Fetch A Spool (By Rolling It)/Mr. Jingles Trick
Props:
- Spool/Tube
Step 1:
Begin by using a treat to lure your rat around the tube, then reward them for placing their front paws on it. Start to gradually lure them into rolling it forward with their front paws, rewarding after every step.
Begin by using a treat to lure your rat around the tube, then reward them for placing their front paws on it. Start to gradually lure them into rolling it forward with their front paws, rewarding after every step.
Step 2:
Once you have done this several times, begin to ask for more steps before you reward. At first, reward after every 2-3 steps, then gradually work up to more steps until the rat is consistently rolling the tube right to your feet each time.
Once you have done this several times, begin to ask for more steps before you reward. At first, reward after every 2-3 steps, then gradually work up to more steps until the rat is consistently rolling the tube right to your feet each time.
Step 3:
Once your rat understands how to roll the tube, begin to train them how to walk to it before rolling it. Using a treat, lure your rat around the tube and reward once both paws are on it. Repeat this a few times, then begin to fade out your hand. You can do this by leading them less and less and instead pointing more and more, until just pointing at the tube has your rat running around it to place their paws on the other side.
Once your rat understands how to roll the tube, begin to train them how to walk to it before rolling it. Using a treat, lure your rat around the tube and reward once both paws are on it. Repeat this a few times, then begin to fade out your hand. You can do this by leading them less and less and instead pointing more and more, until just pointing at the tube has your rat running around it to place their paws on the other side.
Step 4:
Start to chain the 2 parts of this trick together. First point at the tube, and reward your rat for running around it and placing their paws on the other side. Next, lure them into pushing it forwards, rewarding when it reaches your lap. Repeat this a few times, then start to only reward after the entire sequence (at first make sure to reward after they push it a few steps, but gradually work up to them pushing it all the way again.)
Start to chain the 2 parts of this trick together. First point at the tube, and reward your rat for running around it and placing their paws on the other side. Next, lure them into pushing it forwards, rewarding when it reaches your lap. Repeat this a few times, then start to only reward after the entire sequence (at first make sure to reward after they push it a few steps, but gradually work up to them pushing it all the way again.)
Step 5:
All that's left is to gradually fade out your hand. You can do this by making less direct motions towards the back of the tube until just pointing at or throwing the tube cues your rat to run over and roll it back to you!
All that's left is to gradually fade out your hand. You can do this by making less direct motions towards the back of the tube until just pointing at or throwing the tube cues your rat to run over and roll it back to you!
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