Well, in all actuality the training had begun as soon as Captain Teach had arrived. But, what with the necessary time to adjust and settle into the routine of a new home after such an ordeal as he had found himself in, it had to be very mild and more "introduction to training" than training itself.
The Litter training in the short term is the most important to my self, as it keeps the cage cleaner and easier to maintain. This makes for a healthier, more comfortable environment for the rascal. As such, having a healthy and comfortable place to live makes all future training endeavors far more plausible.
We are meeting with some definite forward success with the litter training. I did a full cage cleaning last night - the first full one since we began. Fear not, there had previously been some wipe downs and minor tidying, but it was time to make certain there were no areas of filth that would begin to fester in some unknown area of the cage. One would think that a wire clad cage would be easy to spot any potential areas as such - but, one would be wrong. Py-rats, much like toddlers, excel at finding places to make their own personal festering storage areas. Even in not-so-plain sight. However, the cage was in relatively good order, all things considered. He had at some point peed in his nest box, which could have been at any point, so may not be a set back. I replaced the cloth strips with tissues, which will make observing it easier. Also, if he should have occasion to make a mess in the nest, the tissues are easily removed to the litter tray to serve as a lesson as to where that particular behavior is acceptable. He did also leave "raisins", as they are oft times referred to, in his hammock. The towel was removed and replaced with a fresh one. Aside from that everything else was confined to inside the litter pan, or next to it - which could have been either knocked out or just the attempt to keep it away from his food.
But, the point remains that he is definitely separating areas and has not used any of the three platforms or the ramps for littering. So, fresh litter, clean cage, we'll see how things continue along.
As for the litter.. Well, that is something that must be there, but one must exercise caution in the types used. Clumping clay litter is bad, as is anything that will produce dust. So, Rayne picked up this:
ExquisiCat Naturals Fragrence Free Paper Cat Litter
And it has been working well. At first he just grabbed the paper bits and chewed on them a moment and tossed them aside. I am assuming that he had considered it food, coming from an unknown pet store, lord knows if he was served pellet food or not. But, once he got the understanding that it wasn't edible (at least not in any enjoyable sense), he has since left it alone and used it for it's intended purpose.
Additional training, more on the behavioral end has begun as well. The first major vocal command I am working on is "shoulder". As he has shown himself adept at it to begin with, and certainly exhibits all signs of contentedness while on mine & Rayne's shoulders, I felt it was a good idea to break him in on this one. It should also prove to be handy when he begins to run around or starts venturing further. This will give a solid base point for both us and him to recenter at any point.
The process is simple, really. I give him the opportunity to climb to my shoulder, issue the command, issue the command, issue the command then issue the command. When he responds appropriately, he is given a treat and appropriate affection. As this started yesterday it is in the early stages, and has been done several times yesterday and a few this morning. I am proceeding in "clumps". Run through several times, then I drop it for a while. I trust his powers of retention and instincts for food stuffs will have him following the command in short order. I will keep you posted as to when it begins to take, that we may gauge the general time frame.
He spent more time in the free-range area last night, and has been showing more comfort there. It is my hopes that he will begin to use it for it's intended purpose which is mainly as an exercise forum. He has had no interest in the wheel at all, and despite the short runs up and down the three levels in the cage to take food from his dish down to his stashing area in the nest box, I fear that the cage ramps alone are not enough to provide the levels of exercise he will need in the coming to months to stay healthy.
But, there will be more on that later.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The ensuing days
So certainly by now you've acquainted yourself with the Eddie, and have likely had the following items to come to mind. First, why the name? Well, to be honest, a good py-rat should have a good py-rat's name. And given the location of his discovery, Teach seemed ideal. Yes, there is a very distinct irony in naming a white rat after Black Beard, but I am contented to allow you to sort that out for yourselves.
The next issue that may come to your mind is that he is indeed the epitome of a red-eyed white rat. Which, of those who may have previously spoken with me regarding my expectations of rats I was looking to take in, that was at the bottom of the list in terms of appearance. However, as the universe is oft times desirous to inflict harsh humor, this was what was presented. But please do attempt to recall that when there are those peoples that I meet throughout my days I judge them not by their appearance (despite the fact many people I see are deserving of such judgement), but rather I take people for Who they are. The same applies here.
If you are among the ilk that hold fast to the idiom of "the red eyes creep me out", bear in mind that you are intentionally avoiding the truth of WHO this creature is for a shallow brief assumption based on appearance. Given the poor eyesight that is attached to all red-eyed rats, I'm certain that he would just as soon not have them. But, insomuch as we cannot determine our eye color without prosthetic, nor can he. But, I digress...
