From:
"joclynatuo"
Date: 2007-12-03 22:47:01 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: aggressive ferret, prozac dosage?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
i've had extremely good luck with the following procedure:
always say Uh-Uh-Uh when they attempt to bite and/or latch on. then
they are immediately scruffed and brought to my eye-level for a stare-
down as well as loudly saying NO Bite! while i have an angry look on
my face. i hold eye-contact until they look away (or yawn, which is
the usual response, lol). if they're still fussing, i'll do a bit of
dragging them on their back, too. i've also done the puffing air in
the face (just make the soft P sound)
i always do the Uh-Uh, scruff, say NO Bite while looking them in the
eye. other things are added if they repeat the offense immediately.
length of time for scruff/drag depends on how severe the offense is as
well as if it was repeated (repeats get longer reprimands and/or more
things added to it).
time-outs have only helped if they can see that you're still out
playing with the others - they just want to play, after all, and
seeing the others having all the fun while they're not really gets the
point across.
basically, you have to do the same thing as reprimand every time (and
everyone in the house has to use the same procedure so he doesn't get
mixed signals). and you ALWAYS have to do the reprimand. even if you
know they only bit in play and even when you know that they realized
they made a mistake - if that's the case, just do a cursory reprimand
(really short scruff and NO and let them go). consistancy is key (and
perserverance with those that are really stubborn/obstinant).
doing the drag on the back bit helps them to realize that you are
alpha over them. sounds like this little one doesn't quite get that
point. so you might want to include that in the reprimand for a
while - you can even do the drag and then use your free hand held over
his tummy to hold him in place for a moment, too. it's all about
asserting dominance and restricting his movements will do that. maybe
not right away, it will work though over time.
also, he's still kind of a kit. i still had some issues with my boo up
until about he was about 2 years old. he was really obstinant about it
and was very slow to learn - would be fine for a bit and then
relapse. so you might just need to hold out for another couple of
months until he grows completely out of the kit stage.
boo's now a complete cuddler and the few times he has gotten me
recently was purely in play and he really just mouthed (where as
before his goal was to draw blood). i still do a quick uh-uh and
scruff and eye him and say no, tho. actually, he's gotten to the
point where, as soon as i say uh-uh-uh, he eases off his grip and will
let go - an amazing difference from the blood-drawing dervish that
almost ended up with the moniker 'count vlad'!
i'd recommend working with him a bit longer before going the route of
medicating. i know it's frustrating - and i know it's hard to keep
calm or be patient when he's ripping your hand to shreds. it's
important to do those two things though - he can (and does) pick up on
what you're feeling. keeping yourself in check and in control will
eventually get the point across that his behaviour is unacceptable.
good luck and give us an update in a bit!
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