[BlazingFlight]

Hi everyone! I've been trying to free roam my boys for the last couple of days to get them more used to me and all that in order to work on trust training. They'll crawl into my lap no problem, and they'll let me pet them as long as there is a liquid treat involved, after that they're totally disinterested in me. They'll be really rambunctious and run around the free range area, wrestle with each other, and chew on the cardboard barriers that I use as a DIY playpen in order to try and get out. They really want to explore the rest of my room, but I want to get them to willingly accept being pet and used to coming to and climbing on my hand. Any advice on getting them to calm down and interact with me more? Or am I just not being patient enough? Thanks

 

[Tinytoes]

Ah, ratties being ratties!! Free roaming is exciting and different, and they will enjoy investigating and wrestling and trying to escape. They need to get tired or bored before they will be willing to sit still and be petted or cuddled. Mine never do settle down much, they'll come over to see what I'm doing and what I've got for treats but as for snuggles...not gonna happen during free roam lol.

 

[SonicRat]

I find ,with females anyway ( never kept boy rats) that they don’t tend to settle for cuddles until they are over a year old

 

[Kyrie]

Yes, I have always had girls and the only times any of them have cuddled with me is if I keep them out for a really long time and they get sleepy or they are sick. I have heard boys are more likely to come cuddle, though. The way rats show affection is a lot different from cats and dogs. Look out for all the little ways they show you they love you. The more you spend time with them the more comfortable they will be around you.

 

[BlazingFlight]

That makes me feel a lot better lol. I guess for right now I want them to be more comfortable with me picking them up. Should I be trying to do this during free range or from within the cage? These boys are 6th months old and I got them from a woman who couldn’t care for them anymore.

 

[Tinytoes]

Depends on how big your free roam area is. My current twilight mischief has earned the privilege of a big free roam, like a whole room, because they know how to be picked up or put themselves into the carrier when it's time to go.

My new foster boys, who are 10 months and do not know how to be picked up without acting like fools, only get the bed. That way I can keep control of them and I don't undo all my hard work by chasing them around and scaring them. Inside the cage they are very fearful, but on the bed I can scoop them up one at a time and hold them for a brief moment, then return them to their buddies in a big fluffy hideout. Less scary for them. For some reason, inside the cage, they feel trapped and just jump and run like I'm going to eat them lol.