How to Train White Mice

White mice are small, easy to care for and reasonably sociable, making them popular pets for both adults and children. White mice can be trained to run mazes and perform other simple tasks. The principles of training mice, like those of training any animal, are based in the psychological theory of classical conditioning.

Things You'll Need

  • White mice
  • Food reward
  • Hand-held clicker
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Give the mice time to settle into their environment. Moving to a new home is stressful, and mice need time to adjust. Do not start training for at least two weeks. Follow a strict schedule for lighting and feeding during this time. Do not introduce new mice, toys or other changes during the adaptive period.

    • 2

      Choose a food reward. Commercially produced treats are an excellent choice. Food is known as a primary reinforcer, which means that mice don̵7;t have to be trained to enjoy it. Do not change the regular feeding schedule or attempt to starve the mice into cooperation.

    • 3

      Choose a secondary reinforcer, such as a small clicker. A secondary reinforcer is something that the mice must be trained to recognize as positive. Training occurs when the secondary reinforcer is paired with a primary reinforcer.

    • 4

      Break the desired behavior into small steps. For example, if you want the mice to come to your open hand, the steps could be: Come for food; come for a clicker sound; come whenever hand is open and laying flat on the floor.

    • 5

      Place the mice in the general vicinity of the desired task. If you want the mice to come to your hand, sit on the floor with your hand open. If you want them to run a maze, place them in an enclosed area with the maze apparatus. Mice are curious, so before long, a mouse will approach the object.

    • 6

      Reward the mouse with food. At this stage, it does not matter if the mouse simply sniffs the maze or brushes up against your open hand. You are teaching the mouse to associate that item with food.

    • 7

      Increase the amount of attention that the mice must pay to the object. If you are training them to come to your hand, require them to crawl over your hand in order to receive a treat. When this behavior is consistent, require them to sit still in your hand. This phase may take several days or weeks.

    • 8

      Add a hand-held clicker. When the mice perform the desired behavior, click once and then provide the food reward. You are now teaching the mice to associate the clicker sound with food.

    • 9

      Gradually limit the frequency of a food reward. When the mice perform the behavior, use the clicker. Provide food only once out of every three times, and eventually once out of every ten times. This process may take several days.

    • 10

      Gradually stop using the clicker. If you have taken enough time in each previous step, the mice will perform the behavior without the clicker or the food reward. Occasionally provide a click or a treat to keep the association fresh.