Scent Detection
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Step 1:
Start by placing an interesting (rat-safe) scent into a small container with a hole poked in the top, then reward your rat for sniffing it. The scent I want my rat to find in this example is cinnamon (from a cinnamon stick), and it will be placed in canister 3. The indicator behavior I will be having the rat perform is fetching the right container to my lap.
Start by placing an interesting (rat-safe) scent into a small container with a hole poked in the top, then reward your rat for sniffing it. The scent I want my rat to find in this example is cinnamon (from a cinnamon stick), and it will be placed in canister 3. The indicator behavior I will be having the rat perform is fetching the right container to my lap.
Step 2:
Start shaping a "I found it" indicator behavior (I've had rat's tell me they've found the right scent by doing everything from sniffing extensively at it for several seconds to them fetching the container or even backing up with the container in their mouth!)
This indicator behavior should be something you can easily recognize when your rat performs it.
Start shaping a "I found it" indicator behavior (I've had rat's tell me they've found the right scent by doing everything from sniffing extensively at it for several seconds to them fetching the container or even backing up with the container in their mouth!)
This indicator behavior should be something you can easily recognize when your rat performs it.
Step 3:
After you have developed a chosen indicator behavior, add in a second (this time empty) container.
If your rat indicates towards the scented container, reward them. If not, direct them to the right container and reward them as soon as they perform the indicator behavior towards it.
After you have developed a chosen indicator behavior, add in a second (this time empty) container.
If your rat indicates towards the scented container, reward them. If not, direct them to the right container and reward them as soon as they perform the indicator behavior towards it.
Step 4:
Repeat this several times, until you can mix up the 2 containers and your rat will indicate the correct one every time.
Repeat this several times, until you can mix up the 2 containers and your rat will indicate the correct one every time.
Step 5:
Now you can continue to gradually add in more and more empty canisters, each time making sure your rat can find the scented one almost 100% of the time before adding in another canister.
Now you can continue to gradually add in more and more empty canisters, each time making sure your rat can find the scented one almost 100% of the time before adding in another canister.
Step 6:
Once your rat can find the scented container among many empty ones, you can now add in other scented containers. Depending on how much you have practiced the previous steps, you may be able to add a few different scents right away, or you may need to go back to just practicing with 2 containers and build up from there.
Once your rat can find the scented container among many empty ones, you can now add in other scented containers. Depending on how much you have practiced the previous steps, you may be able to add a few different scents right away, or you may need to go back to just practicing with 2 containers and build up from there.
Optional:
Once your rat has mastered the basics of scent detection there are a lot of fun variations on it that you can try! Scent detection is one of my rats favorite tricks and I've worked on quite a few variations of it with them, some of which can be found here.
Once your rat has mastered the basics of scent detection there are a lot of fun variations on it that you can try! Scent detection is one of my rats favorite tricks and I've worked on quite a few variations of it with them, some of which can be found here.
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