From:
Angela Espinet
Date: 2001-12-28 12:48:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Biting ferret!
I would like to make a comment about biting ferrets,
especially kits! Unfortunately ferrets seem to end up
at shelters all over the country, because the owner
could not control the biting kit, or what was
considered biting!
We all know that ferrets bite because of 'predatory'
behaviour and they naturally play with their siblings
this way! Ferrets have hard tough skin and are less
likely to feel the bite as we humans do! However
people buying in Pet Shops have no idea this is normal
behaviour and start out with the wrong treatment of
the ferret, who is not aware it is doing something
wrong and continues on!
In the wild the kits play to prepare themselves to
hunt their prey and needless to say 'kill' it also!
Those vicious little teeth come down on human skin
harder than we would like sometimes and here lies the
problem! Unsuspecting owners now perceive this as a
confrontation of sorts, which is not the case.
The kit needs a lot of attention and a playmate! it
would therefore be better to sit down on the floor and
spend time showing it, what 'acceptable' behaviour is!
LOVE works wonders, along with firm discipline, rather
than constant reprimands, which will only make the
ferret worse, if it brings the needed attention!
Working with a kit or an older ferret that bites
can best be done by sitting in a room(cover legs with
towels if need be) with toys and interacting with the
ferret, as it approaches to bite, try to distract it
with a toy and if it continues relentlessly, then pick
it up by the scuff(as it's mother would do) and firmly
use it's name and a meaningful NO!
Obviously, since ferrets are born to play, that is
furthermost on it's mind and we just need to show it
the right way of 'ferret/human play'! In time the
ferret will look forward to those moments of 'one on
one interaction' and will know it's limitations!
Many ferrets have lost their lives because of the
misinterpretation of a bite and because the kits are
not given the needed attention that they crave! Giving
the ferret 'that special time to share' will create a
lasting bond between owner and ferret!---Angela.
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