|
|
|
Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/1/2008 8:47:01 AM
Posts: 5,
Visits: 12
|
|
| I have two wonderful ferrets, but I'm the only one who plays w/ them so when a visitor/family member holds them they bite...HARD. Most of the time it draws blood. Since my two little girls do this none of my family members are willing to hold them so this problem continues. Plus I raised one from a kit having both of her parents, but the other came from Petco. I had to get her as a few months old because the other plays real rough sometimes and I don't know if a kit could take it since none of her siblings did. I've had the one from Petco since last Easter and she still bites my fingers,toes, arms, you name it. I don't know if this is because I didn't get her as a kit or what I've tried everything I could think of. Please help Animalover675
Amy Olsen
|
|
|
|
|
New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/27/2008 5:10:12 PM
Posts: 84,
Visits: 337
|
|
| Some ferrets for what ever reason are naturally biters. You have to teach them that this is a bad behavior. For starters, how often do you let you little furballs play? The longer the play sessions usually can help calm the bites, except when they get overtired like a typical 3 year old. Next, you can try putting a toy in front of the mouth as a distraction when the little one tries to bite. Ferretone, Nutrical, or even bitterapple on the parts and pieces that get nipped might help. The ferretone, and nutrical are more for trying to initiate the licking behavior, bitterapple is suppose to taste nasty and stop it. Holding the offender is a scruff position with the firm word of NO, and then do a slight drag or just release. This way the little one has the idea that maybe bitting is a bad thing. Patience is the key. Ferrets when they play or wrestle, play rough and hard. They have to learn what play behavior is good when it comes to playing with their human. hopes this helps
Proud Parents to Sarah, Jasimin, Casper, Taz, Patch, Beuregards, Demon, Scooter, Stripe, Ivan, Calvin, Hobbs, Nikita, Norma, Eistein Junior, Coco, Bonnie, Clyde, Stinker, Grace, China (Forever Toby- Rainbow Bridge Jul 07, Forever Ben Dec 07)
|
|
|
|
|
Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/1/2008 8:47:01 AM
Posts: 5,
Visits: 12
|
|
Thanks  Just two days ago i learned that im supposed to be taking them out for another two hours because their just over a year old. So maybe that will help[ ]
Amy Olsen
|
|
|
|
|
New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/27/2008 5:10:12 PM
Posts: 84,
Visits: 337
|
|
| I usually let my crew play for 3 hours or until I have fur piles under the couch. Then if they are active in the evening, I let them out again for a second playtime and that usually may last for an hour or so. Then again, I look for the fur piles under the couch. In my house, if you lose anything it's under the couch. That is their favorite place to store their treasure.
Proud Parents to Sarah, Jasimin, Casper, Taz, Patch, Beuregards, Demon, Scooter, Stripe, Ivan, Calvin, Hobbs, Nikita, Norma, Eistein Junior, Coco, Bonnie, Clyde, Stinker, Grace, China (Forever Toby- Rainbow Bridge Jul 07, Forever Ben Dec 07)
|
|
|
|
|
New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/23/2008 9:33:17 PM
Posts: 56,
Visits: 112
|
|
As far as the biting goes, you need to get your ferrets comfortable being held at any time. Yes the more outside cage play they have will help because they are tired but a ferret should be comfortable being held by others besides your self. Treats are great. Give a few treats to the guest who is holding the ferret. He/she can pet the ferret while offering a treat. That may eliminate biting. Plus it will build trust in the ferret for other people. If the ferret bites she/he should be scruffed and told "NO" immediately. Closely supervise your ferret around others. Make sure that it a guest is holding a fettet that he or she is holding it properly. If a ferret feels threatened it will act out and bite.
 - LittleFuzzPhoebie the Ferret says, "Dance The Day Away!"
|
|
|
|
|
Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/9/2008 7:05:32 AM
Posts: 247,
Visits: 28
|
|
I don't know if this will help, but it worked for me... Playing with them will help a LOT; once they realize you're "safe" they are less likely to bite (especially if they were previously abused, although that's not the case here). More importantly, try to do things "like a ferret" would... When a mother ferret is trying to teach something to a kit, she will scruff it firmly and hiss. I've tried scruffing and saying "no" before, but ferrets seem to speak a foreign language where "no" actually means "yes". If you hiss at their face while they're scruffed, they will learn really quickly, and will also associate you as being the one in charge, since you act like a natural mother... I'm sure someone else has mentioned it, but patience goes a long way too! Some ferrets take longer to learn than others, but I've never met a biter that couldn't be retrained...
Father of two:
Tanuuki (6 year male)
Mika (1 year female)
|
|
|
|