Skateboarding
Props:
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Step 1:
To start, lure your rat onto the skateboard, rewarding once both of their front paws are on the board.
To start, lure your rat onto the skateboard, rewarding once both of their front paws are on the board.
Step 2:
Now gradually begin to lure your rat forwards, always making sure to reward when their back feet are not touching the skateboard.
Now gradually begin to lure your rat forwards, always making sure to reward when their back feet are not touching the skateboard.
Step 3:
Slowly increase the number of steps your rat must push the skateboard before you reward them.
Slowly increase the number of steps your rat must push the skateboard before you reward them.
Step 4:
Now you want to switch gears, and use a lure to lead your rat into the correct skateboarding position from behind before rewarding them.
Now you want to switch gears, and use a lure to lead your rat into the correct skateboarding position from behind before rewarding them.
Step 5:
Slowly fade out the lure until you can just point at the skateboard and your rat will get into position. You can do this by motioning more and more towards the skateboard and directly luring them less and less.
Slowly fade out the lure until you can just point at the skateboard and your rat will get into position. You can do this by motioning more and more towards the skateboard and directly luring them less and less.
Step 6:
Now add in the pushing element - after your rat gets into position, reward them, then wait for them to push the skateboard forwards before rewarding again.
Now add in the pushing element - after your rat gets into position, reward them, then wait for them to push the skateboard forwards before rewarding again.
Step 7:
Now you want to stop rewarding for each part separately. After a few repetitions you should be able to point at the skateboard and your rat should circle around it to the right position, then push it back to you.
Now you want to stop rewarding for each part separately. After a few repetitions you should be able to point at the skateboard and your rat should circle around it to the right position, then push it back to you.
Video Tutorial:
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