The Rat Lovers Club! V2

[Kickin' up dirt]

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Username:Kickin up dirt
Have you ever had a rat?: yes I own two!

Tictactoe

[.Middy.]

My boys are so dang troublesome! I always leave the cage door open when I pull their food dish out to add more to it, today Bug almost took off across my dresser before I could grab him. Though the worse was when Baze was standing on the door with his nose stretched towards me thinking about jumping over and climbing up onto my shoulder. I had left my bedroom door open my accident and my pup came in and almost reached up and grabbed Baze.

Luckily my pup is well trained so when I yelled out he backed up, and when I told him 'Get out of my room Chewie' he went and stood at the doorway watching me as I pushed Baze back in and put the dish inside.

If my Chew had a higher prey drive, or wasn't as well trained as he is, I could have lost Baze. (My stepdad has major allergies so his room is a 'allergy free zone' which made all of the animals learn the command 'allergy free zone' means to get out of their room, and they easily shifted it so 'Out of my room' gets them out of my room now.

[Sadies]

My boys are so dang troublesome! I always leave the cage door open when I pull their food dish out to add more to it, today Bug almost took off across my dresser before I could grab him. Though the worse was when Baze was standing on the door with his nose stretched towards me thinking about jumping over and climbing up onto my shoulder. I had left my bedroom door open my accident and my pup came in and almost reached up and grabbed Baze.

Luckily my pup is well trained so when I yelled out he backed up, and when I told him 'Get out of my room Chewie' he went and stood at the doorway watching me as I pushed Baze back in and put the dish inside.

If my Chew had a higher prey drive, or wasn't as well trained as he is, I could have lost Baze. (My stepdad has major allergies so his room is a 'allergy free zone' which made all of the animals learn the command 'allergy free zone' means to get out of their room, and they easily shifted it so 'Out of my room' gets them out of my room now.

Lol, rats are cheeky. You sure your rats have not learnt to open the door? One of my old female rats learnt to open her cage door. She would bite the middle of the clip and swing her legs down to open the door xD

I would watch your dog though. Although he is trained and behaved he is still a dog and all dogs have a prey drove. For example my dog loves my cat, they sleep together and everything however if he runs she will still chase him. Just be warned, especially if he is a terrier or hinting type breed (Labradors are included in that, they are not innocent like everyone thinks lol).

[darkvoodoo]

If I have to give up my rats, is it an appropriate action to ask a rat breeder if they could take them just because I want my girls to get a good home? Or is that not something you do, and I'd just have to take them to the humane society and hope for the best (and have to get over feeling like I abandoned them)?

If you go to facebook and type in rat, rat breeder,etc. Theres even a group called Rats For Sale in the USA

[ShadiSin]

If I have to give up my rats, is it an appropriate action to ask a rat breeder if they could take them just because I want my girls to get a good home? Or is that not something you do, and I'd just have to take them to the humane society and hope for the best (and have to get over feeling like I abandoned them)?

Uhm.. pm your location? Like, are you in the states? Stupid question I know.

I know a few rat groups on FB you could post them and see if someone would take them as pet-only.

If I were closer I'd gladly take them, but I haven't a clue where you are.

Personally my mentor and I being breeders DO take in rats on an 'emergency' case like they have to go ASAP and they're friendly and so on and easy to home but rats that are considered problem rats (such as biters, I have a few myself from rescues.. I don't regret them but I really wish I'd of been informed on their personality/bad habits first, I can't rehome them AT ALL) are usually something a breeder won't take >.< I take shy rats from time to time to be honest, just to socialize then adopt them out to their forever home..

Yeah, I'm in the states; just about right in the middle of them.
What exactly falls under 'emergency case'? Like, having no options really except take them to the humane society?

All of my rats are good girls, sweet and with their personalities. For some strange reason (none of my previous rats have been this way) one of them sort of mouths/ nips when you first reach in the cage, but after that she's the sweetest little thing who doesn't leave you..would she be considered problematic?

My rats mouth/nibble when you first reach into the cage, I don't see it as a problem. =p but yeah.. I'd consider yours a slight emergency.. like.. if they have to be out of there asap.. then yeahh. personally that's just me, though.

[.Middy.]

My boys are so dang troublesome! I always leave the cage door open when I pull their food dish out to add more to it, today Bug almost took off across my dresser before I could grab him. Though the worse was when Baze was standing on the door with his nose stretched towards me thinking about jumping over and climbing up onto my shoulder. I had left my bedroom door open my accident and my pup came in and almost reached up and grabbed Baze.

Luckily my pup is well trained so when I yelled out he backed up, and when I told him 'Get out of my room Chewie' he went and stood at the doorway watching me as I pushed Baze back in and put the dish inside.

If my Chew had a higher prey drive, or wasn't as well trained as he is, I could have lost Baze. (My stepdad has major allergies so his room is a 'allergy free zone' which made all of the animals learn the command 'allergy free zone' means to get out of their room, and they easily shifted it so 'Out of my room' gets them out of my room now.

Lol, rats are cheeky. You sure your rats have not learnt to open the door? One of my old female rats learnt to open her cage door. She would bite the middle of the clip and swing her legs down to open the door xD

I would watch your dog though. Although he is trained and behaved he is still a dog and all dogs have a prey drove. For example my dog loves my cat, they sleep together and everything however if he runs she will still chase him. Just be warned, especially if he is a terrier or hinting type breed (Labradors are included in that, they are not innocent like everyone thinks lol).

