Untie A Shoe
Props:
- Shoe with laces (I use a sneaker)
Step 1:
Start by teaching your rat to pull the shoe lace. Initially, you want to reward them for any interest in the shoe lace (rub a treat on it if necessary to peak their interest).
Start by teaching your rat to pull the shoe lace. Initially, you want to reward them for any interest in the shoe lace (rub a treat on it if necessary to peak their interest).
Step 2:
Gradually increase your requirements as the rat gets the right idea. Whereas before, all they needed to do was sniff the shoe lace, now you want to wait for them to nibble or even bite it before your reward them.
Gradually increase your requirements as the rat gets the right idea. Whereas before, all they needed to do was sniff the shoe lace, now you want to wait for them to nibble or even bite it before your reward them.
Step 3:
Tie the shoe lace into a bow. Your rat should now be consistently biting the lace, so now you want to lead them to a point where they can just barely reach the lace by leaning forwards.
Tie the shoe lace into a bow. Your rat should now be consistently biting the lace, so now you want to lead them to a point where they can just barely reach the lace by leaning forwards.
Step 4:
Point to the lace, then allow your rat to lean forwards and bite it - their position should create some tension on the string, helping them undo the bow.
Point to the lace, then allow your rat to lean forwards and bite it - their position should create some tension on the string, helping them undo the bow.
Step 5:
Gradually begin to only reward strong pulls and multiple pulls, until your rat is untying the lace every time.
Gradually begin to only reward strong pulls and multiple pulls, until your rat is untying the lace every time.
Step 6:
Now all that’s left is to tie the shoe lace into a bow, point at the lace, and reward your rat for untying it!
Now all that’s left is to tie the shoe lace into a bow, point at the lace, and reward your rat for untying it!
Video Tutorial:
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