I have two boys I got a week ago. They're 8-9 months old and they've been in a rescue for their entire lives. The shelter people did their best to socialize them but it's clear that they're a little afraid of people. Thor is pretty good with everything that doesn't involve leaving the cage. He takes food from my hands and enjoys the occasional petting (only on his terms). Loki, the dominant one, however, is a lot more jumpy and barely tolerates me touching and petting him. He'll take food, but that's about it.
Anyway, what is the proper way to socialize my rats? Ideally, I want them to enjoy being carried and taken out of the cage. I've tried a couple times with Thor, who's the less dominant one, and all he does is squeak and wriggle and make a break for it. Then he runs away from me and we always end up playing cat and mouse (rat?) in the corner of my closet.
I don't want to traumatize them but at some point they've got to learn to come out of the cage.
Thank you for any input!
Anyway, what is the proper way to socialize my rats? Ideally, I want them to enjoy being carried and taken out of the cage. I've tried a couple times with Thor, who's the less dominant one, and all he does is squeak and wriggle and make a break for it. Then he runs away from me and we always end up playing cat and mouse (rat?) in the corner of my closet.
I don't want to traumatize them but at some point they've got to learn to come out of the cage.
Thank you for any input!