"Be The Mail"
This is probably one of the cutest tricks I've ever worked on with my rats! If you want an adorable and impressive trick to teach your rats,
this is it! Props:
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Step 1:
Start by getting your rat comfortable with being inside the mailbox. Scatter some treats inside, and let your rat go get them at their own pace. Don't move on until they will confidently enter the mailbox for a treat.
Start by getting your rat comfortable with being inside the mailbox. Scatter some treats inside, and let your rat go get them at their own pace. Don't move on until they will confidently enter the mailbox for a treat.
Step 2:
Now throw a treat into the mailbox and gently block your rat from backing out. As soon as they turn around, reward them with a treat from your hand and let them exit the mailbox.
Now throw a treat into the mailbox and gently block your rat from backing out. As soon as they turn around, reward them with a treat from your hand and let them exit the mailbox.
Step 3:
Practice, practice, practice! You want to eventually be able to just point at the mailbox, and have your rat rush inside and turn around without any help.
Practice, practice, practice! You want to eventually be able to just point at the mailbox, and have your rat rush inside and turn around without any help.
Step 4:
Completely fade out any external help, so that your rat is entering the mailbox and turning around on their own.
Completely fade out any external help, so that your rat is entering the mailbox and turning around on their own.
Step 5:
Now partially close the mailbox and drop a treat inside it. Your rat should quickly figure out that if they push down the lid they can access the treat inside.
Now partially close the mailbox and drop a treat inside it. Your rat should quickly figure out that if they push down the lid they can access the treat inside.
Step 6:
Once your rat gets the idea, close the mail box completely. Don't drop a treat inside the mailbox this time and when they push it open and go inside expecting a treat, wait until they have turned around, then give them a treat from your hand.
Once your rat gets the idea, close the mail box completely. Don't drop a treat inside the mailbox this time and when they push it open and go inside expecting a treat, wait until they have turned around, then give them a treat from your hand.
Step 7:
Finally, combine both steps together. First point at the mailbox to cue your rat to open it, then wait to click and reward them until they go inside and turn around. After you have practiced this a few times it should become one fluid motion, and at this point your rat has mastered this trick!
Finally, combine both steps together. First point at the mailbox to cue your rat to open it, then wait to click and reward them until they go inside and turn around. After you have practiced this a few times it should become one fluid motion, and at this point your rat has mastered this trick!
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