Gaining the Trust of Your RatRecently gotten a new rat, or own a rat who is scared or aggressive towards you? A lot of times this is caused by lack of proper handling as a baby, and although it may seem difficult, it is not at all impossible to tame even the most fearful or aggressive rescue rat. It's all about trust training.
It is often said that the way to a rat's heart is through their stomach, and I personally vouch for that. Treat and food reinforcement is the most simple and best way to go towards socializing and taming a rat.
The first step for all routes of socialization is to let your new rat adjust to their surroundings. Keep them in a minimally decorated cage, with one place to hide, such as a nesting box or tissue box, and their food and water. Don't start loading in the toys yet. Let them adjust for a couple days, perhaps two or three, and try to keep the room quiet and free from major traffic. You can sit near their cage and speak to them calmly, but don't attempt handling or giving them treats until they've settled down. If your rat ever nips you, make a high pitched eeping sound to let them know that it hurts.
Once they are settled, you must decide your route of socialization. There is gradual, with treat reinforcement and letting the rat move at its own pace, or there is forced, which gives them no choice but to learn to trust you. The decision is yours, and the results are identical in the end, whichever way you choose. It all comes down to what you are comfortable doing and what you feel is best for the rat. If one method seems to not be working, try the other. It may take a combination of both. You'll soon find out what is working and what isn't.
Gradual SocializationThis works best for timid babies and newly acquired rats. It lets them learn trust at their own pace, and it is rewarding to see their progress using this method.
Make sure the room is quiet and there are no possible interruptions such as the television or other pets/people in the room. Sit down and get comfy near the cage. This works best if the cage is on the ground, or the rat can get onto the ground from the door. You may want to block off around the cage with cardboard or something else just in case they take off running and hide. Leave the cage open so they can run back and hide in it if they get spooked. Through the entire process, be sure to coax and gently talk to them.
Step One:Place your hand in the cage near the rat, and lay it flat on the bottom, with a treat in the center of your palm. Some good healthy treats are cereals such as Total or Cheerios, yogurt drops, dry pasta, or fresh fruit. Start with the small irresistible treats, but make sure they are solid at first so the rat can take the treat and eat it where they are comfortable. If the rat seems uninterested in the the treat, just be patient. Making a repetitive noise when giving treats, such as shaking the treat container, will make them associate the sound with yummy food. If the rat is not terrified and just timid it should slowly come over and take the treat from your hand, but you may have to hold it between your fingers and move it towards the rat if they seem uninterested or don't notice. Be calm and be patient.
Step Two:When the rat is comfortable taking the treat from your hand, begin gradually moving it closer to the door of the cage, and eventually, they should get confident enough to come out of the door and even on to your lap to get the treat. Always let them run back into the cage and eat it where they are comfortable. If they seem to be full or uninterested, take a break and try again in a little while.
Do this as often as possible until the rat is completely comfortable coming out of the cage on their own and taking food from you. Don't try to pick them up as you might frighten them back to step 1.
There are some cases where the rat may be so timid and unwilling to take the treat from your hand, and in this case you may want to withhold their food so they are forced to eat from your hands or they face starvation. This is better for adults, as withholding food from babies could be harmful to their growth.Step Three:When the rat is completely comfortable coming out of the cage on their own and eating from your hands, you can now switch to soft food. Soft food is great for trust training because instead of solid foods where they can take the treat and run, soft foods they must sit and eat from your hand. Yogurt and baby foods work well.
Coax them out of the cage and into your lap with a little bit of the soft food on your fingertip or a spoon if they nip. Make sure there's enough that it takes them a bit to lick it off before returning back into the cage. While they are distracted with eating, very slowly reach towards them with your free hand and begin to rub behind their neck and ears. If they tense up or run back to the cage, don't be alarmed. Give them a break and try again later.
Eventually the rat will let you rub their neck and face and actually start to enjoy it. They might even stop running back to the cage between feedings. Eventually you can begin placing your entire hand around the body of the rat, squeezing gently and lifting them up a little while still letting them eat, to let them get accustomed to being picked up.
