Walk A Tightrope
Props:
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Setup:
Stretch your rope across the 2 platforms, then secure it with strong tape (or if your platform has hooks, you can tie it on). Make sure the rope is taunt and that the platforms can support the weight of a rat walking on the rope.
Stretch your rope across the 2 platforms, then secure it with strong tape (or if your platform has hooks, you can tie it on). Make sure the rope is taunt and that the platforms can support the weight of a rat walking on the rope.
Step 1:
Star by placing your rat on the first platform and giving them a treat. Next, place your hand right under the beginning of the rope, lure your rat onto it, then reward them.
Star by placing your rat on the first platform and giving them a treat. Next, place your hand right under the beginning of the rope, lure your rat onto it, then reward them.
Step 2:
Place your rat back onto the starting platform, then again lure them onto the rope. This time try and lure them a bit further before rewarding them, making sure to keep your hand close to the rope just in case they loose their balance and fall.
Place your rat back onto the starting platform, then again lure them onto the rope. This time try and lure them a bit further before rewarding them, making sure to keep your hand close to the rope just in case they loose their balance and fall.
Step 3:
Continue to lure your rat further and further onto the rope before rewarding. Once they are walking across the entire rope for a treat, you can now start to fade the lure. To do this, begin to motion more and lure less, so that your rat is focusing less on the lure and more on the action of crossing the rope.
Continue to lure your rat further and further onto the rope before rewarding. Once they are walking across the entire rope for a treat, you can now start to fade the lure. To do this, begin to motion more and lure less, so that your rat is focusing less on the lure and more on the action of crossing the rope.
Step 4:
Finally, finish fading out the lure until you can just point at the rope and your rat will walk over it. You can now also teach them to wall across from the other side, then combine both for a fun combo trick!
Finally, finish fading out the lure until you can just point at the rope and your rat will walk over it. You can now also teach them to wall across from the other side, then combine both for a fun combo trick!
Video Tutorial:
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