train-your-pet-rat/10890/ http://www.myshedplans.com/blog/training-pet-rats/ "Forced Socialization" (controversial, see the gallery on this subject): http://e4n.kuddlykorner4u.com/behavior.html Help for biting and anti-social rats: Rat temperament and behavior - general http://www.ratbehavior.org/RatBehaviorMain.htm http://goto.glocalnet.net/rat/care/ratbehav.htm http://www.shunamiterats.co.uk/temperament.html http://www.ratbehavior.org/WhatIsMyRatDoingFAQ.htm http://www.ratbehavior.org/RatPlay.htm http://www.curiosityrats.com/infolone.html http://www.ratbehavior.org/RatSensoryWorldMain.htm http://www.evergreenrattery.com/careguide/body_language.html Rat temperament and behavior – aggression http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/trainingshyorbitingrats.htm http://goto.glocalnet.net/rat/care/rataggr.htm http://www.ratbehavior.org/Aggression.htm http://www.rmca.org/Articles/aggression.htm http://www.ratballs.com/RatTails/_bitingaggression.html http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/petrats/101220" (2 part article) http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/petrats/95849 (3 part article) http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/trainingshyorbitingrats.htm http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/#Rats (page down to Biting and Nipping) http://www.evergreenrattery.com/careguide/rat_bites.html http://www.evergreenrattery.com/careguide/behaviour_causes.html Neuter to solve a problem with a male rat: You might want to do some research to figure out whether neutering will help. Here are some sites re: neuters: READ THIS FIRST ONE BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO NEUTER! http://www.afrma.org/med_misc2.htm (page down to Neutering and Aggression) http://www.ratbehavior.org/Neutering.htm http://www.rmca.org/Articles/qna2_97.htm http://www.ratballs.com/RatTails/Tails037.html http://www.petrats.org/infoforvetsetc.html#Neuters How long should I wait to put neutered males with intact females? 6 weeks http://en.allexperts.com/q/Pet-Rats-3537/2008/8/male-female-rat-together.htm Here are sites re: surgery: http://www.ratfanclub.org/surgery.html

Links

A great collection of links. (Source: Cindy Grover, me.) Please e ...

Updated: May 25, 2009 11:31am PST