Paintbrush Painting
Props:
Recommended Pre-Requisite: If your rat knows fetch before you start training them to paint it will make training this trick a whole lot easier. If your rat does not know fetch and you would like some help teaching it to them you can click on the button below to be transported to the fetch tutorial page: |
Mini canvas |
Step 1:
Set up your easel and canvas, then reward your rat for any interest in it. Continue to do so until they begin targeting the canvas itself (if necessary you can rub a treat on the canvas to get them interested).
Set up your easel and canvas, then reward your rat for any interest in it. Continue to do so until they begin targeting the canvas itself (if necessary you can rub a treat on the canvas to get them interested).
Step 2:
Now it is time to train your rat to pick up the paint brush. Start by rewarding any initial interest in the paint brush (rub a treat on the handle if needed to get them interested), then slowly increase your criteria so that your rat has to mouth, bite, and eventually pick up the paint brush before being rewarded.
Now it is time to train your rat to pick up the paint brush. Start by rewarding any initial interest in the paint brush (rub a treat on the handle if needed to get them interested), then slowly increase your criteria so that your rat has to mouth, bite, and eventually pick up the paint brush before being rewarded.
Step 3:
Once your rat is consistently picking up the paint brush, begin to combine both steps. Hand your rat the paint brush, then point towards the canvas. Once your rat lifts the brush towards the canvas, reward them. Practice this until your rat can target the brush to the canvas without assistance.
Once your rat is consistently picking up the paint brush, begin to combine both steps. Hand your rat the paint brush, then point towards the canvas. Once your rat lifts the brush towards the canvas, reward them. Practice this until your rat can target the brush to the canvas without assistance.
Step 4:
Once your rat is consistently targeting the paint brush to the canvas, its time to add another step. Now you want to teach your rat to take the brush out of an empty paint bucket. Start by taping down the bucket, so that it won't slide around when your rat removes the paint brush from it. Now place the brush into the bucket and direct your rat towards it. Due to earlier training, they should pick up the paint brush, at which point you should reward them.
Once your rat is consistently targeting the paint brush to the canvas, its time to add another step. Now you want to teach your rat to take the brush out of an empty paint bucket. Start by taping down the bucket, so that it won't slide around when your rat removes the paint brush from it. Now place the brush into the bucket and direct your rat towards it. Due to earlier training, they should pick up the paint brush, at which point you should reward them.
Step 5:
Now combine this step with targeting the canvas. Just like before, place the paint brush
into the bucket, then point your rat towards the canvas. Once they target the brush towards the canvas, reward them. Continue to work on this until your rat can target the paint brush to the canvas without help.
Now combine this step with targeting the canvas. Just like before, place the paint brush
into the bucket, then point your rat towards the canvas. Once they target the brush towards the canvas, reward them. Continue to work on this until your rat can target the paint brush to the canvas without help.
Step 6:
Practice the same thing with water in the paint bucket. Again, continue to practice this step until your rat is targeting the paint brush to the canvas without any assistance.
Practice the same thing with water in the paint bucket. Again, continue to practice this step until your rat is targeting the paint brush to the canvas without any assistance.
Step 7:
You can now add paint/food coloring to the paint bucket.
You can now add paint/food coloring to the paint bucket.
Step 8:
Add in more paint buckets with different colored paint/food coloring. Don't forget to tape them down to prevent any accidental spilling!
Add in more paint buckets with different colored paint/food coloring. Don't forget to tape them down to prevent any accidental spilling!
Step 9:
Finally, begin to only reward your rat after they make multiple strokes on the canvas with the paint brush.
Once your rat has finished their masterpiece, let it dry for several hours in a safe place. When it is fully dry you can either hang it up right away, or coat it with a protective spray in order to prevent any accidental smudges or paint loss.
Finally, begin to only reward your rat after they make multiple strokes on the canvas with the paint brush.
Once your rat has finished their masterpiece, let it dry for several hours in a safe place. When it is fully dry you can either hang it up right away, or coat it with a protective spray in order to prevent any accidental smudges or paint loss.
Video Tutorial:
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