[Zach]

Well, I have 2 rats, Oreo and Bo. I've had em for a month or more now, and they don't seem to like me still. :/ I want them to come on my shoulder/hand/blahblah that stuff, and just.... play with me out of the cage! xD But they don't. Anyone know how to train them to get them to like you? Thanks in advance.

 

[Forensic]

You're probably going to have to try trust training or forced socialization. You may need to put something in there that smells like you (sleep with a towel or carry scrapes of fabric around for a while) to get them used to your smell. If you can pick them up and hold them, doing so for about twenty minutes a day will help. If you can't, find a pouch or small pack or even a towel and put them in that so they have something to hide in, but keep them close to you to see if they'll eventually get curious and come out. Then let them climb on you and learn you're not dangerous.

Be persistent and do it daily.

It does help.

 

[ladylady]

Personally I dont like forced socialisation, I feel it set us back trust wise at times.
Try sitting by the cage with the door open with lost of lovely treats, call them and reward them when they come to you, put the treats closer to so they need to come to you to get them.
You can use their normal food (leave a little in the cage for them) or little peices of yogurt drops

 

[Leala]

You can hand feed them healthy treats. Most times when they realize the food comes from you they get to trust you more. That's how it worked with my rats. They like to sit on my head or on my shoulders now.

 

[Sparker]

Another thing you can try is holding food in a spoon so that they have to come to you and lick it - they cannot just run away.

The key, though, is to put a dab of the food in their cage first for them to enjoy at their leisure so that they will smell it (and CRAVE IT!) when you offer it on the spoon later. You can even hold the spoon in the cage until they are ready to come out.

People = Good Things.

Examples of food: baby food, whipped cream, yogurt, etc. Get creative. But if you opt to use something sweet, use moderation.

 

[Zach]

Okay, I've been holding my hand up to the opening of the cage and letting them crawl and stand on it and go on/off freely, maybe that'll build trust?

 

[Sparker]

Absolutely!

 

[ladylady]

Yeah I think it will
Poppy was very nervous when I fist got her, she wouldnt even come out for food now she climbs up me even when I dont want her to like when Im clean :lol:
Lola dosent climb onto be she just stands on me with her front legs but if I scoop her up she will act like she dosnt want picked up but then she curls up on my sholder