We have now had him for a couple of days and he has been getting himself settled in quite well. His skills at shoulder surfing have proven him to be quite the capable socialite. He is far more willing to meet new people from his perch on myself or Rayne, where is showing he is very comfortable, than he seems to be otherwise. He is also beginning to exhibit signs that he recognizes his name, but this will still take a bit more time before it has fully settled in. A similar inkling of success is beginning to show with the litter training - the first signs are there, but he is far from being trained.
A point of specifics to note - his current home. While I have mentioned that we are in process of constructing a three story rat-mansion from steel shelves, this is not yet ready. What with the soon introduction of at least one, if not two more rats (this is still in discussion now, as we had only planned for two), we decided it best to wait to complete the palace and open it for tenants until such time as all occupants could move in. This is a small part of an attempt to help prevent territorial battles. We shall see what, if any, effect this will have.
Eddie's current home is in a "Luxury Rat Pet Home". Which, in and of itself is quite a nice home for a py-rat. I would venture to say that it would comfortably hold 2, but likely be a bit crowded for 3. You can take a closer look here:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4470997
We removed the wheel (it is on it's own stand, and so in reality, we just never put it in), which left the base open for a nesting box, which we supplied strips of cloth for, and the litter pan - a shallow plastic storage container. Inside the hammock we placed a small old towel, which he seems to like, and has even curled up inside the towel for privacy.
If you happen be considering a rat home, this is definitely worth the looking. Upon the grand opening of the py-rat palace (to be aptly named "The Bilge"), this cage will be come the travel home when we vacation or take weekend trips. It will also serve well as a quarantine area should the need arise.
In any event, here is the home d'jour:
The next issue that may come to your mind is that he is indeed the epitome of a red-eyed white rat. Which, of those who may have previously spoken with me regarding my expectations of rats I was looking to take in, that was at the bottom of the list in terms of appearance. However, as the universe is oft times desirous to inflict harsh humor, this was what was presented. But please do attempt to recall that when there are those peoples that I meet throughout my days I judge them not by their appearance (despite the fact many people I see are deserving of such judgement), but rather I take people for Who they are. The same applies here.
If you are among the ilk that hold fast to the idiom of "the red eyes creep me out", bear in mind that you are intentionally avoiding the truth of WHO this creature is for a shallow brief assumption based on appearance. Given the poor eyesight that is attached to all red-eyed rats, I'm certain that he would just as soon not have them. But, insomuch as we cannot determine our eye color without prosthetic, nor can he. But, I digress...
We have now had him for a couple of days and he has been getting himself settled in quite well. His skills at shoulder surfing have proven him to be quite the capable socialite. He is far more willing to meet new people from his perch on myself or Rayne, where is showing he is very comfortable, than he seems to be otherwise. He is also beginning to exhibit signs that he recognizes his name, but this will still take a bit more time before it has fully settled in. A similar inkling of success is beginning to show with the litter training - the first signs are there, but he is far from being trained.
A point of specifics to note - his current home. While I have mentioned that we are in process of constructing a three story rat-mansion from steel shelves, this is not yet ready. What with the soon introduction of at least one, if not two more rats (this is still in discussion now, as we had only planned for two), we decided it best to wait to complete the palace and open it for tenants until such time as all occupants could move in. This is a small part of an attempt to help prevent territorial battles. We shall see what, if any, effect this will have.
Eddie's current home is in a "Luxury Rat Pet Home". Which, in and of itself is quite a nice home for a py-rat. I would venture to say that it would comfortably hold 2, but likely be a bit crowded for 3. You can take a closer look here:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4470997
We removed the wheel (it is on it's own stand, and so in reality, we just never put it in), which left the base open for a nesting box, which we supplied strips of cloth for, and the litter pan - a shallow plastic storage container. Inside the hammock we placed a small old towel, which he seems to like, and has even curled up inside the towel for privacy.
If you happen be considering a rat home, this is definitely worth the looking. Upon the grand opening of the py-rat palace (to be aptly named "The Bilge"), this cage will be come the travel home when we vacation or take weekend trips. It will also serve well as a quarantine area should the need arise.
In any event, here is the home d'jour:
His cage currently resides in a "free-range" area that we have put together. This will explain to you why a keen eye promptly caught the fact that the lower door is open during this picture. Previously, we had set him on end-to-end banquet tables and used that for the free-range area, given that py-rats in general are not inclined to jump from unknown heights, and given the poorer eyesight of the red eyes made this even less likely. However, we knew it was not ideal for a permanent play area, and the edges were a constant source of concern for both him and us. You can have all of the knowledge and facts on your side, but one ancient adage always holds true - children and small animals will make liars out of you.
