Okay, so I'm sure everyone complains about this but I donot know what to do. I have three ferrets - and the one with the problem is a 6 month old gib called Snickers. He is constantl atacking feet and legs - no matter what. Scruffing, bitter spray (he LIKES the stuff), draggin, sumply saying no, does not work! Any ideas? Thanx
2007-02-07 07:40:35 · 10 answers · asked by Jessica T 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
One of my four ferrets does this as well. Any time any of our ferrets bite, they are punished the way the vet taught us to do - Pick up your ferret and hold him tight, (not hurting him) and stick your finger in his mouth. He will not be able to bite down to hurt you, and you are not hurting him, but it is an unpleasent feeling for them. After a while, they will associate biting with the uncomforable feeling.
Understand, ferrets play with each other by wrestling and nipping each other. The "objective" in ferret play is for one ferret to grab the other by the scruff of the neck. The ferret doing the grabbing is established the dominant one. This behavior reverts back to when the ferrets were kits, and the mother established dominance by grabbing the babies by the scruff. A ferret's skin is much tougher than a humans, made to withstand this nipping. Ferrets don't understand that they are hurting you, unless you teach them the behavior is wrong.
2007-02-08 19:59:55 · answer #1 · answered by Angel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both stories sound about as likely to me. A pit bull just might at one time mistake a baby's toes for teats; anything can happen once. On the other hand, ferrets can bite as a sign of affection--I speak from experience--and I can picture a ferret accidentally cutting through a baby's toes.
2016-05-24 03:52:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's just being normal. If he isn't biting hard or going to hurt anybody you'll have an easier time letting him grow out of it. If he's actually biting then catch him every time right away and give him a tap on the nose or a flick on top of the head and tell him "No". You might also put him away for a short time out. It works and a biting habit is not one you want. But it's a lot of to stop him from just playing. Good luck
P.S. Many ferrets are attracted to white socks. Could that be part of it. Try dark socks and see if it helps. Sometimes it does and sometimes not.
2007-02-07 07:50:55 · answer #3 · answered by emily 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to distract him till he forgets that behavior ferrets are extremely attracted to noises like rings, buzzes, and clicks, I had my ferret trained to come to this pen that had a buzz on it when he started out being a biter like that I would pick him hold him like a baby and make him chew a pacifier (it was funny ) He eventually picked up the habit of hiding everything I bought him to play with which made for a great game of hide and seek.
2007-02-07 14:56:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One thing not to do is to flick them on the nose, would you like it if someone did that to you? Try spraying him with a water bottle, not to often, but since scruffing and bitter apple isn't working you could try that.
2007-02-07 09:20:15 · answer #5 · answered by waitingfortomorrow 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
use the time out method. find a kennel and put him in there until he settles down again. if that doesn't work tell people to keep their shoes on.
2007-02-07 11:22:18 · answer #6 · answered by MommyCaleb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For toes, try painting your nails with a nail polish that is ment to stop nail biting.
2007-02-07 08:05:46 · answer #7 · answered by gravilovesfruuba 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
flick his nose and tell him no most ferrets are stubborn so you'll have to do this a few times
2007-02-07 08:25:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ferrets always do this, but you can put bitter apple on your toes or something. don't worry though, he's normal!
2007-02-07 09:16:47 · answer #9 · answered by ferrets4ever 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wear shoes..:)
2007-02-07 07:51:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