I need some help on explaining to a human how to react to rat behavior.
You see, I've introduced little Edgar into the big cage with the three yearlings; they all accept her, but one of them, (Dupin) occasionally has dominance issues. She paws at Edgar, chases her, rolls with her, and does a bit of a stand off - Edgar, being much smaller, whines and just wants to get away. The other two rats run to help Edgar.
The issue is my mum is insisting on my 'disciplining' of Dupin; I understand telling Dupin no, or attempting to break up the fight if I figure it's too dangerous, but today mum went over to the cage and beat on it with her hand when Dupin was near, effectively 'hitting' Dupin (although the cage DID take it, not Dupin) and scaring the daylights out of my group. My mum insists this is how I have to do it, but I don't believe her - you don't hit a rat, or even bang on their cage like that.
So I need help convincing her of the alternative ways one should react, if me simply telling Dupin 'no' isn't good enough.
((No, I cannot separate Edgar from the other three at this time; she was starting to literally get sick with loneliness and I was fearing for her health))
You see, I've introduced little Edgar into the big cage with the three yearlings; they all accept her, but one of them, (Dupin) occasionally has dominance issues. She paws at Edgar, chases her, rolls with her, and does a bit of a stand off - Edgar, being much smaller, whines and just wants to get away. The other two rats run to help Edgar.
The issue is my mum is insisting on my 'disciplining' of Dupin; I understand telling Dupin no, or attempting to break up the fight if I figure it's too dangerous, but today mum went over to the cage and beat on it with her hand when Dupin was near, effectively 'hitting' Dupin (although the cage DID take it, not Dupin) and scaring the daylights out of my group. My mum insists this is how I have to do it, but I don't believe her - you don't hit a rat, or even bang on their cage like that.
So I need help convincing her of the alternative ways one should react, if me simply telling Dupin 'no' isn't good enough.
((No, I cannot separate Edgar from the other three at this time; she was starting to literally get sick with loneliness and I was fearing for her health))