Back Around A Circle
Props:
Setup: Place your circular object in the middle of your corner. Pre-Requisite: Your rat must already know how to backup and park in-between your fingers on cue. If you want to know how to train backup, click on the button below to be transported to the backup tutorial page: |
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Step 1:
Using a food lure, guide your rat into position and then cue them to back up. Place your finger straddle behind them, and as soon as they hit a corner and turn (even the slightest bit!), hand them the treat.
Using a food lure, guide your rat into position and then cue them to back up. Place your finger straddle behind them, and as soon as they hit a corner and turn (even the slightest bit!), hand them the treat.
Step 2:
Start to gradually require your rat to turn more and more as they backup before giving them a treat.
Start to gradually require your rat to turn more and more as they backup before giving them a treat.
Step 3:
Once your rat can circle the entire cone for a treat, begin to gradually fade out your finger straddle. You can do this by moving from using a finger straddle to just touching the rat’s back, and then move to not using your hand to direct them at all.
Once your rat can circle the entire cone for a treat, begin to gradually fade out your finger straddle. You can do this by moving from using a finger straddle to just touching the rat’s back, and then move to not using your hand to direct them at all.
Step 4:
Keep practicing until your rat has the motions down to perfection.
Keep practicing until your rat has the motions down to perfection.
Step 5:
Now repeat steps 1-3 without your corner barriers.
Now repeat steps 1-3 without your corner barriers.
Step 6:
Continue cueing and rewarding your rat for backing around the circle, until they clearly have it down.
Continue cueing and rewarding your rat for backing around the circle, until they clearly have it down.
Step 7:
Begin to reward your rat in different places. Over time, you can now gradually require your rat to back up for more than one circle before rewarding.
Begin to reward your rat in different places. Over time, you can now gradually require your rat to back up for more than one circle before rewarding.
Optional:
You can now teach your rat to backup in the opposite direction. Doing this allows you to teach the backwards weave (as seen here)!
You can now teach your rat to backup in the opposite direction. Doing this allows you to teach the backwards weave (as seen here)!
Video Tutorial:
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