He is not yet comfortable with the free-range area. Our current belief is the vast expanse of open area. I can verily see the instinct kicking in and causing him strife of the various unknown dangers that may lurk from above or across the open field that his poor eyesight cannot focus on. On eyesight, the thought had also occurred as a possibility that the solid color of the carpet may not register as a floor, but rather an unknown distance below him. In an attempt to relieve this, many of his toys and sundries have been moved close to the cage entrance by Rayne to give a sense of depth as well as nearby areas of cover should he want it.
At the time of this writing he has forgone any further ventures from out of his cage and has resigned himself to his day-time nap. Which, we are inclined to allow him, as his schedule is starting to adjust more to ours. It serves us all best if he is in the habit of waking in the morning before Rayne and I leave for our respective jobs and then sleeping for the duration of the day until we return in the evening.
So, this is the extent to which Eddie is settled into for the time being. Quite contented and happy, but with many more adventures ahead of him. I do promise that this will not become a volume of literary tripe, full of nonsensical anecdotes regarding the endearing every action that one may feel to be as "cute" or "adorable". A simple view upon his visage tells you that those are a constant, and in truth only most relevant to those in the moment - and oft lose the value upon the retelling for all those, save the one reliving the moment. I will instead save this space, and your time, for the more pertinent information regarding the actual useful information in py-rat husbandry, and the occasional tale of true adventure that is worthy of retelling and can be found to provide amusement or entertainment to any who hear it.
Questions and comments are always welcomed.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Day One - an ill timed adventure.
This adventure starts back many years ago, but I promise to save you the long tellings of the circumstances. I had at one time came upon it to become the unknown owner and care-taker of 3 rats - all brothers, who's cruel fate it was to be under the care of someone who was... well, careless. It is my understanding that they were not alone in their sufferings, and there were many myriad of other animals in varying types in the same residence.
To shorten this abridged tale further, I'll suffice it to say that all animals were properly rescued by proper authorities under properly used laws that were in effect. However, being three rats, the proper authorities had no manner of keeping or caring for them properly. I came home from work that very day to find three rats on my dining room table.
I had no issue with rats, but also had no clue about how to tend to them properly - and being abused (mostly from ignorance or neglect) for most of their short lives (recall here that male rats live an average of 3 1/2 years), they were none to welcoming of a human hand. For the next long while, I did my best to tend to them and keep them healthy, read books on the matter and made my best attempt.
In the end, they lived the fullest extent of their lives, but cared not for human interaction and would bite any hand in their domain save for mine (after many months of persistence..), yet they would not tolerate me for any length of time.
This always bothered me - as I knew that since I had learned to love the little rascals, I could have done better had I only gotten them younger.
This, as I said was many years back (roughly a decade). But, we have a tale of the current to bring to you, now that you may have an understanding of my deep appreciation for the most intelligent rodents.
Roughly a fortnight back, Rayne and I decided it was a good time to try raising and training rats - what with the length of time I had been mentioning it to her in private, and with her growing to the idea. So, We had contacted a breeder that I happened across who came with glowing recommendations. Her website is here:
http://www.freewebs.com/lifedreamsrattery/
Armed with information and self preparations, we set to the task of building a home for our immanent rat friends, complete in the security of the fact that they had not yet been born, and that we had weeks ahead of us to prepare a rat mansion fit for a py-rat king (or kings, as it were... as it is best to have at minimum a pair of the same sex).
Well, the universe abhors a vacuum, and does not look lightly on well planned and organized schemes. And this is where the tale begins to go array.
On the first day of this ill-timed adventure, I received a message from my best friend, who happens to be a science teacher at a local Catholic highschool. It contained a photo a young white rat in a fish bowl and the phrase "wanna pet?"
Well, knowing the teasing nature of my friend (as best friends are apt to do to one another, even into adulthood), I assumed this was done in jest, and that the poor creature was part of the class - although, to be sure, if it was a malicious lesson he wouldn't have rubbed my nose in it.
The shortened version here is that it was indeed no jest, and the young rat had been rescued by none other than himself in the school. They do not use rats in the school for any purpose, and it's presence had caused an alarm (as I'm sure you can imagine).
Being that this was a docile rat, and stark white in color, and so young it was apparent that this was not an errant wild rat in search of a meal or nest of wires to chew itself to death on. No, this was more tragic than that.
This poor rat was but the mere part of a spring-break prank that was ill contrived and poorly executed. It had been purchased, along with a dozen small goldfish by a girl (yes, this was constructed by a teenage girl) for the sole purpose wreaking havoc in the school. The poor fish were released into a commode in the girls lavatory, whilst the rat was roaming the hall.
Some of the fish were saved and now live comfortably in a pre-existing aquarium in the school. But that's where the simple ends and the odd chances and irony begin.
Of all of the areas of the school, and all of the teachers that could have been nearest the rat to capture/rescue it, it just happened to be my friend who was the one do the task. The one man in the school who happened to know people who had a clue about rats, and were in deed at that very time preparing a rat home and able to take and care for it is the one person that the universe had sent the rat to.
