"Read"
A easy to teach yet very impressive trick to train any rat! While rats can't really read and will be responding to the card flip instead of the written words, from the outside it will seem like they are reading, making this into a crowd favorite!
Props:
Pre-Requisite:
Before training this trick, make sure that your rat knows how to
spin on a hand cue. If you would d like help training this, you can find my tutorial
on how to train a rat to spin right here:
Props:
- Platform (I use a small overturned bowl)
- Cue card (with "spin" written on one side and "up" on the other)
Pre-Requisite:
Before training this trick, make sure that your rat knows how to
spin on a hand cue. If you would d like help training this, you can find my tutorial
on how to train a rat to spin right here:
Step 1:
To begin training this trick, start by cuing your rat to spin on the ground. Reward them after they have spun, then lure them up and onto the platform. Now reward them on the platform, and finally cue them to spin on top of it. Reward your rat once they have completed this spin.
To begin training this trick, start by cuing your rat to spin on the ground. Reward them after they have spun, then lure them up and onto the platform. Now reward them on the platform, and finally cue them to spin on top of it. Reward your rat once they have completed this spin.
Step 2:
Now see if your rat can do the entire sequence just on hand cue. Cue them to spin on the floor, then move your hand towards the platform to cue them to jump up onto it. Finally, cue them to spin again. Once they complete the 2nd spin, reward them.
Now see if your rat can do the entire sequence just on hand cue. Cue them to spin on the floor, then move your hand towards the platform to cue them to jump up onto it. Finally, cue them to spin again. Once they complete the 2nd spin, reward them.
Step 3:
Now its time to begin to introduce the card cues. Gradually fade out your hand cue by placing the card in front of your rat before cuing them to spin. After you have done this a few time, try just placing your card in front of the rat. If they spin, reward them. If they don't, work a bit more with the hand signal before completely fading it out.
Now its time to begin to introduce the card cues. Gradually fade out your hand cue by placing the card in front of your rat before cuing them to spin. After you have done this a few time, try just placing your card in front of the rat. If they spin, reward them. If they don't, work a bit more with the hand signal before completely fading it out.
Step 4:
Now that your rat spins when the card is presented to them, move on to training "Up". After rewarding your rat for spinning on the card cue, flip the card over and sweep your hand towards the platform. This motion should be similar to when you pointed at the platform to get your rat to jump onto it. Reward them for jumping onto the platform.
Now that your rat spins when the card is presented to them, move on to training "Up". After rewarding your rat for spinning on the card cue, flip the card over and sweep your hand towards the platform. This motion should be similar to when you pointed at the platform to get your rat to jump onto it. Reward them for jumping onto the platform.
Step 5:
Gradually reduce the card's movement towards the platform. Eventually, you should be able to just flip the card and move it slightly toward the platform and your rat should jump onto it. Remember, the goal is for it to look like the rat is reading, not following a hand signal, so try and make the cue as subtle as possible.
Gradually reduce the card's movement towards the platform. Eventually, you should be able to just flip the card and move it slightly toward the platform and your rat should jump onto it. Remember, the goal is for it to look like the rat is reading, not following a hand signal, so try and make the cue as subtle as possible.
Step 6:
Now that your rat can both spin and jump onto the platform on card cue, move on to the final element. Place your rat onto the platform and present the card to them. Some rats will spin right away, in which case you just need to reward them. Others will need you to initially work with your spin hand signal, then gradually fade it out as you did in steps 3-4.
Now that your rat can both spin and jump onto the platform on card cue, move on to the final element. Place your rat onto the platform and present the card to them. Some rats will spin right away, in which case you just need to reward them. Others will need you to initially work with your spin hand signal, then gradually fade it out as you did in steps 3-4.
Step 7:
Use the card to cue each individual step, rewarding after each is complete. Make sure your rat can fluidly follow the card cue for each step before moving on.
Use the card to cue each individual step, rewarding after each is complete. Make sure your rat can fluidly follow the card cue for each step before moving on.
Step 8:
Its finally time to chain the trick together! Start off by using the card to cue a spin, then cue the "Up" and reward your rat for jumping onto the platform. Alternate between rewarding for the first spin and rewarding after both a spin and a "Up".
Its finally time to chain the trick together! Start off by using the card to cue a spin, then cue the "Up" and reward your rat for jumping onto the platform. Alternate between rewarding for the first spin and rewarding after both a spin and a "Up".
Step 9:
Move on to cuing either 2 or 3 of the parts before clicking and rewarding your rat. After they have sufficiently practiced the trick, you can stop rewarding individual parts completely and only reward them once all 3 parts have been completed.
Move on to cuing either 2 or 3 of the parts before clicking and rewarding your rat. After they have sufficiently practiced the trick, you can stop rewarding individual parts completely and only reward them once all 3 parts have been completed.
Step 10:
Finally, only reward your rat once they have completed the entire trick on cue!
Finally, only reward your rat once they have completed the entire trick on cue!
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