|
|
|
Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/14/2007 8:54:04 PM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 3
|
|
I just two ferretts i never had ferretts before i always had other kinds of animals i have two dogs a cat and i also have two fish and a turtle i love animals i did own a snake but i gave it to my son and i gave him a large turtle it was a musk turtle i just can under stand why every time i try to pick the one ferrett up she trys to bite me i not afaid of it i just dont like to get bite i was hoping some one can help me with this i not a bad person i pick up animals if i see they are hurt my dog was the worst i ever seen when i had got him he is a pittbull they had him in all kinds of fight he had so many marks all over him now he is the sweets dog and my black cat i pick her off the street too she is so nice she use to bite not now i know it take time but it is bitting everyone in the house help me please
|
|
|
|
|
Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/10/2007 10:16:08 PM
Posts: 7,
Visits: 16
|
|
| well first off is she biting or play biting is the big question. if she bites and latches on for a couple seconds then i bet its biting but if she bites quickly and and wiggles and acts crazy then they are usly playing. but either way if you dont like it i have found the best way to teach ferrets not to bite is by either gently holding thier mouth shut being carful not to cut off thier breathing, or the best why that has worked for me is not for the week hearted. i scruff them and then place my thumb into thier mouth pressing against the roof of thier mouth hold it there intell they struggle and try to get away. let them go and place were they bit you back by them. if they bite again quickly grab them and do it again intell they decide they dont like that idea any more. you need to react quickly other wise they wont place 2 and 2 together. so as soon as they bite be ready to place that thumb in there. and if you are worried about them bitting down on youre thumb they might try but if you keep presser on the roof of the mouth they really woul rather not have you do that and they will try to get away. dont hold grudges, if they bite you let them know its not aloud but don't do it over and over again for one nip. do it once dont over punish. oh and one more thing if you find them biting youre feet its because ferrets love the smell of durty socks and stinky feet so if you find them biting youre feet and you have socks on take off the socks and wash youre feet it will help them not want to bite youre feet so much cuz they love socks lol. i hope this helps.
|
|
|
|
|
New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/23/2008 9:33:17 PM
Posts: 56,
Visits: 112
|
|
I agree with MysticGaia's advice. I have found that scruffing the ferret works very well. It sounds mean but isn't. A ferret mom disciplines a young one in alomost the same manner. Another thing you could try is a gentle but sturn flick of your finger on the nose while you loudley say "NO". There's also a spray called "Bitter Apple" that you can buy at most pet stores. Before handling the ferret spray this on your hands and rub it in. They don't like the taste at all and after awhile will not want to bite your hands because they taste aweful. Hope that helps.
 - LittleFuzzPhoebie the Ferret says, "Dance The Day Away!"
|
|
|
|
|
Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/15/2008 6:23:33 PM
Posts: 203,
Visits: 302
|
|
| Before you go "disciplining" a ferret for biting, you first need to ascertain the reasons for the biting. IS the ferret a deaf ferret and your hands grabing it are startling it? Try gently blowing on the ferret before picking it up, or gently rattling the cage or sleep sack. Does the ferret bite after being held for awhile? Are you expecting the ferret to be calm and submissive for a cuddle as soon as you take it out of the cage? Is the ferret caged for the majority of the day? IS the ferret teething? Have you just petted your dog or cat before handling the ferret? Do your hands smell like turlte or snake before handling the ferret? Are you using a musky perfume? Are you approaching the ferret with your fingers outstretched and seperate? NEVER EVER "ping" a ferret's nose! You can severely damage them! The best way to get a biting ferret out of that habit is to eliminate as much of the cause as you possibly can. Don't expect a newly awakened or released ferret to calmly accept being held. Try to time your holding demands on the ferret when it is getting tired and will be willing to settle quietly. Gently scoop your ferret with cupped hands when picking him up. Support his bottom end as you lift him. Don't grab at him. Stroke him often without picking him up everytime. Don't jerk your finger back if he does bite it - gently push back at him until he spits you out. Then scruff and drag him across the floor back to the cage for a three minute time out. Then bring him back out for a cuddle and some play time. Remember that ferrets play rough and if you want to wrestle with him, then either toughen your own hide or be certain to use a hand puppet or stuffed toy for wrestling. Encourage him to be gentle around your fingers by offering special treats from your fingers. Ferrets have very sensitive senses of smell - musky smells can put them on the defensive. Don't hold grudges and don't be fertive or tentative around him - he'll sense it and become nervous himself. Be consistent, compassionate and a detective as to the reasons behind the behavior. Keep us posted! Cheers! Kim
