Takora
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Biting ferret advice needed!
Hello, I'm having trouble with my new fuzzy.
I work at an animal shelter and we sometimes have fuzzies come in, however I have only ever seen biting ferrets. Even when they did try to eat my flesh, I LOVED them, I think they are the funniest, cutest creatures ever! I recently became obsessed with the idea of getting one to live in my house as I have lots of books that say they make wonderful pets, and my internet research also concluded this.
After lots of research (especially biting research as I have only ever met biting ferrets... I mean ferrets that instantly want to kill me, I've had wellies chewed through to get to my flesh!) I decided I would take the plunge. I brought home my 10mnth old albino male (soon to be neutered!) called Duvet Badger. In the shop I handled him, and the shop assistants played with him, he seemed like the perfect ferret! He came home that day, and again, the perfect ferret.
The next day my friend came over to visit him. We sat in his room so he could be in control of the visit. It was going well until he got his foot caught in the side of the bin. I rescued him instantly, and he carried on walking about the floor, then crawled up onto my lap, bit me and clung on. I know this was just a bite out of fear and adrenaline, so when I managed to unhook him from my wrist using a sink of water, I put him back in his bed and left him to cool down.
The next day i let him out, only i didnt give him the opportunity to bite. He was happy dancing around with his toys for a few hours. Then he started to climb his cage and tried reaching out to bite my arms and face. When he does try, I pick him up and put him in time out until he calms down. Then I let him out, he'll do the same thing, over and over, only sometimes hes fast enough to actually get me. He doesnt cling, but he does bury his teeth in, over and over. When he does actually bite, I remain calm and use a small water spray behind his ears as a distraction, then he will go into time out.
It has been a week, my hands are sore and bloody, my ferret obviously frustrated and with no sign we are going to get any better. Also, I have tried just holding him for about a minute at a time, stroking and talking softly to him during his play time... this he doesnt mind. Its just when he is not in my arms he tries to damage me.
I'm feeling disheartened, I work with dangerous dogs everyday, yet I've never met any animal do as much damage to me as my fuzzy. I'm starting to think that nice ferrets only exist in fairy tales.
Can anyone give me advice please?
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5/8/2007, 9:46 pm
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ferretjane
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Re: Biting ferret advice needed!
Hi there
Don't give up with him - it seems that he is having some settling in problems -
Was he with other ferrets when you rehomed him - it may well be that he is missing the company and the rough and tumble of the other ferrets - it may help to get a teddy bear and let him attack that in play
It also sounds like his hormones are running wild - neutereing will certainly help to calm him down.
The best thing is to have toys for him to play with and to interact with you when he has got rid of his energy
It is difficult to know exactly but it is very rare to find a ferret that is aggressive an not trainable - you seem to be doign the right thing giving him the time out - also use a loud no to him when he does wrong along with the time out and he will soon learn - we hope
I hope this helps a little
If you want to talk to me directly then please email me on ferretjane@tiscali.co.uk or give me a ring 07968331181
I will try and check in on here tomorrow but dont always get a chance to check it every day but i do my email
www.gemferret.co.uk
Jane
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5/10/2007, 7:46 pm
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shortisammi
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 Re: Biting ferret advice needed!
hi i suggest getting another ferret. plus ferrets love playing with water so thats prob why he doesn't notice that. One big huge draw back is that because u live in usa i gather!! u got ur ferret froma shop here in uk u can't get them from a shop. purely because it doesn't do the ferret any good at all. imagine all that taunting and all those horrible screaming children. way to much noise and personally im glad ferrets are band in most states cos they aren't cared for properly. u have let ur ferret adjust to calmer better conditions and no competition for food. i have 21 ferrets and all are one big happy family and get plenty of love and attention they are also spoilt rotten with toys. the diet your ferret may be on might affect him. cat food is a definate no as it is unhealthy for them and greatly reduces their life span. I have a polecat hob who loves to bite but he does when he wants to be put down or maybe he wants a toy he can't reach. you have to look deep into hwy they may be biting and use a stern NO when they do. and time out should not be in his house somewhere a bit dull and he finds his house coay and likes it. Only for a few minutes tho as lets face it they want to play and we want to play with them.
