Fetch - Method 1
This trick is a bit more complex then the previous tricks, and will thus require a bit more time to teach. To train fetch, we will use a method called back-chaining, which simply means that we teach the last part first, and work our way up to the first step. Note that there are 2 main methods for teaching this trick, so if your rat has difficulty with this method then you can try the second method, which can be found here.
Props:
Pro tip: Ecotrition cheese chews make perfect items for the initial training of fetch! Rats love carrying them around, yet will often happily give up a cheese chew for a more valuable treat (think plain yogurt or meat baby food)! |
|
|
Step 1:
First you will want to reward your rat for any interaction with the item you want them to fetch. Any sniffing, pushing, biting, or other interactive behavior gets a reward, with one exception: never reward your rat for chewing the item, as this could lead them to believe that to get a treat they are supposed to chew it until you reward them. (If your rat tries to chew the item, try to reward them as soon as they touch it, and never allow them to escalate past picking up the item.)
First you will want to reward your rat for any interaction with the item you want them to fetch. Any sniffing, pushing, biting, or other interactive behavior gets a reward, with one exception: never reward your rat for chewing the item, as this could lead them to believe that to get a treat they are supposed to chew it until you reward them. (If your rat tries to chew the item, try to reward them as soon as they touch it, and never allow them to escalate past picking up the item.)
Step 2:
Once you rat consistently picks up your fetch item, it is time to move on to teaching them to retrieve it. Place your rat on your lap, and place a platform next to you that is about an inch or so higher than your lap. Place the item on the edge of the platform, then reward your rat for picking it up. The item should be positioned so that the rat never has to leave your lap to bite it, and so that when the rat picks it up, when they release the object it will falls directly onto your lap.
Once you rat consistently picks up your fetch item, it is time to move on to teaching them to retrieve it. Place your rat on your lap, and place a platform next to you that is about an inch or so higher than your lap. Place the item on the edge of the platform, then reward your rat for picking it up. The item should be positioned so that the rat never has to leave your lap to bite it, and so that when the rat picks it up, when they release the object it will falls directly onto your lap.
Step 3:
Slowly increase the distance your rat must stretch to pick up the item. Continue to increase the distance until the rat must step off your lap to pick up the cap, only rewarding them when it falls onto your lap. (If your rat seems unsure, reward them for any movement they make towards you while holding the pen cap, and gradually work up to the point where your rat always brings the item to your lap.)
Slowly increase the distance your rat must stretch to pick up the item. Continue to increase the distance until the rat must step off your lap to pick up the cap, only rewarding them when it falls onto your lap. (If your rat seems unsure, reward them for any movement they make towards you while holding the pen cap, and gradually work up to the point where your rat always brings the item to your lap.)
Step 4:
Now that your rat can fetch off the platform, you now want to transition this trick to the ground. Begin by placing your rat on the ground, on the same side as the platform previously was. Now give them the item, which they should then move towards your lap. (If they don't move the cap toward your lap, practice the previous step some more.)
Now that your rat can fetch off the platform, you now want to transition this trick to the ground. Begin by placing your rat on the ground, on the same side as the platform previously was. Now give them the item, which they should then move towards your lap. (If they don't move the cap toward your lap, practice the previous step some more.)
Step 5:
Gradually move the item more and more towards the front, until finally your rat is fetching it from directly in front of you. All that's left is to increase distance, and to vary which items you have your rat fetch!
Gradually move the item more and more towards the front, until finally your rat is fetching it from directly in front of you. All that's left is to increase distance, and to vary which items you have your rat fetch!
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