biting ferret! =[

[Saff]

hi does anyone have some tips on how to get my ferret to be soft and loverble. Because atm I am handaling her everyday ( with gloves on ) but if I take off my gloves and try tickle her or pick her up she will flick round and try bite me I have tryed scruffing her and saying no but it still isn't helping. Has anyone got some fool proof tips on how to stop her from doing this? Thanks for looking,
Saffy xx =[

[Andy b 1]

a ferret is a ferret they bite....

[Zoo-Man]

Originally Posted by Saff

hi does anyone have some tips on how to get my ferret to be soft and loverble. Because atm I am handaling her everyday ( with gloves on ) but if I take off my gloves and try tickle her or pick her up she will flick round and try bite me I have tryed scruffing her and saying no but it still isn't helping. Has anyone got some fool proof tips on how to stop her from doing this? Thanks for looking,
Saffy xx =[

Hi there,

I was going to suggest the scruffing & saying NO firmly, til I read your post to the end. You could try smearing lemon juice or something else bad tasting on your hands so when she bites she gets a nasty taste in her mouth.

[denny2]

this method is not for the fainthearted, but when he tries to bite stick your finger down his throat and make him gag. It usualy works very quickly but make sure you have short nails as you could cause damage to his throat .....my aunt had one called psycho for that very reason, sticking her finger down his throat cured the biting in one go, he,s probably just playing ....but it cant be allowed ...

[denny2]

Originally Posted by Andy b 1

a ferret is a ferret they bite....

i disagree not all ferrets bite , my last one billynever ever bit anyone and loved playing with our spaniel he loved my nanna and would run up her leg and lick her face , she was on the verge of dementure and thought he was a monkey lol.

[Fixx]

Originally Posted by denny2

this method is not for the fainthearted, but when he tries to bite stick your finger down his throat and make him gag. It usualy works very quickly but make sure you have short nails as you could cause damage to his throat .....my aunt had one called psycho for that very reason, sticking her finger down his throat cured the biting in one go, he,s probably just playing ....but it cant be allowed ...

A lightly less drastic way of doing this is to offer a knuckle to be bitten. The ferret won't be able to get a grip to bite properly, but when it tries gently puch the knuckle into it's mouth, not enough to cause pain but eough that it is uncomfortable. Alongside scruffing and 'ssssss-ing' at them I find this to be the most effective method.

[denny2]

Originally Posted by Fixx

A lightly less drastic way of doing this is to offer a knuckle to be bitten. The ferret won't be able to get a grip to bite properly, but when it tries gently puch the knuckle into it's mouth, not enough to cause pain but eough that it is uncomfortable. Alongside scruffing and 'ssssss-ing' at them I find this to be the most effective method.

my knuckles are too large to go in my mouth let alone a ferrets , a knuckle a finger whats the difference they both cause discomfort in fact a knuckle would be wide enough to break his jaw, where as a finger wouldnt it just makes them gag and i never said cause him pain..,,,,.

[Kylie]

There is one fool proof method that does not envolve pushing fingers anywhere!! they advice on here is begining to concern me but hey..

You have to let the ferret see that your fingers are a good thing. Ferrets are amazingly intelligent creatures and it does not take them long to click on!

Everytime you get the ferret out dont just go in a grab her let her come to you and offer her a treat on the flat of your hand so she has to stand on you to get it. You have to remember ferrets are small creatures to see a huge gloved hand coming towards them has to be scarey all she needs is to get used to your hands and your smell by puttin on gloves you are blocking the smell

try also puttin a jumper or t shirt that smells of you in with her to allow her to get used to you.

it sounds to me like this ferret is not only nervous but is also lonely does she have a friend? if not she is seeing you as the other ferret and unfortunately ferret skin is alot tougher then human she is just playing and the only way of getting her to realise that her plaing is too rough is to get her a friend...

but please dont try choking her try not being so nervous round her she knows your scared!

[denny2]

Originally Posted by Kylie

There is one fool proof method that does not envolve pushing fingers anywhere!! they advice on here is begining to concern me but hey..

You have to let the ferret see that your fingers are a good thing. Ferrets are amazingly intelligent creatures and it does not take them long to click on!

Everytime you get the ferret out dont just go in a grab her let her come to you and offer her a treat on the flat of your hand so she has to stand on you to get it. You have to remember ferrets are small creatures to see a huge gloved hand coming towards them has to be scarey all she needs is to get used to your hands and your smell by puttin on gloves you are blocking the smell

try also puttin a jumper or t shirt that smells of you in with her to allow her to get used to you.

it sounds to me like this ferret is not only nervous but is also lonely does she have a friend? if not she is seeing you as the other ferret and unfortunately ferret skin is alot tougher then human she is just playing and the only way of getting her to realise that her plaing is too rough is to get her a friend...

but please dont try choking her try not being so nervous round her she knows your scared!

HEY . NO ONE MENTIONED CHOKING THE BL>>DY THING > this is a method ferret people have used for years and works . and does not hurt them . some ferrets get into the habbit of biting and no amount of pussyfooting about with treats can stop them , nip it in the bud , straight off and ferret learns , its not harmfull and certainly dosnt choke them , to choke them means to bring them to near death by asphixiation no one suggested that....

[Kylie]

pushin you finger into a ferrets mouth is not a good thing i run a rescue for ferrets and this method can petrifie a ferret and makes it more nervous it is not a fool proof way, treats and doing things slowly will earn a ferrets love i have 5 of my own none if which will bite even if provoked i am working with a ferret that since day one has bitten me so hard but since starting this method only 10days ago i can now handle her daily and have now got to the stage where i can get a harness on her and trim her nails without being bitten once

ferrets turn otu better if you treat them with respect and take things slow why force them to be scared of you.

the little girl im working with has caused me to loose the tips of 2 of my fingers and the edge of my little finger nail but now will give me kisses and cuddles with out biting

please try this method first there is no point having a ferret scared of you.

Denny2 just out of interest do you work your ferrets?

i do find people that work there ferrets tend to have different methods to those that want them as pets