Harness and leash for rats: application, purpose, manufacture

Decorative rats are very inquisitive, they always strive to explore new places, but not every owner will decide to release a pet on the street or at home. The harness for the rat will help solve the problem of walking and ensure the safety of the animal.

Benefits of using a harness

Even a completely tame rat can be frightened by an unfamiliar smell or sound on the street, run away and get lost. And in the apartment – to hide in a hard-to-reach place, where you can’t get out on your own. Therefore, the ability to control the movement of the animal will make the walking process much calmer. The harness also acts as fall protection if you carry your pet in your arms or on your shoulder while walking.

But not every pet will allow you to put on a harness – many animals will not be able to get used to the innovation. Due to the structure of the shoulder joints, as well as rather small front paws, the domestic rat, if desired, can easily turn out of any harness models. Some animals, on the contrary, immediately accept the new order, calmly walking on a leash. Most often, these are boys, who are less mobile and usually more balanced than female rats.

To teach your pet to walk on a leash, you have to be patient. Put on the harness only when the animal is calm and happy to communicate with you, and if he shows signs of discontent and stress, immediately release him. Do not forget to reward with a treat every time you fasten the strap, gradually the decorative rat will get used to it and begin to experience positive emotions from walking on a leash.

The main varieties

It is not recommended to buy a collar for a rat – it is inconvenient and dangerous to use it. If the collar is loosely fastened, the animal will turn out, and if the strap is tightened, there is a high risk of inadvertently strangling the pet. Harnesses are much safer, because the load is evenly distributed on the body of the animal. Two types of harnesses are common.

From straps

It features a simple design that is conveniently adjustable to the size of the rat. The straps wrap around the neck and torso of the animal under the paws, while connecting straps run along the belly and back. Such harnesses can be made of various materials – braided cords, leather. Both buckles and latches are used as locks.

Velcro

Usually it has the form of a vest, which is fastened under the chest of the animal. A ring for attaching a leash is sewn on the lower part of the back of the product. These harnesses, made of elastic nylon, are usually very comfortable and securely fix the animal, reducing its chances to free its paws and run away. The fabric of such models is breathable and easy to clean, there are both lightweight and insulated options.

A rat leash can often be purchased with a harness. If you purchase it separately, any lightweight material will do. It is also better to choose a mount with a small metal or plastic bracket.

TIP: Modern roulette-shaped rat leashes are very convenient – they provide the animal with more opportunities for free running and exploration, and a thin fishing line will save him from having to drag a rather heavy leash. It is only required to carefully monitor the pet so that it does not gnaw through the fishing line during a walk.

How to make a DIY rat leash

It is not necessary to buy an expensive model made of nylon – a do-it-yourself harness for a rat is made very simply, without requiring much time and effort. A homemade harness is also a good way to test if your pet can walk on a leash.

As a material, you can use strips of thick fabric or a thick fabric cord. In order to sew a product made of leather (artificial or natural), you will need special tools. To make fasteners, buy pieces of Velcro, metal buckles, or plastic latches at a sewing supply store. You can also use small buttons or buttons, but it will be more difficult to put on such a harness on the animal.

A simple harness for rats is made in several stages:

1. Measurements are taken from the pet – using a soft centimeter or cord, you need to measure the girth of the neck (a) and torso behind the front paws (b), as well as the distance between these two marks (c).
2. According to the measurements taken, two segments are made – do not forget to take into account the length of the locks or additional centimeters for Velcro, the dimensions of the finished parts in the closed state should coincide in length with the measurements taken “a” and “b”.
3. The parts are interconnected by strips equal in length to the measure “c”.
4. The locks can be placed on the rat’s abdomen, but the more common location is on the back. So it will be much more convenient to put the product on the animal. A metal ring or a loop for attaching a leash is firmly sewn to the part located under the paws.

TIP: Mobile phone carabiners can be used as locks – they are secure enough and small in size so that the animal is not hard.

Video how to make a harness for a rat with your own hands