Josie made me do it! I had to build this just for her! www.vanityferret.com [ ]
|
|
|
|
|
Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/26/2008 7:38:51 PM
Posts: 6,
Visits: 6
|
|
| The responses closest to the top are what i agree with. My ferret bought when I first got him, but my boyfriend used to have a ferret years ago and used a technique that worked well. The finger in the mouth shows authority in some way, and is not painful (some people think hitting animals makes them listen..bizzare) When I was younger, I had an aunt who had a ferret and she used to flick his nose whenever he'd bite. I only had to do it once or twice.. what else worked for me is simply picking him up and looking him in the face and saying "NO" making sure he is looking at you, something about his facial expression tells you he understood lol. I sound crazy but it's true. He hasn't bitten, other than playfully after the first month of having him. Good Luck! Either one is a guarantee!
|
|
|
|
|
Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/27/2008 10:28:17 PM
Posts: 9,
Visits: 19
|
|
I purchased a ferret from a pet store just because noone else would. She was a real biter. She was so afraid.
One thing that I had noticed was that when they would take her out of her cage to show her to potential customers they just handed her over. I suggested that she be left out and given a quiet minute until she was handed to someone.
This was helping. I then went there for a few weeks and sat in a "play" area with her and my son (16 at the time) and played with her without touching her. Lots of toys and lots of fun. Possibly the vacant training area in your store?
One problem that came up is that one day I came back and she was hiding longer and longer in a sleep sleeve on a shelf. They weren't following my advice. My husband told me to go purchase her. I did and I can honestly tell you she has never bitten me.
But, I was wondering does she smell your ferrets on you? I had been given a single ferret who spent her whole life alone and when I took her she bit right through my finger. She had never remembered being with other ferrets and reacted to the scents of 16 other ferrets and freaked.
Can the store minimize the surrounding for the baby for a few days.
Cage maybe in the back room or office. Warm area!
Only you handle him. Feed and water him. Walk him, play with him. Make sure you get bite rags, towels and things or dog rope toys. Let his get aggression out on things. Play, pull the baby with him on the rope or rag. Like a dog plays tug-of-war.
Take an extra laundered shirt with you and don't wear it until you plan on handling him. Wash your skin well. Everywhere he has bitten.
Place one of these items in each area and see what happens. Fooey, taste far worse than Bitter Apple, I accidentally got in my mouth. I scruffed a ferret in my mouth so I could clip nails, but it was one that I put Fooey on it's back to protect it from my large male. Forgot, I never will again. It lasted for hours, I'm telling the truth, I tried lots of things to get rid of the taste.
It may sound cruel, but mother nature made them--Hot sauces, like washsobi (Asian horseradish paste) or hot pepper paste or chili peppers sauce. Green chilies. Tabasko sauce, chili powder (there's another kind of chili powder, but I can't remember the name), or strong plain horseradish. Nature has made many nasty tasting non-toxic things.
Something else that might help? Maybe putting something in between him and you when you go to get him out, like distract him with a stuffed animal, let him bite that. Put it right in his face so he sees that first and goes for it. Remember he's expecting someone to grab him, not the teddy bear.
You can also find working gloves that go up to your elbows at Bass Pro Shop in the cooking isle where the turkey cookers are! lol Just thought I'd make you laugh. I know that it hurts when you know what is at stake, a very little baby.
What state are you in?,
I haven't had a little baby since 2001. The rest are rescues and Miss Whitie was already 16 weeks by the time I took her and life was counting down on her also, that was over two years ago.
|
|
|
|