Pull Down a Balloon
Props:
- Ballon w/long ribbon (string)
- Platform (optional but recommended to ease training)
Step 1:
Start by rewarding your rat for any interest in the balloon's ribbon/string. If necessary, you can rub a treat on the ribbon/string to peak their interest.
Start by rewarding your rat for any interest in the balloon's ribbon/string. If necessary, you can rub a treat on the ribbon/string to peak their interest.
Step 2:
Initially, you want to reward your rat for any interest in the ribbon/string. But after several repetitions, you will want to increase your expectations, only rewarding after they have interacted with the string in a more significant way (such as touching/pulling/biting it.) Gradually raise your criteria until your rat is consistently biting the ribbon/string.
Initially, you want to reward your rat for any interest in the ribbon/string. But after several repetitions, you will want to increase your expectations, only rewarding after they have interacted with the string in a more significant way (such as touching/pulling/biting it.) Gradually raise your criteria until your rat is consistently biting the ribbon/string.
Step 3:
Next, hold a treat slightly out of your rats reach, right next to the balloon's ribbon/string. Your rat should now instinctively use their mouth or paws to pull on the string, attempting to pull the treat down. Lower the food once they have pulled on the ribbon/string and then let them have the treat.
Next, hold a treat slightly out of your rats reach, right next to the balloon's ribbon/string. Your rat should now instinctively use their mouth or paws to pull on the string, attempting to pull the treat down. Lower the food once they have pulled on the ribbon/string and then let them have the treat.
Step 4:
Gradually begin to hold the treat higher and higher above your rat, requiring them to pull harder and multiple times before you lower it enough so that they can reach it.
Gradually begin to hold the treat higher and higher above your rat, requiring them to pull harder and multiple times before you lower it enough so that they can reach it.
Step 5:
Once your rat can pull down the balloon for a treat without any trouble, begin to fade out the treat lure. To do this, pinch your fingers together as if you have a treat, but don’t actually hold one. Lower your hand when your rat pulls the string, and at the bottom hand them a treat from your other hand.
Once your rat can pull down the balloon for a treat without any trouble, begin to fade out the treat lure. To do this, pinch your fingers together as if you have a treat, but don’t actually hold one. Lower your hand when your rat pulls the string, and at the bottom hand them a treat from your other hand.
Step 6:
After several repetitions, you can now begin to fade out your hand as well. You can do this by beginning to motion your rat towards the balloon ribbon/string instead of holding your hand right above it. You will want to reward after just a pull or two while your rat is learning this new cue, but once they understand what you want you can begin to ask for the entire trick again.
After several repetitions, you can now begin to fade out your hand as well. You can do this by beginning to motion your rat towards the balloon ribbon/string instead of holding your hand right above it. You will want to reward after just a pull or two while your rat is learning this new cue, but once they understand what you want you can begin to ask for the entire trick again.
Step 7:
All that's left is to continue fading out your hand, making less and less obvious motions towards the balloon ribbon/string, until just pointing at the balloon is enough to cue your rat to pull it down.
All that's left is to continue fading out your hand, making less and less obvious motions towards the balloon ribbon/string, until just pointing at the balloon is enough to cue your rat to pull it down.
Video Tutorial:
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