Bobby

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Jan 30., Sat 16:43

Bobby is now going to live out his life as the only pouched rat in the house due to his awful jealousy of me

he has been moved into a smaller cage which he was unhappy about but seemed more settled last night & HEY it wasn't wrecked this morning so thats looking good,

he is spending more time on my knee since Patrick went to live with Marie so another bonus, and he wasn't as exciteable at out time last night soooo now theres no competition perhaps he calm down even more

: Bob in new cage without Patrick

: Bob tucking in in new cage lol

: can I go back to my old cage please

: me n Bob watching tele

: bobb 005.jpg (80.72 KiB) Viewed 695 times

by **Ratatouille** on 2010. Jan 30., Sat 23:04

He now looks more like the Bobby Whistlepop I used to know, hope he continues to improve

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Jan 31., Sun 0:04

Ratatouille wrote:He now looks more like the Bobby Whistlepop I used to know, hope he continues to improve

If he starts whistling again I'm getting ready to run,

its not a merry tune

it means blood time

by **Adrian** on 2010. Feb 1., Mon 14:11

shirley-whirley wrote:Bobby is now going to live out his life as the only pouched rat in the house due to his awful jealousy of me...

Just like Jaali. Since Ambaa died Jaali's behaviour has slowly but steadily improved. I can even have play fights with him again without getting bitten.

Good luck with Bobby.

by **Ratatouille** on 2010. Feb 1., Mon 14:30

Had I better start dusting off my will then, as I have 5 GPR's living in my bedroom with me

by **Sunnysiren** on 2010. Feb 3., Wed 14:15

how cute are these guys - do they bite much? They must hurt when they bite

by **Ratatouille** on 2010. Feb 3., Wed 14:53

Hi, luckily I have never had a serious bite off any of my pouchies, and the nips I have had have not hurt as much as a fancy rat, and definitely not as much as an hamster, but some can turn nasty during adolescense, so if you read the thread at the top of the APR chat forum if you are considering one of these beautiful creatures, it will give you a good idea of what to be prepared for (thumbup)

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Feb 6., Sat 0:30

Adrian wrote:Just like Jaali. Since Ambaa died Jaali's behaviour has slowly but steadily improved. I can even have play fights with him again without getting bitten.

Good luck with Bobby.

thanks Adrian, for your support,if it wasn't for you & Jaali I'd still be on the wrong horse, its good to compare a young neutered boy with an older un-neutered boy, as it re-assures me hormones aren;t/wasn't anything to do with the behaviour we have experienced, Bobby has been fabulously behaved the last two night, I also managed a little light play with him, (DAFT this)

but Bobby used to let me hold him and dance about with him he used to love it, but he stopped, last night we had a little dance and I did my daft soft singing too him

& he loved it sooo even more of the old Bob is back (thumbup)

, I'll give it a bit longer & I'll try our old running around the coffee table game

but a bit hesitant

yet since he bit my ankles

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Feb 6., Sat 0:37

Marie/Pouchie heres the info - Bobs put on another50 grams in last 3 weeks
Jan 10th 1590 grams or in old money 3 1/2 pounds
Feb 5th 1640 grams or 3 pounds 10 ounces

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Feb 7., Sun 0:08

Ratatouille wrote: some can turn nasty during adolescense,

they can turn nasty at any age,

by **Adrian** on 2010. Feb 8., Mon 14:26

shirley-whirley wrote:... last night we had a little dance and I did my daft soft singing too him & he loved it sooo even more of the old Bob is back...

I know how you feel. Yesterday I took my life in my hands with Jaali. I flipped him onto his back and gave him a good tummy tickle. He loved it - grabbed and licked my fingers, wriggled free then came back for more. It turned into a big play fight and when it was over he gave my fingers a good wash.

by **Pouchie** on 2010. Feb 8., Mon 17:49

Adrian wrote:I know how you feel. Yesterday I took my life in my hands with Jaali. I flipped him onto his back and gave him a good tummy tickle. He loved it - grabbed and licked my fingers, wriggled free then came back for more. It turned into a big play fight and when it was over he gave my fingers a good wash.

now there is no female to fight for the little toad is happy to be subordinate to you

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Feb 9., Tue 13:29

Adrian wrote: Yesterday I took my life in my hands with Jaali. I flipped him onto his back and gave him a good tummy tickle. He loved it - grabbed and licked my fingers, wriggled free then came back for more. It turned into a big play fight and when it was over he gave my fingers a good wash.

me decided to have a little go myself

I videoed it I thought also that if he turned aggressive it might show what they can be like, quality is a bit iffy difficult playing, filming and

ing but here is a video of our Bobby getting giddy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6l88OZrmdg

by **Adrian** on 2010. Feb 9., Tue 14:13

shirley-whirley wrote:... here is a video of our Bobby getting giddy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6l88OZrmdg

That's one happy rat. It doesn't look as if Bobby is biting at all. Jaali still does but its just play biting and I only get the occasional accidental cut. I'll try and get a video of Jaali going bonkers so we can compare notes. I love the part where he's on his back and stops to clean his foot.

by **Pouchie** on 2010. Feb 9., Tue 15:45

I don't know if there's anything in it but I can rarely get Halftail to rough-house anymore.

