|
|
|
Average Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/15/2007 8:43:51 PM
Posts: 608,
Visits: 2,191
|
|
| I got a job at a local petshop to help me pay for Delilah and Hendrix's medical bills (Delilah is sick with adrenal disease, and we think hendrix is sick so medical bills for him will be in the future). This petshop sells Path Valley ferrets. They are in excellent housing (TONS of toys, hammys, tubes, tunnels, litter pans, food, water, etc) but there is one problem. One of the three babies is a VICIOUS biter. I mean VICIOUS. Not like play biting, not even typical kit biting, this dude is TERRIBLE!!!! Each day I walk the ferrets around the store on their harnesses, I hold them, handle them, let them explore, play with them for about 2 hours a day. But when I open the door to take the kits out, this one siamese sable (Male, age 8 weeks) SCREAMS, BARKS, and BITES me like no other. He ATTACKS my hands and wont let go. He almost bit THROUGH my finger nail! I've tried bitter apple, lime, and pepper juice. He doesnt care. I've tried pushing my finger towards the back of his mouth when he bites, but this does nothing. I've tried scruffing and saying no, I've tried putting him in 'time out' but he continues to attack me! I dunno what to do. This guy will NEVER get purchased if he keeps this up! He's really a sweet kit and he'd make a great pet, but the biting, OMG the biting! My boss even said she'd give me a raise if I get him to stop biting. That is HOW BAD he bites! I really wanna help this ferret, all the other employees are terrified of him. What suggestions do you guys have? He's bitten my arms, hands, webbing of my hand, face, neck, even my chest![:O] I am SHOCKED at his behavior. I know he is purebred and has NO polecat in him, the other two ferrets in the cage bite, but they bite like typical kits, NOT like this guy. What on earth do I do? How do I get him to stop biting???????? Im gunna have permenant scars on my hands from his bite marks, but it wont matter to me as long as I can get him to STOP BITING!
--------------------------------- Love, Giuli 
Check out my pictures/videos of all my "furkids" by clicking on the links below! http://lugnutandhendrix.myphotoalbum.com (The cats album is also here) http://samsonanddelilah.myphotoalbum.com http://willowandweezie.myphotoalbum.com http://apollopuppy.myphotoalbum.com Interested in natural feeding? Join NaturalFerrets! (Just click on the button below) 
|
|
|
|
|
Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/17/2008 1:27:45 PM
Posts: 101,
Visits: 434
|
|
I finally got Slinky to stop biting by using a non-harmful Aecetone (nail polish remover) Rubbed over my hands like lotion. I can't remember the brand name off-hand but the stuff was for use around animals in case of ingestion. She didn't like the smell. I also was alternating that with peppermint scented rubbing alcohol. I haven't met a ferret yet who likes peppermint smell. Hope these suggestions help! Goodluck!
|
|
|
|
|
Average Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/15/2007 8:43:51 PM
Posts: 608,
Visits: 2,191
|
|
hmmm....I dunno about acetone free nail polish remover, but I'll try rubbing alchohol. See i dont want my hands to smell so bad that the kit gets distressed that Im holding him, but maybe if I dab some rubbing alcohol on my hands it will seriously deter him from biting. If he doesnt stop biting I fear he will be shipped back to Path Valley Farms and PTS.  (the petstore didn't say they'd ship him out, but I still worry that if hes there for like, a year, that they wont have any choice but to ship him out).
---------------------------------Love, Giuli
Check out my pictures/videos of all my "furkids" by clicking on the links below! http://lugnutandhendrix.myphotoalbum.com (The cats album is also here) http://samsonanddelilah.myphotoalbum.com http://willowandweezie.myphotoalbum.com http://apollopuppy.myphotoalbum.com Interested in natural feeding? Join NaturalFerrets! (Just click on the button below)
|
|
|
|
|
Average Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/12/2007 3:46:12 PM
Posts: 644,
Visits: 1,756
|
|
| On the Peppermint topic- my 5 LOVE peppermint. I wear peppermint oil as a perfume and constantly have somthing peppermint burning or candy wise in the room. I even have an herbal warming bag (you microwave it and put it on your chest to help with colds) with peppermint leaves in it that they steal and bring to bed with them... As for the bitting. Its probly not the smartest idea, but it worked with Amon when he was a fiesty biter baby. he bit my sister wonce, hard, drew blood, and she told him no with a scruff. he did it again and she said no again louder, he did it a third time and this time she lifted him to her face and bit his scruff and growled at him (not bit hard, id of broken her face if she hurt him, but just enough to hold him there).. he never bit again.. i think she scared the bitting right out of him... id advise bringing listerine with you if you go for this option lol....
-------------------------- Mommy of 5 lovley ferrets- Kiba, Sable, Amon, Aphrodite and Titus Over the Bridge- Podo, dec.06 
|
|
|
|
|
Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/17/2008 1:27:45 PM
Posts: 101,
Visits: 434
|
|
Lol...I did that to one of my kittens who used to bite alot.[ ] Could be deadly for eyeballs though if he decides to retaliate! Hehehe... I knew someone would have peppermint liking ferrets somewhere. I guess Ive had the bad luck of never finding one that like the stuff. Again, goodluck MonkeyPoohBear!
|
|
|
|
|
Average Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/15/2007 10:37:01 PM
Posts: 945,
Visits: 406
|
|
| I haven't found anything that works for KooKoo's bites, she sounds pretty much like your guy at the petstore...I'll be realistic and kinda on the pesimistic side and advise you... well...that's what I would do...pretty much what I do with KooKoo... buy the little guy just to save his life because otherwise no one will buy him and even if they do they won't put up with his biting habbits so he'll be put to sleep one way or another....and while having him at home there MIGHT be a chance of teaching him to behave...but it is also very likely that you'll just have to avoid/put up with his bites like I do with KooKoo. I gave up long time ago and although I play with her (I think she might be doing a bit better than she did in the past) I'm always alert about her attacking my arms or legs when I do something else. I know you probably can't afford another pet....but the way I see it this case is trully a rescue because you know he'll end up being put to sleep either back at the farm or by the person who'll end up buying him from the petstore... I don't know how some fuzzies come out like this but I wouldn't blame them....If you talk to the manager he/she might end up giving it to you for free....with some good arguments....I don't know....I hope things will end up fine for this little guy.. In my opinion, biting or not.. they have a right to life.... Good luck and let us know what happened...another thing.. DON'T let anyone buy this guy because he'll definitely end up dead [ ]
[]No ferrets? No fun![]
http://skunklove.myphotoalbum.com
|
|
|
|
|
Average Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/12/2007 3:46:12 PM
Posts: 644,
Visits: 1,756
|
|
| you know.. skunklove has a good point.. I would seriously tell people about him and make sure they know what they'll be getting their hands on if they choose to adopt him. did anyone from the petstore mishandle him maybe? Maybe the manager would let you foster him and give you the chance to break him of biting on your own turf. itd be a shame that the little guy doesnt get some kind of chance
-------------------------- Mommy of 5 lovley ferrets- Kiba, Sable, Amon, Aphrodite and Titus Over the Bridge- Podo, dec.06
|
|
|
| | |