I don't think there is a way for them to open my cage door, i have trouble getting it open sometimes when I'm not paying attention to what I'm doing.

My pups a Australian Shepherd, so most he would do is pin them down and wait for me to come get them. Or just nudge them back towards me. Honestly Baze probably wasn't in danger now that I think about it, it just scared me for a minute because I have seen dogs go after rodents before. If Baze had jumped down and ran, then Chew might have chased him and killed him by accident when pinning him down but Baze knows not to jump down.

[strun]

Well, slightly disappointing. I tried to introduce Ody and Durn to water. Got the tank downstairs, propped one side up and dumped some toys and warm water in, like they do in the youtube videos. And they did go to check out the water briefly, but weren't interested in it at all after figuring out what it was and just wanted to climb out. They were a lot calmer about it than Robin was, but I think I'm still missing a step. Anyone gotten their rats to like water?

[iHolli]

Well, slightly disappointing. I tried to introduce Ody and Durn to water. Got the tank downstairs, propped one side up and dumped some toys and warm water in, like they do in the youtube videos. And they did go to check out the water briefly, but weren't interested in it at all after figuring out what it was and just wanted to climb out. They were a lot calmer about it than Robin was, but I think I'm still missing a step. Anyone gotten their rats to like water?

{That's a good question, I've never been able to get any of my guys to like water. Bowser has always hated it, Remy just wouldn't let himself like it, and Elvis is pretty iffy with it as well. And every time I've attempted to give any of them a bath, they ah...squeaked like crazy and left droppings. So I wouldn't mind hearing opinions on this as well xD}
{In other news, Bowser has discovered that he likes the little house inside the cage...even if he is way too big to fit his entire self in it. He just looks so cute with most of himself inside, with his tail sticking out <3 And Elvis has discovered that he likes the ball. Even if he does leave several droppings inside it, so we spend half the time dumping it out. He really needs to learn that the world is not his personal litter box...he'll figure it out eventually xD}

.Holli.

[Sadies]

My boys are so dang troublesome! I always leave the cage door open when I pull their food dish out to add more to it, today Bug almost took off across my dresser before I could grab him. Though the worse was when Baze was standing on the door with his nose stretched towards me thinking about jumping over and climbing up onto my shoulder. I had left my bedroom door open my accident and my pup came in and almost reached up and grabbed Baze.

Luckily my pup is well trained so when I yelled out he backed up, and when I told him 'Get out of my room Chewie' he went and stood at the doorway watching me as I pushed Baze back in and put the dish inside.

If my Chew had a higher prey drive, or wasn't as well trained as he is, I could have lost Baze. (My stepdad has major allergies so his room is a 'allergy free zone' which made all of the animals learn the command 'allergy free zone' means to get out of their room, and they easily shifted it so 'Out of my room' gets them out of my room now.

Lol, rats are cheeky. You sure your rats have not learnt to open the door? One of my old female rats learnt to open her cage door. She would bite the middle of the clip and swing her legs down to open the door xD

I would watch your dog though. Although he is trained and behaved he is still a dog and all dogs have a prey drove. For example my dog loves my cat, they sleep together and everything however if he runs she will still chase him. Just be warned, especially if he is a terrier or hinting type breed (Labradors are included in that, they are not innocent like everyone thinks lol).

I don't think there is a way for them to open my cage door, i have trouble getting it open sometimes when I'm not paying attention to what I'm doing.

My pups a Australian Shepherd, so most he would do is pin them down and wait for me to come get them. Or just nudge them back towards me. Honestly Baze probably wasn't in danger now that I think about it, it just scared me for a minute because I have seen dogs go after rodents before. If Baze had jumped down and ran, then Chew might have chased him and killed him by accident when pinning him down but Baze knows not to jump down.

Okay, well just be warned, sheepdog breeds are bred on their predatory instinct so they do have a higher prey drive because of this.

Well, slightly disappointing. I tried to introduce Ody and Durn to water. Got the tank downstairs, propped one side up and dumped some toys and warm water in, like they do in the youtube videos. And they did go to check out the water briefly, but weren't interested in it at all after figuring out what it was and just wanted to climb out. They were a lot calmer about it than Robin was, but I think I'm still missing a step. Anyone gotten their rats to like water?

{That's a good question, I've never been able to get any of my guys to like water. Bowser has always hated it, Remy just wouldn't let himself like it, and Elvis is pretty iffy with it as well. And every time I've attempted to give any of them a bath, they ah...squeaked like crazy and left droppings. So I wouldn't mind hearing opinions on this as well xD}
{In other news, Bowser has discovered that he likes the little house inside the cage...even if he is way too big to fit his entire self in it. He just looks so cute with most of himself inside, with his tail sticking out <3 And Elvis has discovered that he likes the ball. Even if he does leave several droppings inside it, so we spend half the time dumping it out. He really needs to learn that the world is not his personal litter box...he'll figure it out eventually xD}

.Holli.

Have you tried with really shallow water. Mine hate it but I tried putting them in the bath with water just over the height on their hfeet and they enjoyed it more :)

[.Middy.]

I know that. I have had my pup for over a year since he was 6 weeks old, I think I know his prey drive and how well trained he is by now. Especially since I trained him myself.

Like I said my pup did amazing by stepping back then leaving my room when he could have easily reached up and bit Baze. Baze did amazing too, he wasn't even scared just curious.