Pet Rat

[doofah]

I'm a dog person really, and have had many dogs over the years, each of them unique and using what I know of them I've managed to train them to do some wonderful things - most recently, Molly, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, in 2 hours, was trained to drop and play dead, when you point a toy gun at her and say bang. Her reward - a biscuit and lots of fun!

2 years ago I got a pet rat, called Bobby - he was a great friend, would spend hours on my shoulder, riding in my pocket, or sitting in a little bed on the passenger seat of my car - he came when called, and would play fetch for chocolate drops - I never trained him.

Unfortunately liver cancer took him 18 months later.

I have another rat, Patch, who is the complete opposite -he doesn't come when called, is insanely viscious when handled (bites don't scare me, but the constant pooing all over the place to get me to put him down works in the end!)

I've managed to stop him from biting me by simply giving him a treat each time I handle him without yelping and popping him back into his cage whilst I run for something to stem the blood flow - but I'd like him to be more sociable - does anyone here keep rats and know of a way to bring a more friendly approach to this grumpy little fellow? He's a year old now, and quite a big boy, my children are terrified of him, and my partner - well, she squeaks better than he does when his cage is opened... Am I chasing a lost cause and destined just t make him happy and leave him be???

[doofah]

lol it might be worth trying.... but the last thing I want is a house full of baby rats - I also have a corn snake, and one day my partner will make a "Financial sense" connection and suddenly my little ratlings will become foodlings!

Then how mad will Patch be!!

Battery farmed snake food, what a thought! Is that even legal?

[separation]

Hi Doofah,

I love pet rats and after having had 4 girls, I opted for a male who was vicious from day one and never tammed down!  He died at 18 months and I have to say that i was quite relieved. I could not handle him as he would 'attack' anything coming close to him!

My next pets were 2 girls again, then my last one died 3 months ago and I decided to try a boy again. Charlie is absolutely fine, as sweet as any of the girls I have had, maybe a bit more naughty as far as chewing is concerned...

I suggest that you leave Patch be - mybe don't handle him so much but let him run around a bit so he can come to you when he wants to. Do not get him a friend as he will probably kill him!

[doofah]

Patch was almost adopted by Bobby, bobby being the eldest, but they rarely interacted, mostly bobby would push him about and patch would avoid him - prefering to throw sawdust at people (literally, when you walk past his cage the throws handfuls of sawdust in your direction until you look at him, then he'll stare at you, cocking his head a little, as soon as you look away he starts again - it's funny if not a little weird)

I might try introducing a young male, pre adolescant. He does get on well with the hamster in the cage next door, mind you it's a russian dwarf and roughly the size of Patch's head... I'm sure he see's it as a parasite or something, but they often sit looking at each other quizzically, and when released, patch is first to Spideys cage, snufffling around, staring, and occasionally following the lil critter around.

Yes, I think maybe a mate or male friend might help.

Unfortunately we had to rehome Molly this weekend - she often scared patch out of his wits while we were out, so maybe the lack of canine fussing will help out (molly is a mother - through and through, she mothered me, my partner, our kids, a slipper with a face on it... and she so wanted to mother patch. When bobby died molly cried all day and night, desperately looking for him - they used sit and share doggy chocolates bobby on my knee, molly on the couch beside me - patch however, at every attempt by molly to comfort him - ie. licking the side of the cage where he lay, and making molly noises at him, would often take chunks out of her tongue)

He's not a stupid rat at all, I know you get some who are one slice short of a loaf, but he's very intelligent, he's the kind of rat who treats everything as a trap, and always finds incredibly complex ways to accomplish the simplest things - maybe this paranoid intelligence is the problem and my best mates idea of giving him vallium and a shrink might help....

[doofah]

Oh....

If I was to get him a friend they wouldn't share a cage.... it'd be supervised visits only lol... in neutral territory. As I said, I'm a dog person, I understand the way dogs work naturally, and usually spend most of my time learning their personalities and traits....

Every rat I've known has been different, so other than watching wild rats anc basing decisions on their base instincts I have no reference - but what rings true with all animals I've studied is territory and political control is everything - even roaches to some degree!

I think I might hold off a while, the change of having no dog frustrating him - and now being able to let him run free in the living room while we're in there so he knows we're not dangerous or really consequential (as long as he doesn't go too far from the food man...) and eventually friendly....

Anyone got any suggestions on treats other than dog chocs I can lure him with? I figure if we all randomly present him with a lil treat when he comes near us on the floor, he'll learn we're good giants... not bad giants lol

[doofah]

I know. I cried too. Rehomed her 300 miles away! And my car broke down on the way back!

Miss the lil babe, but it had to be done - she was troublesome at times, and very clumsy - we have a 3 year old who suffered because of it.

She's gone to a wonderful home, and I know she'll be loved and well looked after.

gah, you gave me a lump in my throat now!

[doofah]

Aww thank you... [sniffs quietly in the corner] - i can't even go visit her lol, cos my car blew up on friday - i give up with the whole automobile approach to life.