From:
kittydoc2@aol.com
Date: 2002-06-26 13:21:00 UTC
Subject: Very nippy boy
Hi---
This only partially qualifies as a health question - and mostly human health!
I recently obtained a young male - about 14 weeks old - who was alone in a
pet store fish tank for 6-7 weeks. He had little to no human handling. I
could not stand to watch him beg for attention one more day - so I took him.
He lives with 3 other ferrets in an environment where he is handled by 3-4
people daily. He has 2-3 hours of playtime a day, but much of it is with the
other ferrets and not constantly with people. (We come and go - he is in a
workplace)
The problem is he is *very* nippy. He actively seeks out people to bite - and
prefers the muscles of the lower leg. He will run by and tackle you,
seriously drawing blood. He will jump from chairs to bite - and will climb up
your pants leg to latch on. He also will bite hands and forearms. I have
major scars from him, and at least 1 other person has the perfect arcade from
his teeth on their leg.
He is also mean to the other ferrets, wrestling very rough, but not to the
point of bloodshed. A very vocal guy, he screams murder when any of the
ferrets bite back. I do not interfere with these battles.
I take all 4 ferrets home for the weekends - and he terrifies my cats and
dog, as well as my other ferrets. He will jump on the back of the cats and
latch on and draw blood.
I have tried bitter apple on my body parts, and he bites harder. I have
scruffed him consistently every time he bites, saying "no bite" - he bites me
as I release his scruff. I have tried to ignore him completely, as well as
provide a time out in his cage. I even tried screaming (disproportionately
loudly) YOUCH everytime he bites. I only succeed in scaring all of the good
ferrets. I've always been able to discourage nippers through consistent
training before- but I am stumped on him.
I can move him home full time so he has only 1 person training him. But, he
hurts me so much that I find myself avoiding him, and I can't do that and
train him. What should I do?
Any and all advice appreciated. He lives in a public place and I really need
to have him friendly! He is such a cute and entertaining little guy - I just
want to snuzzle him and get kisses - not constant bloodshed! I have 40+ bites
on my legs from this weekend as we "speak". Most bites were "launch" attacks
- on the fly - and not while I was handling him. He will bite even when held,
or being spoken to.
Thanks all!
-Sandra