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Subject: Do Ratties respond to positive training methods

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agilityfun

Newbie

10/10/2008 4:39 PM
Hi everyone, I'm about to get my very first Rat Terrier and am VERY EXCITED! I fell in love with the breed many years ago and am finally getting one! To this point, I've always owned sporting dogs (Lab) and herding dogs (Australian Shepherd). This will be my very first Terrier. I do agility with my other dogs and plan to introduce my Rattie to the sport also. So, here's my question: I believe in only using non-aversive training methods (i.e., clicker training) to train my dogs. Some people I know with Ratties keep trying to tell me that I'm going to find that it's only going to work to a point and that I'm going to find that occasionally my Rattie's just going to require a good swat on the butt. I don't believe in hitting my dogs. So, can someone please tell me about their successes training their Ratties with positive methods and reassure me that I WILL be able to train my Rattie without resorting to hitting him? Using a clicker, in a matter of 10-15 min. this morning, I trained my 4-year-old Lab to open her crate door, go inside, and close the door behind her! Am I dreaming to think that I'll ever be able to train my Rattie that quickly? Hoping to hear some positive-training success stories! Thanks so much!

tiggarat

Bratty Ratty

10/10/2008 5:00 PM
Welcome! Ratties are very smart, so much more than any other dog I've had (labs, springer spaniel, dobies), but they also can be independant, which may be what those "friends" may be telling you about. I NEVER hit my ratties, or any other dog I've had...it doesn't do anything other than harm your relationship with them. My ratties are very eager to please, and treat motivated, so yes, you can train without resorting to hitting them. Nora, our training mod, does agility with her rattie Bailey (he's the one on the left of our current banner at the top of the screen). She will be able to answer any questions you may have.

Lisabeth furbabies: Lucy and Molly (1 1/2 yr old decker ratties), and Rosie (3 yr old dobie) Buddy - gone but never forgotten. "I don't think he has any idea he's a dog, really. Of course, he thinks he has a rather odd figure for a man" - Dodie Smith

gwacie

Rat-A-Tat-Tat

10/10/2008 5:00 PM
Absolutely you can use positive operand training with them very successfully!! Some ratties are more willful than others, certainly but for the type of work you want to do clicker and other positive methods will work beautifully. I don't hit my dogs and though I don't work agility, my dogs all have good basic training. Nora, our training mod, has been using positive operand methods in her recent training (and likely before but she was recently talking about playing the "1000 things to do with a box clicker game" with her rattie, Bailey. I'm sure when she gets a moment she'll jump in and post.

gwacie (Bethany) My Doggies: http://www.myadams.net/dogs/ Rescue: http://www.newrattitude.org

gwacie

Rat-A-Tat-Tat

10/10/2008 5:01 PM
Actually some ratties can be quite sensitive so just a strong word (let alone a swat) can "shut them down" when you are trying to get them to learn, fyi. Glad to have you here I neglected to say!

gwacie (Bethany) My Doggies: http://www.myadams.net/dogs/ Rescue: http://www.newrattitude.org

ivy

Rat-A-Tat-Tat

10/10/2008 5:07 PM
I have recently started training my 6 month old rattie girl with the clicker she is amazing. I have never trained with a clicker and I really like it. I have had a sheltie, collie, shep x, and a poodle mix and she has learned the fastest of any dog I have ever owned. If someone becomes cross with my Ivy and even raises there voice she just shuts down so I do not think hitting her would have positive results. At 6 months old she has a huge list of tricks and commands she knows. I can not wait for her body to mature enough for agility. Welcome to the site and look forward to seeing pictures of your babies!!!

rattytatty

Training Moderator

10/10/2008 7:36 PM
I have worked with several different breeds of dogs.... but Bailey is the first RT I've owned and trained. It's been quite an experience let me tell you! A FUN experience. This breed responds VERY well to operant training with or without a clicker. We've been training for two years in agility and although it's a different type of training than I've done in years past, so it's been a fun learning experience for me and my dog. There's a book called "When Pigs Fly" by Jane Killion that is an excellent resource for this type of training. I recommend it highly. Good luck to you and welcome to the forum! You'll be SO glad you brought a rat terrier into your home!

~Nora~ Mom to Hoss, Lil'Bit, Buster & Bailey, CGC, OA, OAJ

gwacie

Rat-A-Tat-Tat

10/10/2008 7:59 PM
I KNEW it was operant with a T so why did my spell checker tell me operanD with a D??????? I shouldn't second guess myself dang it. Sorry brief aside.

gwacie (Bethany) My Doggies: http://www.myadams.net/dogs/ Rescue: http://www.newrattitude.org

rattytatty

Training Moderator

10/10/2008 8:52 PM
It's probably cuz it's a yankee spell checker!

~Nora~ Mom to Hoss, Lil'Bit, Buster & Bailey, CGC, OA, OAJ

agilityfun

Newbie

10/10/2008 9:53 PM
THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE! I'm thrilled to have found this site - what a great resource it is. I look forward to learning more about living with my new Rattie and sharing stories of our adventure together. I appreciate all your support. Thanks again - Lori

rattytatty

Training Moderator

10/10/2008 10:56 PM
And we look forward to taking this journey with you !

~Nora~ Mom to Hoss, Lil'Bit, Buster & Bailey, CGC, OA, OAJ

Trix

Rat Royalty

10/11/2008 10:30 AM
ABSOLUTELY!!!! I am not as well educated about the Rat Terrier as most on this site, but I know that my trix, and from what I have read, these dogs are SUPER sensitive. All I have to do is look at Trix and say NO in a lower voice, and she understand, that something was done wrong, or we don't approve. I don't believe in negative reinforcement on any animal or child, anyway. It does nothing for confidence. Trixy, is one of the most sensitive dogs I have ever had the opportunity to be with. she has SOOO much personality and so unbelievably friendly. I took he he to a dog fair a few weekends ago, on the agility course, she did EXCELLENT. I think these dogs are AWESOME for agility!! I am looking for a place in the town I live in, to sign her up.

Rowdy's Mom

Rat-A-Tat-Tat

10/12/2008 2:01 AM
Good luck with your training! I know everyone already answered your question, so I don't really feel there's too much to add here. Rowdy is currently in some classes and we only use positive reinforcement with him. I barely even used my clicker, as a matter of fact. Ratties are really sensitive and even raising your voice to Rowdy makes him jump and tremble. He did come from a background where he was abused, so that may have a bit to do with it, but there is no need to hit a rattie. (He was terrified of belts when I got him. He also didn't like men and yelling would make him cower- learned this when the BF and I had a fight one night.) Good luck! Ratties make excellent agility dogs. Rowdy's trainer has been working with Rowdy and I on a couple agility exercises- he's just naturally inclined to it.

~Chrys~ Mom to Rowdy, Schatzi (shephard mix), and Sam (lab mix) http://www.myspace.com/rowdyluvsschatzi

Careypea

Newbie

10/23/2008 3:07 AM
I ahve an aussie too Like everyone else has said, I use clicker training on my dogs and they are UBER responsive. I have never hit my dogs and never would. They get crushed off of a 'look' heaven forbid I spank them! I am strictly positive in my training...clicker and no free lunches, and my dogs thrive on it! But as Susan Garrett says, positive is not permissive, just because you don't hit them doesn't mean that they never get corrections. I really don't find any difference in drive, responsiveness, or willingness to please between my rats and my aussie. Good luck!

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