Hi, we have our first ferret, an 11 week old kit from a breeder. He's been home a day and from what I've read he's an extremely hard play biter.
We let him come out the cage on his own and he's very bouncy and playful, but when he nips he nips HARD – hard enough to break the skin every time. It's also hard to scruff him because when I go to scruff, he turns and bites that hand too. I'm almost certain it's play as he has bouncy happy body language and does the side-to-side play dance.
Would appreciate any advice on how to nip train him. We're going to buy some bitter apple spray today to see if that helps.
Scruffing is now considered a method that causes aggression, especially dragging, in some ferrets. It works with some, but can cause severe dominance and aggression in other ferrets, which you deserve if you dominant the animal all the time. It doesn't hurt them of course, but it's how they dominate, when older they aren't scruffed by mom or for any reason other than dominating. Like when breeding or fighting, or putting someone in their place. You should train them to accept it, but not for punishment because they know the difference. Having a sin-bin is the best method. Basically something small and dull for time-outs(three to five minutes max, ignored, don't talk when you let them out, just put them in for biting with a no-bite command and let them initiate play when they get out, provided it's not with a bite).
thanks for the really great advice, I just bought a ferret not to long ago and he's been a lil trouble maker, nipping, trying to rip his cage open, but I have hope he can learn.
btw totally random but don't use eye liner. your eyes are freakin drop dead gorgeous blue. I found it hard to pay attention to you and not your cute eyes.
My Vet told me that the rough grooming is to do with accepting you into their social group. especially if you have more than one ferret. The Vet taught me how to use it to my advantage to stop my ferrets from biting. He said that as soon as they bit scruff them with one hand and with your other hand hold their jaw shut firmly but obviously not to hurt them. Then, making sure you had a good grip with both hands lick their nose with your tongue for a second or so. Then move them away from your face and let them go. I was very nervous at first doing it as I have had some very nasty bites but within a week both my ferrets had stop biting me completely. I was utterly amazed! The Vet said it is about asserting your dominance and that they are being accepted into your 'pack/group' rather than you into theirs.
Jennifer Dale
Thank-you!
Joshua Negron
Very helpful
Anon Ymous
Hi, we have our first ferret, an 11 week old kit from a breeder. He's been home a day and from what I've read he's an extremely hard play biter.
We let him come out the cage on his own and he's very bouncy and playful, but when he nips he nips HARD – hard enough to break the skin every time. It's also hard to scruff him because when I go to scruff, he turns and bites that hand too. I'm almost certain it's play as he has bouncy happy body language and does the side-to-side play dance.
Would appreciate any advice on how to nip train him. We're going to buy some bitter apple spray today to see if that helps.
Sasha Street
do you have an Instagram account? love your videos ???
skyla smith1234567890
thare was 39 likes so i just liked it so it will be 40 likes XD
Demi Liz
Awesome advice 🙂 This video is extremely helpful!
sylverclaws
Scruffing is now considered a method that causes aggression, especially dragging, in some ferrets. It works with some, but can cause severe dominance and aggression in other ferrets, which you deserve if you dominant the animal all the time. It doesn't hurt them of course, but it's how they dominate, when older they aren't scruffed by mom or for any reason other than dominating. Like when breeding or fighting, or putting someone in their place. You should train them to accept it, but not for punishment because they know the difference. Having a sin-bin is the best method. Basically something small and dull for time-outs(three to five minutes max, ignored, don't talk when you let them out, just put them in for biting with a no-bite command and let them initiate play when they get out, provided it's not with a bite).
Pete Kozi
thanks for the really great advice, I just bought a ferret not to long ago and he's been a lil trouble maker, nipping, trying to rip his cage open, but I have hope he can learn.
btw totally random but don't use eye liner.
your eyes are freakin drop dead gorgeous blue. I found it hard to pay attention to you and not your cute eyes.
rainbowbookworm
My Vet told me that the rough grooming is to do with accepting you into their social group. especially if you have more than one ferret. The Vet taught me how to use it to my advantage to stop my ferrets from biting. He said that as soon as they bit scruff them with one hand and with your other hand hold their jaw shut firmly but obviously not to hurt them. Then, making sure you had a good grip with both hands lick their nose with your tongue for a second or so. Then move them away from your face and let them go. I was very nervous at first doing it as I have had some very nasty bites but within a week both my ferrets had stop biting me completely. I was utterly amazed! The Vet said it is about asserting your dominance and that they are being accepted into your 'pack/group' rather than you into theirs.
DMAN D
do they smell?I have been told they do but I also had rats and was told they smell and had really no problem