I do respect them. That's why I treat them well. Like I treat other members of the family.
I've never known an animal who missbehaved because they were part of the family. Sometimes it might seem like that. I've known people who treat their dogs really well one minute. Make a major big fuss of them and object if you try to disapline them, but they aren't consistant. The poor dogs feel really confused because they don't know where they stand.
I certainly don't treat Jilli like that. Jilli knows where she stands in the pack, but I also see her as part of the family, and I've never experienced any negative behavior from treating her like that. When I tell her to do something she does it. So she knows where she stands. But I love her more then I do most people I know.
I was really fond of Mitzi too, and that was one of the rats who used to bite.
