Could someone please tell me how to deal with aggressive ferrets?

Question

The neighbors gave my daughter two ferrets a little over a month ago. The neighbors acquired them from someone else I believe, but they are only about a year old, or at least that's what the neighbors said. The neighbors didn't tell us they were giving us two out of control, nightmare ferrets. I've owned a ferret before but it was nothing like this. They run from us and hide and bite really hard. I've tried and tried to be loving and gentle and play with them, but they are so mean. The female is not as mean as the male when it comes to humans, but she does bite and she really hates the dogs. She runs up behind my lab and pit bull and bites them on the hind legs. My pit bull was asleep and she came up and bit him in the eye and was hanging from his eyelid today.

I'm at my wits end, but I can't see sending them to live somewhere else. I wouldn't want to put anyone else through what we go through and the ferrets have been moved around enough!

Answer 1

I reccomend going to your nearest pet store and purchasing the book "My Outta Control Ferret." I think you should be able to find it...I have seen it at all the local chains.

I hate to tell you but these ferrets are not out of control. They are exhibiting "scarred ferret" behavior as well as "playful behavior". Most ferrets do not bite by nature. They grow out of it with time. When ferrets have been inproperly handled (as yours have been) they continue to bite and develope bad habbits. Put yourself in the ferrets shoes...you are their third owner!! That alone is enough to ruin a perfectly good ferret. Not only this but I have no doubt that these ferrets have been exposed to small children and obviously other animals.

As far as biting humans...that is unacceptable and when the ferrets are properly trained you will not have this problem anymore. What she was doing to your dog was "initiate play behavior". The ferret was telling your dog that he/she wanted to play. It is also called a "warrior dance" of all things. :)

I reallllllllly suggest that you confine your ferrets to one room and ONE ROOM only! Keep all children and pets away from them for some time. Ferrets are extremely active and need a lot of time out of their cage. I have two ferrets. I confine them to my bedroom. I provide them with a lot of toys, treats and attention. I also have a 5 year old...I limit her time with them a lot because she does not know her strength. The only time I lock my ferrets in the cage is when I am sleeping. The rest of the day they enjoy running around and exploring.

Handling your ferrets is important for a lot of reasons. I think you are going to have to give these ferrets some space and let them discover you first. Keep them in one room...spend a lot of time in that room with them. Keep all animals and children away from them for now. Keep treats and toys handy. I have found that my ferrets love childrens toys. Nothing with too small parts or rubbery materials as they like to chew these and can choke. Once you start offering toys and treats and the ferrets start showing interest in you then you can begin trying to pick them up and pet them. If the ferret bites right off the bat do not throw them down! You are teaching the ferret..."OK...if I bite my owner they will put me down and I can run away." You will be teaching a bad habbit and not even know it. If they bit give them a light bop on the nose. They will let go and then you can give them a treat. THEN put the ferret down and repeat the process.

You can make nice pets out of these guys! I think the situations they have been in were not happy ones. Unfortunately this is what happens when people purchase animals that they are not knowledgeable about. Check out these sites as well. They should help you a lot.

http://www.ferretsr1.org/caring/
http://www.ferret-universe.com/

There are many other sites...you can find them by just searching with the term "ferret".

I am a long time ferret owner. I can help you and answer any questions. E-mail me any time...
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Answer 2

training a ferret is hard, I have two and one of them is deaf. Both of them play hard. Since a ferrets skin is so tough they don't realize that they are nipping too hard when they play with humans.
Did your neighbors keep them in a cage all the time? If they did that could account for the wild behavior.

The way I get Dustin, the one who can hear, to come to me is to squeeze a squeak toy. He is greedy and will come to me to take it away. Diego is another story, (he is deaf) I'm thinking of buying a pen light and training him to come when he sees the light.

My ferrets play rough with my chihuahuas too. In fact, when they out for recreation time.....my dogs take off and climb up as high on the couch as they can. (they forget ferrets are wonderful climbers ha ha).
Ferrets are just naturally rough players. Just remember to let them out for at least three hours of playtime a day and they should settle down some as they adjust to their environment.
Good Luck,

Answer 3

wow, this is a tough one. umm, have you tried bribing it to trust you, with treats or something. maybe buy a playpen from the store, and let them run around in that, so that they aren't running around the house, biting people, and your dog. you could do that, or just use the playpen as a time-out. when they bite or soemthing put them in there for 10 minutes. yah, i wouldn't want them to be passed around either.

best of luck to you and your ferrets, and i hope i could've helped :)

Answer 4

that is why they continually go from home to home....they are aggressive and there is not really too much that you can do... unlike dogs, cats, etc. they so not respond to verbal commands
anyways, this site http://www.practical-pet-care.com/ferret_question.php?ID=2.20 has many links that may can help you out, but if they continue to be agressive toward you,your child, and the dog.....I'd be finding them a new home!

Answer 5

treat them like their mother would when they were little. grab them by the scruff and give them a light tap on the nose and use a firm no. we did it with my aunts and it worked.