How to discipline a rat terrier the right way is always an issue for most people, therefore, we will be discussing the right ways to discipline a rat terrier.
The only way to properly train your rat terrier to be obedient is for you, the owner, to practice self-control.
The reason why rat terriers assert dominance over their owners is that you failed to discipline them from their puppy stages.
How To Discipline A Rat Terrier
Here are some illustrations of effective ways to train a rat terrier:
1. Provide rules, limitations, and boundaries
When considering how to discipline a rat terrier, the first things you consider are rules, restrictions, and boundaries.
To prevent sending your rat terrier mixed signals, create a list of pet-related home rules and display it somewhere everyone in the household can see it.
When putting your rat terrier house rules into practice, it’s imperative that you and your families be on the same page.
List of rules your rat terrier should follow:
- No pup should ever leap on objects or other people.
- There is no using the restroom elsewhere.
- There shouldn’t be any begging of any kind.
- No leaps from television stands will be made.
- There won’t be any scratching of furniture.
- No food may be consumed on the ground.
- Please don’t accompany me to the toilet, etc.
2. Teach your rat terrier some stop words
Although rat terriers are intelligent, it’s crucial to keep in mind that they are not people who are capable of understanding a wide variety of word combinations.
To employ the stop word, just make a stop sign or say “NO” before or during the offensive behavior.
Ensure that your rat terrier is aware of the meaning of “NO” and how it connects to “halt.”
It’s easy; don’t complicate it by combining lengthy comments since your rat terrier might not know when to quit.
Your rat terrier will learn to identify “NO” with bad behavior and quit acting out if you use it frequently and firmly.
Make sure your rat terrier knows your stop phrase or sign and connects it to the end of their unpleasant activity.
3. Discipline your rat terrier in the act
It is useless to penalize your rat terrier after the fact since the punishment will be unrelated to the behavior you’re punishing.
Prevent your rat terrier from doing something improper by stopping it in its tracks.
It may take a few repetitions for your rat terrier to fully understand the rule, but correcting it as quickly as possible might help it establish the link.
Saying “no” and taking the shoe away, for instance, can stop your rat terrier from eating your shoes.
4. Place your rat terrier on a time-out
If your rat terrier is overactive, harassing another pet, or disobeying your commands, give it a timeout.
The time-out should be held in a dull, unpleasant place so that your rat terrier remembers what it’s missing and does not adapt to its new surroundings.
Rat terriers should only be given timeouts that are no more than 60 seconds since this will affect their mood.
Before your rat terrier understands that the moment has come due to specific behavior, it can be required to repeat the procedure several times.
When your rat terrier is acting improperly, rather than after they have already acted improperly, give them a timeout.
5. Reward submissive behavior
You and your rat terrier will both gain from rewarding submissive conduct.
It should be enjoyable to train your rat terrier to view you as the pack leader.
Don’t force your rat terrier to express affection, even if it’s important to reinforce good behavior.
One approach to show your rat terrier that you care about him is to groom and praise him.
Regularly touching, petting, and holding your pet’s paws can help him regain control while also letting him take pleasure in snuggling time.
6. Always use firm voice tones
Rat terriers are tenacious, therefore using a soothing voice to urge them to stop won’t help.
Make sure your rat terrier understands the meaning of various voice tones and how to react to them.
Therefore, use a forceful voice while commanding your rat terrier to cease acting in a certain way.
Say something out loud, such as “ouch” or a comparable phrase, to startle your rat terrier and get him to cease acting in a hazardous way.
This is especially helpful if your rat terrier bites or grabs your arm or leg since they are aggressive toward humans.
Read more: 9 Signs Of Rat Terrier Separation Anxiety With Tips.
7. Give command with positive energy
Remember that most rat terriers are able to sense your energy level and determine whether you are afraid or worried.
This will always be interpreted as an invitation to assume authority by rat terriers since they are bright and demanding.
By fusing your feelings and actions with explicit instructions, you can establish your authority and correct bad patterns.
Your rat terrier has to understand that you take asking for obedience seriously and won’t tolerate it.
8. Insist on your rat terrier doing the right thing
Keep your composure and persist in doing the right thing at all times when your rat terrier refuses to comply with your directions.
Switching between modes or plans of activity may be helpful in the long run, but consistency and focus yield quicker results.
In order to build strong ties that your rat terrier will seek out in the future, positive behavior should be strongly acknowledged.
You may use rewards like praise, cuddling, treats, and your rat terrier’s favorite toys to motivate good behavior.
When a rat terrier excels at anything, trainers may use clickers, which make a distinctive sound and then deliver a treat.
9. Always use positive reinforcement
Negative energy is released when you hit or shout at your rat terrier, which encourages undesirable behavior.
Use a positive incentive, such as giving your rat terrier a pleasurable task, as opposed to punishing bad behavior.
With this adjustment, you’ll be able to modify unfavorable behavior while simultaneously encouraging new, better behavior.
Give your rat terrier its own chew toy, for instance, if it is gnawing on one of your child’s favorite toys.
