|
|
|
Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/9/2008 11:35:24 AM
Posts: 6,
Visits: 13
|
|
| Just a quick question...when buddy first arrived only a week ago now he 'chuckled/dooked' away to himself when running around but for the last 2 days he hasn't made that sweet little noise at all? why?
|
|
|
|
|
Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/9/2008 7:05:32 AM
Posts: 247,
Visits: 28
|
|
| Well, it's kind of tough to say. Some ferrets stop dooking (the unofficial term for the chuckling sound) as they age; my 6 year old male quit dooking around the time he turned 5. Maybe it's like laughter in humans, and is something they do less and less as they get older... In my case, I think part of the problem was also depression; around the same time, we lost his best friend to lymphoma, and we both had a very hard time coping with it. You said you just brought yours home recently, maybe he is lamenting the loss of a cage mate? Ferrets have such complex emotions, it's tough to tell what they're feeling sometimes. Another possibility is that he isn't getting the stimulus he needs to be that excited. It's pretty common; ferrets are like 5 year olds with extreme ADD, they need constant stimulus while they're awake. I find that getting down on the floor and playing helps a lot; chase each other around, throw jingle balls around for him to catch, and keep trying new toys. If you give your fuzzy treats (I admit I'm weak, his cute little face demands treats!), try rattling the container so that he'll run up to you to get a treat. This is useful to get imbeded early, as you can use the same trick if he gets lost to help find him. Anything that will help stimulate his senses might help bring that sweet dook back! One thing that always seemed to cause a dook for me was a rice box; take a small plastic tote, fill it half-way with long-grain rice (should take quite a few bags), and let your fuzzy "swim" in it. It's messy to clean up, but hey, ferrets are totally worth it! Just be smarter than me, and do it on a solid surface, not on carpet (I'm STILL finding rice grains!!!)
Father of two:
Tanuuki (6 year male)
Mika (1 year female)
|
|
|
|
|
Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/9/2008 11:35:24 AM
Posts: 6,
Visits: 13
|
|
| You were right a tray of deep rice was very funny and made a few dooks pop out! He has lots to play with and I play with him everyday. Took him to the vets this moning for castration but the vet was ill and never called me so we just had to come straight back. When we came home he dooked loudly all round the kitchen as if he was pleased to see it again! He is now 'swimming' in rice, beautiful mess underway!
|
|
|
|
|
Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/29/2008 11:52:53 PM
Posts: 21,
Visits: 64
|
|
[/img][ ]Sounds like buddy is loving the rice!
Darlene,Koby&Dontae ~ Remembering Abby&Nike
|
|
|
|