Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / March 2005

He sounds like a very stubborn, determined little guy. He's not seeing you
as a predator but more as part of his pack trying to be boss and he's not
liking it. When you pick him up, do you scoop him up with both hands instead
of grabbing his back?
Having your hand (size of a rat) going for his back or his side is a
dominance move in his eyes. That is what another rat would do. So he gets
real mad.

Dave,

Do you know much about Louie's life and treatment before you?  Was he
mistreated or under-socialized?  This is a total guess on my part as I don't
have ALL that much rat experience yet (got my first rat in August 04) but it
sounds like he is calming down now that he knows you are a "good guy".  I
think they can tell when someone is genuinely caring for them.

My female rat Maggie still doesn't like being picked up, although she loves
sitting on my shoulder on her terms.  I got her at a pet store after she had
been "dumped" there in not a very good set up and I can't help but wonder if
the first 9 months of her life she was handled roughly (or not at all!) and
associates being picked up with something bad??  It could just be that Louie
has a strong will and wants to go where he wants to when he wants to.  :-)

I like what Joanne said a lot because that "squealing" sound you mentioned
sounds just like when my two boys Jacques and Pierre go at the dominance
game.  They are litter-brothers and have lived together every day of their
lives, but they still do the dominance squabbling and sometimes it sounds
like they're killing each other.  They puff all up and their hair stands on
end, and they walk sideways and try to knock each other over.  Maybe he's
trying to tell you that he's not going to roll over and just give away his
dominance without a fight.

Anyway it sounds like he's getting better which is really great.

Meghan