Rat Discipline
I posted a question a few days ago about my rat biting. I did a little research and relating to what was going on with her it sounds like she's trying to be dominant. So this is what I've been doing:
I put my (gloved) hand in the cage and gently pet her and pick her up, then she will most likely bite my hand, so I bonk her on the nose (that's what I read to do) but then she fights back, and I don't want to hurt her too much ):
Is it ok to just keep hitting her lightly on the head with your finger which she bites back until she stops? I don't know what to do because I need to teach her not to bite but I don't want to hurt her, and she's already very scared... Any help would be appreciated. Also if I put my hand in with a peanut, she will not go up and take the peanut, but instead go up and bite my hand, and I read this is a sign that she is trying to be the dominant one?
Anyways like I said, if you have any information it would be greatly appreciated!
Answers:Perhaps your rat is biting out of fear- do not tap it on the nose, there are alot of nerve endings in a rats nose, and you could actually cause damage to it's little nose! Does she have a ratty friend? Rats are more confident in colonies- because they are social animals, and require a cage mate. Continue handling your rat with gloved hands and talk softly- she'll come around. You are not gaining your rats trust by flipping her on the nose- to be the dominant "rat" you need to roll her over and pin her down on her back for a few seconds and repeat several times (say four times a day, with three pin downs per time). This not an act of aggression to a rat, it's a dominance act- Most importantly be patient- it won't resolve over night.