Go To Crate
Props:
Setup:
Tie a string to the inside of the crate door, then tie another string to the outside of the crate door.
- Crate or kennel with movable door (I use my rat's cat crate/carrier)
- 2 pieces of string
Setup:
Tie a string to the inside of the crate door, then tie another string to the outside of the crate door.
Step 1:
Start by training your rat to pull open the crate. Do this by initially rewarding
them for any interest in the string (rub a treat on it if necessary to get them interested), then gradually raise your criteria by only rewarding when they mouth or bite the string, working up to them pulling on the string hard enough to open the door.
Start by training your rat to pull open the crate. Do this by initially rewarding
them for any interest in the string (rub a treat on it if necessary to get them interested), then gradually raise your criteria by only rewarding when they mouth or bite the string, working up to them pulling on the string hard enough to open the door.
Step 2:
Now switch gears and teach your rat to enter the crate. To do this, start by luring your rat into the crate and rewarding them.
Now switch gears and teach your rat to enter the crate. To do this, start by luring your rat into the crate and rewarding them.
Step 3:
Gradually fade out your hand, until just pointing at the crate cues your rat to enter it. You can do this by motioning more and more and directly luring less and less, until your rat will readily enter the crate when you point to it.
Gradually fade out your hand, until just pointing at the crate cues your rat to enter it. You can do this by motioning more and more and directly luring less and less, until your rat will readily enter the crate when you point to it.
Step 4:
Now shape your rat into pulling on the string from inside the crate. Do this in the exact same way as you taught the outside string pull, initially rewarding for any interest in the string (rub a treat on it if needed to get them interested) and gradually increasing your requirements until they are pulling the string hard enough to close the door.
Now shape your rat into pulling on the string from inside the crate. Do this in the exact same way as you taught the outside string pull, initially rewarding for any interest in the string (rub a treat on it if needed to get them interested) and gradually increasing your requirements until they are pulling the string hard enough to close the door.
Step 5:
All that's left is to back-chain all 3 steps together. Initially, reward between each step. Then gradually fade out these in-between rewards, only rewarding after 2 steps and then finally only rewarding after all 3 steps are complete.
All that's left is to back-chain all 3 steps together. Initially, reward between each step. Then gradually fade out these in-between rewards, only rewarding after 2 steps and then finally only rewarding after all 3 steps are complete.
Video Tutorial:
Disclosure: Esther (and her site rattrix.weebly.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com