This is me trying my best but he won't do it:

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Feb 10., Wed 0:15

Adrian wrote: I'll try and get a video of Jaali going bonkers so we can compare notes. I love the part where he's on his back and stops to clean his foot.

I'd absolutely love to see a video of Jaali, & will look forward to seeing if these two are reformed characters or are they lulling us into a false sense of security

I did feel Bobs teeth,

but nothing harder than when he is grooming me

I laughed at the foot also

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Feb 10., Wed 0:17

Pouchie wrote:I don't know if there's anything in it but I can rarely get Halftail to rough-house anymore.
This is me trying my best but he won't do it:

Flippin heck Pouchie fancy a swop rat

nice boy Halftail

I'm having spud trouble

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Feb 10., Wed 0:26

Well I've had an argument with Bob over my potatoes

he ended up getting annoyed with me taking them off him and for the first time in ages he did the whistle

I have potatoes behind the cushions on the couch, in the cat litter tub( Bobs Loo) in the ratties litter tub under Bobs cage, and the place I can't reach under the big couch right at the back, my potatoes are now on top of the cooker hood

as he cannot get up there

: ... 005.jpg (83.1 KiB) Viewed 447 times

by **Pouchie** on 2010. Feb 10., Wed 1:00

spud snatcher

I second the Jaali vid - have always found the pouchies play fighting fascinating to watch.

I carried it on as a bonding thing just because the pups do it to each other but still undecided whether its the right thing to do to encourage it or not

by **Adrian** on 2010. Feb 10., Wed 14:11

Pouchie wrote:I second the Jaali vid

I took some last night but Jaali was a bit camera shy and didn't put on much of a show. I'll try again tonight.

by **Squirrel** on 2010. Feb 11., Thu 13:15

Glad Bobby is getting along on his own. Mark & I still think we want just one lone female pouchie.

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Feb 11., Thu 18:06

Squirrel wrote:Glad Bobby is getting along on his own. Mark & I still think we want just one lone female pouchie.

Squirrel nice to see you, I'm of the opinion that one living on his/her own, is more friendly towards its people, & more interactable with you, plus if you get any problems he/she will get your sole attention to be able to retrain, When I was screaming at Bobby Patrick sometimes thought I meant him "which wasn't fair" now the Big Bob knows I mean him

so has no excuse to ignore me

I think if you start out right with a young already handled pup, you won't go far wrong, & I'm always here if niggles arose

by **Pouchie** on 2010. Feb 11., Thu 18:09

Squirrel wrote:Glad Bobby is getting along on his own. Mark & I still think we want just one lone female pouchie.

May I ask what led you to decide on a female?

by **Squirrel** on 2010. Feb 11., Thu 18:19

Pouchie wrote:
Squirrel wrote:Glad Bobby is getting along on his own. Mark & I still think we want just one lone female pouchie.

May I ask what led you to decide on a female?

Sure. We think a boy would be better if castrated and don't want to have to put a rat through an operation. We've had fancy bucks castrated before, but only if they were aggressive.

by **Pouchie** on 2010. Feb 11., Thu 18:37

I am hoping my girls will have a female pup soon that I can bond with because all my females are in pairs or trios and don't care about me

LOL they are more interested in whichever other rats they are bonded to.

Have only got the two males that I have a close bond with so look forward to seeing the difference if any between trying to form a bond with a female pup.

I always found the one female I bred (Kibibi) more aloof toward me than her brothers. Probably because I am a girl too so not that interesting

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Feb 11., Thu 23:33

Squirrel wrote:Sure. We think a boy would be better if castrated and don't want to have to put a rat through an operation. We've had fancy bucks castrated before, but only if they were aggressive.

My vet isn't an exotic vet, but she thought neutering a pouched rat was a doddle, & it only cost £35.00, so it wouldn't be a big hurdle if you got a boy & don't forget Bob was already near 5 months old when I got him yours whichever sex you choose hopefully will be a baby , much easier then, and perhaps might not encounter the same problems, my theory is aggressive male you can castrate to help calm some of the bad behaviour, but aggressive female, what would you do, how they'll turn out, can't be predicted, so I suppose we all have to take our chance & hope for the best

by **Pouchie** on 2010. Feb 12., Fri 11:55

Other thing is though (don't shoot me for saying it) maybe a girly would get along with the female fancy rats?

A boy would be very frightened of them.

Judging by my little fatty FR brothers & Toby though, same sex can be a big hit :no1:

by **Adrian** on 2010. Feb 13., Sat 20:55

shirley-whirley wrote:I'd absolutely love to see a video of Jaali, & will look forward to seeing if these two are reformed characters or are they lulling us into a false sense of security...

