Fetch From A Drawer
Props:
Setup: You will need to either weigh down one of the bottom drawers with something heavy, or tape down the bottom drawer. If you are planning on using string you will also want to tie a short length of it onto the drawer that you want your rat to pull open. Pre-Requisite: Your rat must already know how to fetch before you start training this trick. If you would like help training you rat to fetch, you can click on the button below: |
|
Step 1:
Start by teaching your rat to pull the drawer's string. Initially, reward them for any interaction with the string (if necessary, you can rub a treat on it to help get your rat interested).
Start by teaching your rat to pull the drawer's string. Initially, reward them for any interaction with the string (if necessary, you can rub a treat on it to help get your rat interested).
Step 2:
Gradually begin to increase your requirements. Whereas before the rat could just sniff the string and be rewarded, you want to now start to require them to mouth or bite it before rewarding them.
Gradually begin to increase your requirements. Whereas before the rat could just sniff the string and be rewarded, you want to now start to require them to mouth or bite it before rewarding them.
Step 3:
Continue to build this up until your rat is pulling open the drawer. To help give them extra motivation to do so, sprinkle some treats inside the drawer and let them eat those as soon as they pull the drawer open.
Continue to build this up until your rat is pulling open the drawer. To help give them extra motivation to do so, sprinkle some treats inside the drawer and let them eat those as soon as they pull the drawer open.
Step 4:
Now switch gears, and practice having your rat fetch the item you plan to have them fetch from the drawer. Practice this on the ground several times, until they will fetch the item without hesitation.
Now switch gears, and practice having your rat fetch the item you plan to have them fetch from the drawer. Practice this on the ground several times, until they will fetch the item without hesitation.
Step 5:
Now place the fetch item inside the open drawer, and reward your rat for taking it out.
Now place the fetch item inside the open drawer, and reward your rat for taking it out.
Step 6:
After a few tries, begin to only reward your rat when they fetch the item from the open drawer directly to you.
After a few tries, begin to only reward your rat when they fetch the item from the open drawer directly to you.
Step 7:
Now its time to back-chain both steps together, rewarding your rat for pulling open the drawer, and then rewarding them for fetching you the item.
Now its time to back-chain both steps together, rewarding your rat for pulling open the drawer, and then rewarding them for fetching you the item.
Step 8:
After a few repetitions, begin to only reward your rat after they have completed both steps.
After a few repetitions, begin to only reward your rat after they have completed both steps.
Step 9:
At this point, you should be able to point at the closed drawer, cueing your rat to walk over, open the drawer, and fetch you the item inside.
At this point, you should be able to point at the closed drawer, cueing your rat to walk over, open the drawer, and fetch you the item inside.
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