Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / October 2006

Well today was cage cleanign day so what I did was allow My Billy Bear to go
in his little hidie box and then I placed him on the sofa while I emptied
and cleaned the base of his cage. I then didnt rush to put Billy back in the
cage but I sat there for a while with the toothbrush just gentley touching
him all over. I then gave him his treats of Cheerios but I made him work for
some of them by pricing him out of the hidie hole before he could have one.
It worked although he did take the cheerio back to the hidie hole. I then
managed to get Billy out of his hidie hole and I took that away and anything
else he could hide it. I then put on the big red welding glove which he
attempted to bite a few times but soon decided it wasnt worth it as the
glove kept coming back for more so he gave in and became super gentle Billy
who could no longer be bothered to fight, he allowed me to put my whole hand
over him with a bit of weight and didnt attempt once to bite me so I thougth
right fine now it's mummies turn to be brave so I took the glove off and he
allowed me to stoke him with no glove or safety protection on and he didnt
attempt to attack me. I am so proud of him and he's really come on leadps
and bounds in the last two days. I know it's going to take a while before he
will allow me to pick him up but he really is a brave boy. I just seem to
have a different rat at the moment, my best tip is this, if you have a
fiesty rat then get some cheerios.

April

Mum to 6 rats