Have you guys seen this???

[TankGirl9008]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41ZW0OGp4HE&NR=1 This is sooo cool!!!

[rowan138]

That IS too cool!Why don't my rats do that?!

[Dearpie]

Wowzer.  Very fun!  And of course I got caught up watching so many of the other vids available with rat tricks .... 

[jesirose]

OMG I NEED TO DO THIS!

Did you guys hear what the "treat" is? I heard something and then it's good for them.

[hairless_love]

That is so cute and AMAZING! 

[whtnyte]

OMG I NEED TO DO THIS!

Did you guys hear what the "treat" is? I heard something and then it's good for them.

I'm not sure what THAT girl was using, but have seen info on clicker training and they just reccomend a very small treat so the rat doesn't get filled up and is encouraged to do more for another one.

[jeannerat]

Oh my gosh, they put their whole bodies through the hoops!  My (late) chubsters probably would have gotten stuck.  That's so amazing!  I don't have speakers attached to my computer.  What is the treat they give them?  Great exercise and enrichment for the ratties.

[OldsGal]

She said she was giving them Grape Nuts

[turbosquabbit]

Adorable!

[LOTR_Ratties]

Wow That is too cool!

[G~Wolf]

Ha ha, cool!

[Aripoco]

AWESOME!

It makes me start to wonder though... how would you go about training a rat to do that?

[jesirose]

She said she was giving them Grape Nuts

Thanks! I was just curious what they said.

I clicker train my dog, and I know I could with the rats - but I have so little extra time already
I'll have to find some lol.

[DebW]

Long before I got into keeping rats as pets, we did this in a college psychology lab.  We were given a rat to be in charge of and our goal was (through positive reinforcement) to teach them to play basketball.  It was a really fun thing to participate in and the rats learned very quickly.  I can't remember what the treat was we used, but it was a pelleted food.

[ScoutGotBig]

As for training...

Same as anything - slow and steady.  Most of my girls before have learned MANY tricks because it gave them something to do, and all the rats at home know at least 2 rope tricks (climb up and tightrope).  Keeps the fatties under control

Let's say tightrope - it's cute.  First, they decide to investigate the set up, yeah, click, treat (grape nuts gets 4 paws up).  Then, once they readily run over to the set up, it's onto they have to touch the rope itself.  Then is when we start with them.  We pick them up and place them RIGHT on the end of the rope and let them hop off, yeah, click, treat.  Once they act comfortable on the rope, we move them back an inch or so, so they have to take a step or two to hop off.  Repeat and keep working back until they are comfortable with about any distance.  As long as they can grip the rope and it's fairly tight, most of the teenagers will run a good distance.  The sluggy lazy adults don't get quite the enjoyment out of it.

Same way with climb up - touch the rope.  Tho' that's pretty easy, I think most rats will readily climb if you are careful.

Our jumpers have also learned some distance jumping.  If they readily leap out of the cage, they get trained to jump on command.

Basketball is a longer process.  Touch the ball, pick the ball up, carry the ball, then "dunk" it.  But, yes, also, touch the hoop is part also.

Not that we were trying to teach Scout "down" in front of the rats by any means, but errm, every one knows the command and will lay down about 50/50.  They aren't quite as reliable as a dog

[rowan138]

Scoutgotbig,that is so cool!Thanks for telling how you trained them!I think I'm gonna give that a try with my guys.

The only trick my rats do is they will climb up your leg if you pat it.They taught themselves that,though!

[jesirose]

I'm worried my clicker will scare them - the metallic one we use for the dog is pretty loud, and my girls don't like loud noises. They have electronic ones online that make different noises, I always wanted an excuse to get it

[MiniMuffin]

You can just use one of those "click" pens if the noise of a real clicker is too loud.

I've been thinking of clicker training my boys, but never seem to have time! I should try working on something simple with them.

[Rattiemama]

That makes me want to train a nakie and a furred rat to do this so they could play shirts and skins!

[jesirose]

You can just use one of those "click" pens if the noise of a real clicker is too loud.

I've been thinking of clicker training my boys, but never seem to have time! I should try working on something simple with them.

Great idea. Darn, now I can't buy my $20 clicker

[rowan138]

I'm laughing about the "shirts vs skins"!