Target Paw Painting
Props:
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Step 1:
Prepare your painting area. I suggest either painting in a bathtub or setting out some cardboard because painting can get pretty messy (especially when rats are involved!)
Prepare your painting area. I suggest either painting in a bathtub or setting out some cardboard because painting can get pretty messy (especially when rats are involved!)
Step 2:
Choose 2 paint colors, and place a blob of each paint on their respective paw target. Set these on either side of the canvas, which should be propped up (either on a wall or on a mini easel).
Choose 2 paint colors, and place a blob of each paint on their respective paw target. Set these on either side of the canvas, which should be propped up (either on a wall or on a mini easel).
Step 3:
Using a liquid treat like yogurt, lead your rat over to the paint. If your rat seems wary, you may want to work with water or food coloring first before moving on to the paint itself.
Lure your rat into placing their paws in the paint, letting them continuously lick up the liquid treat as you do so. Now lure them into placing their paws onto the canvas. Next, lure them into placing their paws into the paint on the other side, then lure them back into placing their paws on the canvas.
Using a liquid treat like yogurt, lead your rat over to the paint. If your rat seems wary, you may want to work with water or food coloring first before moving on to the paint itself.
Lure your rat into placing their paws in the paint, letting them continuously lick up the liquid treat as you do so. Now lure them into placing their paws onto the canvas. Next, lure them into placing their paws into the paint on the other side, then lure them back into placing their paws on the canvas.
Step 4:
As your rat gets the idea, you want to fade out the lure. Begin to only reward after your rat has made the next appropriate step (ie. when they stick their hands on the paint, reward, then when they stick their paws on the canvas, reward. Don't lure them into doing these steps unless they seem confused, as you want them to perform each step on their own).
As your rat gets the idea, you want to fade out the lure. Begin to only reward after your rat has made the next appropriate step (ie. when they stick their hands on the paint, reward, then when they stick their paws on the canvas, reward. Don't lure them into doing these steps unless they seem confused, as you want them to perform each step on their own).
Step 5:
Once your rat is confidently switching between steps for a reward, begin to only reward after they have placed their paws into the paint and then onto the canvas. And once they are confidently repeating this process each time, they have mastered this trick!
At this point you can hang the painting somewhere nice, or spray it with a protective spray in order to prevent any smudges or paint loss.
Once your rat is confidently switching between steps for a reward, begin to only reward after they have placed their paws into the paint and then onto the canvas. And once they are confidently repeating this process each time, they have mastered this trick!
At this point you can hang the painting somewhere nice, or spray it with a protective spray in order to prevent any smudges or paint loss.
Example Video:
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