If he bites hard a good way off getting him off in holding him by the scruff of the neck as it does not hurt and he will loosen his grip. It is not advisable to get a teddy bear for him to attack as he will prob see it as ok the bite still. NEVER PLUNGE YOUR FERRET IN WATER. I would still bite you if you did that to me. Ferrets dont' just exist in fairy tales they are the most loving pets going.
Give him plenty to do. Maybe have some proper ferret treats to hand so that he associates you with nice yummy fun things and cuddles. Not too many treats tho as we don't wnat him getting fat.
I hope that i have helped you. let me know how your getting on.
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9/18/2008, 8:23 pm
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Wanda88
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Re: Biting ferret advice needed!
Hi Takora:
I'm glad to see your little critter has found a home. I have some experience with ferrets who bite. Below is an exerpt from a paper I wrote that tells you how to deal with your pet:
BITING: Ferrets are very loving and affectionate. However, your ferret is young and will probably bite. Biting is an inherent trait. It is how they play with each other. They need to be trained not to do this. A young ferret does not realize how hard they are biting. Apply some Bitter Apple spray, available at your local pet store, to your hands, arms and feet. You will get bitten a couple of times until he gets the idea that biting you tastes horrible. If you are afraid of getting bitten, put on shoes and heavy gloves and put the spray on them. Once they have stopped biting, you can use Ferret Tone (available at many pet stores) on your hands after washing off the Bitter Apple. This will encourage your pet to LICK your hands, not bite.
Scruffing your ferret will also help in bite training. Grab a good bunch of its fur and loose skin at the back of the neck and yell "NO" really loud when it bites. This does not hurt your pet as long as you don't shake it. Hold onto it until it yawns. Yawning is a sign of submission in the ferret world. While scruffing it, drag it gently across the floor a few feet. The Alpha ferret of the group does this to show dominance. The male also does this when breeding a female. It won't hurt your pet and will show it who is top dog in this household. It is also my preferred method of training in combination with the Bitter Apple spray. It is EXTREMELY important that you see your ferret yawn when you do this or you will have lost, and it will be harder next time to make it submit to you. Also, ferrets LOVE getting a reaction out of you, so if you are bitten, don't yell or pull away, as hard as that is. And don't put it down or it will equate biting with getting its own way. That will make the biting worse. Once it gives in by yawning, give it a treat. That way it associates "good things happening" with submission.
It is VERY important that you are not angry or frustrated when you try to teach your pet not to bite. Ferrets pick up on emotions very easily. If you feel like this, put your ferret back in its cage until YOU calm down.
Don't try to pick up or train your ferret when you first let it out of its cage. Let it run around for several minutes and blow off some steam. It will be more acceptable to training once it calms down.
And last, but not least, lots and lots of handling, playing and love will teach your pet that biting is bad, licking is good. And now you have an absolutely FAB little critter as your newest best friend.
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10/2/2008, 9:12 pm
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ralloctiger
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 Re: Biting ferret advice needed!
thankyou thankyou thankyou I now know that yawning is submission. This ffits so well with his play and being told off for trying to dig out the lounge. He thinks its a game and doesn't want to be picked up and moved so he lies on his back with his mouth open ready for any oncoming hands( never as real bite though) so when he is picked up and stroked/calmed /no shouted , he yawns apparently not cos he is bored or tired but because he knows im the boss hooray. but that still doesnt stop him playing the "dig out the lounge game"!!!
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4/10/2009, 10:36 am
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Tolsta
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Re: Biting ferret advice needed!
I 2 am also having problems with my ferret, George biting!, ive tried spray and time out, what else can i do?
my gill, mildred doesnt bite what so ever, please help
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6/9/2009, 8:32 am
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shys mum
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Re: Biting ferret advice needed!
im so happy that shy my first ferret hasnt evn tryed bteing lol thank god x
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9/7/2009, 11:04 pm
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