I've uploaded a video of Jaali playfighting to my site at http://www.pouchedrats.co.uk/album/albumpages/movies/m08_jaaliplayfighting.php (You'll need Quick Time to play it.)

As you can see Jaali does a lot of biting as well as licking but the bites quite gentle. I know it doesn't look like it but I never get more than a scratch or a graze. If I'd tried this before Christmas I'd have ended up in casualty. The change in Jaali is remarkable.

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Feb 14., Sun 0:17

Adrian thats a really good film

Bobs a lot rougher than that, I've been letting him sit on my shoulder again for very short periods, but last night when I was at computor he jumped on and immediately nipped my neck, no skin broken but a hurty one, I grabbed him and brought him over my head and dumped him in his bed at side of computor at which point he did the whistling,(means he is annoyed) I've had enough and smacked his backside with the back of my hand, at which point he squeaked and ran off so I chased him to his cage, two months ago he would have turned around and chased me back biting, I tucked my pants in my socks and went back in kitchen to wait for him to come and bite my ankles but he didn't come, so for me this is a big improvement as before he always came back later to get us back

so for once I had the last word

he does seem to be getting quieter, & learning he is wrong to do some things. he was friends again this morning when I took his ready brek to him in his bed

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Mar 10., Wed 13:34

Well we have had some developements, although it was daytime & he is quieter then, I took Bobby in the garden with Eddie & to our surprise, Bob let Eddie stroke him then have him on his knee, then Edd stood up and I put Bob in his hands & Bob let Edd hold him :Y:

Now yesterday Marie called for a visit

& I got Bob out

, he sniffed her hand first then licked her

, so I sat down at the side of Marie and put him on her knee which he seemed very happy with she had a go at picking him up because I wanted marie to feel how heavy he is and he let her so we are all very happy that he seems to be a friendly boy again

one of the photos shows his latest trick, lying down at the back of my head flat soooo I can't lift him off before he nips my ears

: bobb 044.jpg (85.47 KiB) Viewed 280 times

: Forrest 014.jpg (80.31 KiB) Viewed 280 times

: Bob loves Flumps lol

by **Ratatouille** on 2010. Mar 10., Wed 16:37

Bobby seems almost back to his old self, but is a LOT bigger

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Mar 10., Wed 18:09

if he grows any bigger he ain't gonna get his backside in his roasting tin & I had my eye on him for next X Mas dinner

, only joking roasting tin is his chew proof litter tray

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Mar 24., Wed 0:16

Flippin heck I bought a friend a chocolate Bunny wabbit for a silly surprise

& Bobs got on the cupboard & eaten its face

Marie do you think Kaz would notice if I stuck the foil back on

its still got its eyes

by **Ratatouille** on 2010. Mar 24., Wed 10:17

Nah, she would not notice LOL

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Apr 2., Fri 13:30

YUM YUM

by **Ratatouille** on 2010. Apr 2., Fri 17:00

Drat, knew we had forgotten something when we went to Tesco

by **Pouchie** on 2010. Apr 5., Mon 10:47

Well we met Bobby yesterday and he a lovely roly poly ratty and I was pleased to get a good old wash off him.

Jay was brave enough to test the theory that maybe Bobby doesnt like men and Bob nipped his arm then came back for a second attack but was foiled by Shirley

Definitely a complicated ratty

by **Ratatouille** on 2010. Apr 5., Mon 10:53

I am pleased to say that Bobby is OK with me, he is a lovely boy and Shirley's soul mate

He just does not get on with other males

so needs to be closely monitored all the time when new people are around, Shirley has definitely got her hands full with him in more ways than one (LOL)

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Apr 5., Mon 12:10

if i ever decide to become a bank robber I'm not taking a gun I'm taking a Bobby

last night when we got home he went straight into his cage with a face on him like a smacked bum

BUT he did come out of his bed this morning to get his porridge off Eddie, Trouble is with Bob he puts the Big Hard man act on but really I know he's a wuss

I love him to bits he is like my baby, but I just don't trust him with other people, because he is snidey, & will pretend to act friendly till he gets his victim within reach, its like he's planning it out in his head. I am pleased now though that Caroline & Jay have met him

it helps confirm he is a weird git

by **Ratatouille** on 2010. Apr 5., Mon 12:17

I could bring Merlin and be the getaway driver (LOL)

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Apr 14., Wed 16:22

HAPPEEEE BIRTHDAY BOBBY :jump:

the big Dudes :hrr:

1 year old today

by **Ratatouille** on 2010. Apr 14., Wed 16:51

Happy Birthday Bobby, hope your mum has made you a cake

by **shirley-whirley** on 2010. Apr 14., Wed 16:55

He had Strawberry cheesecake last night he is scoffing it on photo

by **Pouchie** on 2010. Apr 15., Thu 10:14

Hey I thought Bobby was born same day as Half & Merlin

Looks like he enjoyed cake