He had taken the rat into his classroom, found a fish bowl to temporarily house him whilst he prepped a larger aquarium and sent me a photo.
As my oldest son is keen to point out the irony of the day as the rat's housing changed through necessity - from the hallway to a fish bowl to an aquarium, to a coffee can for the trip home, then (and this is the truly ironic part) into a cat carrier to await his new care-takers.
Now - to be sure, just because a man owns a horse does not make him an equestrian genius. So the same is us with our new friend. But, we are attempting to make him as happy and comfortable as is possible, and in truth, he seems to be very contented with his new surroundings and the people he can interact with.
So, with no further ado, nor need to wordsmith a grander introduction than is necessary, but still one worthy of a py-rat king, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Edward Teach
To shorten this abridged tale further, I'll suffice it to say that all animals were properly rescued by proper authorities under properly used laws that were in effect. However, being three rats, the proper authorities had no manner of keeping or caring for them properly. I came home from work that very day to find three rats on my dining room table.
I had no issue with rats, but also had no clue about how to tend to them properly - and being abused (mostly from ignorance or neglect) for most of their short lives (recall here that male rats live an average of 3 1/2 years), they were none to welcoming of a human hand. For the next long while, I did my best to tend to them and keep them healthy, read books on the matter and made my best attempt.
In the end, they lived the fullest extent of their lives, but cared not for human interaction and would bite any hand in their domain save for mine (after many months of persistence..), yet they would not tolerate me for any length of time.
This always bothered me - as I knew that since I had learned to love the little rascals, I could have done better had I only gotten them younger.
This, as I said was many years back (roughly a decade). But, we have a tale of the current to bring to you, now that you may have an understanding of my deep appreciation for the most intelligent rodents.
Roughly a fortnight back, Rayne and I decided it was a good time to try raising and training rats - what with the length of time I had been mentioning it to her in private, and with her growing to the idea. So, We had contacted a breeder that I happened across who came with glowing recommendations. Her website is here:
http://www.freewebs.com/lifedreamsrattery/
Armed with information and self preparations, we set to the task of building a home for our immanent rat friends, complete in the security of the fact that they had not yet been born, and that we had weeks ahead of us to prepare a rat mansion fit for a py-rat king (or kings, as it were... as it is best to have at minimum a pair of the same sex).
Well, the universe abhors a vacuum, and does not look lightly on well planned and organized schemes. And this is where the tale begins to go array.
On the first day of this ill-timed adventure, I received a message from my best friend, who happens to be a science teacher at a local Catholic highschool. It contained a photo a young white rat in a fish bowl and the phrase "wanna pet?"
Well, knowing the teasing nature of my friend (as best friends are apt to do to one another, even into adulthood), I assumed this was done in jest, and that the poor creature was part of the class - although, to be sure, if it was a malicious lesson he wouldn't have rubbed my nose in it.
The shortened version here is that it was indeed no jest, and the young rat had been rescued by none other than himself in the school. They do not use rats in the school for any purpose, and it's presence had caused an alarm (as I'm sure you can imagine).
Being that this was a docile rat, and stark white in color, and so young it was apparent that this was not an errant wild rat in search of a meal or nest of wires to chew itself to death on. No, this was more tragic than that.
This poor rat was but the mere part of a spring-break prank that was ill contrived and poorly executed. It had been purchased, along with a dozen small goldfish by a girl (yes, this was constructed by a teenage girl) for the sole purpose wreaking havoc in the school. The poor fish were released into a commode in the girls lavatory, whilst the rat was roaming the hall.
Some of the fish were saved and now live comfortably in a pre-existing aquarium in the school. But that's where the simple ends and the odd chances and irony begin.
Of all of the areas of the school, and all of the teachers that could have been nearest the rat to capture/rescue it, it just happened to be my friend who was the one do the task. The one man in the school who happened to know people who had a clue about rats, and were in deed at that very time preparing a rat home and able to take and care for it is the one person that the universe had sent the rat to.
He had taken the rat into his classroom, found a fish bowl to temporarily house him whilst he prepped a larger aquarium and sent me a photo.
As my oldest son is keen to point out the irony of the day as the rat's housing changed through necessity - from the hallway to a fish bowl to an aquarium, to a coffee can for the trip home, then (and this is the truly ironic part) into a cat carrier to await his new care-takers.
Now - to be sure, just because a man owns a horse does not make him an equestrian genius. So the same is us with our new friend. But, we are attempting to make him as happy and comfortable as is possible, and in truth, he seems to be very contented with his new surroundings and the people he can interact with.
So, with no further ado, nor need to wordsmith a grander introduction than is necessary, but still one worthy of a py-rat king, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Edward Teach
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