Step Four:When your rat is comfortable being picked up, you can begin holding them for extended periods of time. Place them in your hood, in your pocket, in a blanket or towel, and let them ride around with you while you go about your business. Start with a few minutes, and build up from there. If they get a little scared, don't worry. Give them treats when returning them to their cage. They might not take it at first, but be persistent. They'll quickly learn that whenever you pick them up, there's a good reward in the end for them, and it's really not all that bad.
Step Five:Once they're comfortable being around you, grab a chair or block off an empty area in a quiet room. Sit on the floor and place the rat in your lap with a towel or blanket and let them run about and explore. If they get scared, wrap them up in the blanket and return them to their cage. Return to the previous step and try again later.
Eventually, if you are patient and persistent and routine with rewards and treats, your rat will be practically begging you to pick them up every time you pass by the cage. It is a rewarding experience for both the rat and the owner doing trust training this way, and it works well almost every time.
But in some cases, especially with rescues, the rat will be so timid or aggressive that they will refuse to take the treat from you, run and hide, or nip your hands when placed in the cage. In this case, it is best to use forced socialization.
Forced SocializationForced socialization is good to use when the gradual method isn't working, or when the rat is too timid or aggressive, usually in the case of rescues. This method gives the rat no other choice but to accept and trust you, and it offers quick results but requires more dedication and time from the owner.
Step One:Start by taking the hidey box out of the rat's cage so they do not have anywhere to run away from you. Get an old towel or blanket you don't mind getting dirtied on or chewed. Don't use gloves. Corner the rat in the cage and cover them with the blanket. Wrap them up in it and remove them from the cage. Sit on the floor talking to them while keeping them secured in the blanket until they calm down and stop frantically trying to escape. They may dirty in the blanket but ignore it, don't place them back in the cage if they do. Make sure to keep them comfortable and bundled as it will make them feel more secure and calm down quicker.
Step Two:You can either keep the rat in the blanket pushed up against your chest or stomach and carry them around that way, or use a designated pouch or piece of clothing. I prefer to use a baggy old hoodie I've been wearing for a couple of days so that they can get closer to my body and get used to my smell. Place them in the pocket, hood, or between the hoodie and your shirt and leave them there. Go about your daily business - chat on the internet, phone, do your bills and paperwork... Something that makes minimal noise and requires little movement but passes the time. Talk to them, scratch them with your fingers, and place your hands on them consistently. It is commonly said that rats cannot hold fear for more than 20 minutes, so having them out for 20-30 minutes a couple times a day is the best way to go.
Step Three:When returning your rat to the cage, offer them a treat. They probably won't take it for the first few times, but once they start realizing that being taken out isn't as terrible as it seems, they will start to take it from you more quickly and actually begin looking forward to being taken out for a ride. They will eventually get comfortable enough to take treats from you while they are riding around with you as well, and you can give them little treats while they are in your pouch. Eventually, you can stop using the towel to pick them up and they will look forward to being picked up and taken places.
Hormonal and Overly Aggressive RatsI'll add this section ASAP, sorry~
ConclusionWhichever method you choose, whether it be gradual, forced, or a combination of both, persistence, patience, and yummy food is the key to gaining your rat's trust. There are very few cases in which a rat does not gain total trust. If they were severely abused or are extremely timid they may never become fully cuddly lap rats you wish them to be, but drastic improvement can be made for the better of both the rat and the owner. Remember that with a little bit of effort, in the end you will have an affectionate and inquisitive partner that will always look forward to spending time with you.
I wish everyone the best of luck in gaining the trust and friendship of your rat, and if you have any questions or have any tips or suggestions feel free to send me a message!
Helpful links:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/ratanist/Socializing_Rats.htmhttp://www.ratfanclub.org/trust.htmlhttp://ratguide.com/care/behavior/training_playtime.phphttp://ratplanet.0catch.com/biteandtrust.htm
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