From:
"Ailigh"
Date: 2008-04-07 16:07:47 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: My ferrets are fighting..help!
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I figured I might be opening up a can of worms. The The original
alpha/dominance model came from short-term studies of wolf packs done
in the 1940s. These studies were a good start, but later research has
essentially disproved most of the findings. There were three major
flaws in these studies:
1. Short term so the focus was on parts of wolf life like hunting.
This would be like drawing a conclusion from watching an episode of
One Tree Hill and applying it to human behavior.
2. The studies observed what are now known to be ritualistic displays
and misinterpreted them. Unfortunately, this is where the bulk of the
"dominance model" comes from, and though the information has been
soundly disproved, it still thrives.
3. Finally, after the studies, the researchers made cavalier
extrapolations from wolf-dog, dog-dog, and dog-human based on their
"findings." Unfortunately, this nonsense still abounds.
(Some of this quoted or re-worded from an article)
Basically what we have done is determine how dogs behave equal to a
statement of I will learn how to parent by watching chimps! Ian
Dunbar and Peter Neville are 2 that write about "Debunking the
dominance myth" but people hold on tightly to what they think they
know. A lot of bad ideas have come from these early studies and they
aren't true when relating to wolves, much less dogs or ferrets. Wolf
behavior is basically benevolent ritualistic behavior much like a
family group, not a dictatorship. Force in wolf packs is about
killing not living as a working group that requires interaction to
survive.
Jean Donaldson relates the idea of submissive behavior as such:
"offers the Army as a human analogy. Lower-ranking soldiers first
salute their superiors with a flourish and then get a cursory salute
in return. This is a classic appeasement hierarchy. A general doesn't
enter a room and throw his weight around. He simply appears and
everyone starts saluting." As a companion animal behaviorist, I would
argue that labeling any behavior without understanding where it is
coming from is dangerous. A "submissive" dog may be sending warning
signals or approaching in play - they certainly aren't saying kill me
or you are better than me. "when I see a dog automatically rolling to
his back with his tale tucked when someone tries to touch him, that
looks 'submissive' to me.", but it isn't. It is more likely (human
words here) saying, I am no threat to you or appeasement or even
avoidance depending on eye contact. Lots of visual signals we humans
miss or overlook and generalize. Ok, I could go on about dogs, but
this is a ferret list!
Yes, ferrets are basically kits (even our adults because of
domestication and there are some great articles about Belyeav (sp?)
regarding this idea). Therefor, ferrets are littermates or small
family groups, not really a social species. Will they fight, yes.
They are a bunch of kids living in a forced social situation and
trying to figure out a comfortable way to live. Do they dominate, no.
They aren't trying to control the situation. Think of them more like
squabbling children. A hob may alter this family relationship since he
is in a kill or be killed state in order to mate (remember they are
not social and other ferrets mean competition). Intact dogs can live
together without killing each other, it may not be fun but it is
possible.
Thought on too much and when to break up a fight. If the ferret is
taking care of the situation, they THEY have it under control and your
interference can only make it worse. Think like "wait until mom gets
home" or "lets take this outside" instead of dealing with it here and
now. Bottle brush, screaming, running away, hiding, or struggling are
defenses are work. In all my years and ferrets I have never seen a
battle last forever. My hob (until recently) would rotate who he
would pick on, male or female, but would let it go for a while, but he
was intact. I have rehabilitated all kinds of crazy ferrets and none
fought so long that I did anything. I think if it is going on
forever, then someone or something has interfered so the more
aggressive ferret needs to keep going until he feels it is resolved.
I have also found that occasionally the ferret I thought was being
aggressive was actually responding to the inappropriate behavior of
the one I though was on the other end of it all. This is really
common in cats (also not a social species)
Ok, I have rambled on now for log enough. I hope this clarifies what
I was trying to say?
Ailigh
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