FERRET-SEARCH@LISTSERV.FERRETMAILINGLIST.ORG
|
|
Subject: | |
From: | |
Date: | Wed, 30 Aug 2000 07:37:28 -0600 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Maybe it's the "terrible twos" but Baldrick has recently begun to nip
people hard. (Hard, as in drawing blood.) He's become sort of a vampire
ferret. We love him, but it is impossible to get houseguests to wear
cloves of garlic around their necks.
The weird thing is, he never bites Scott or me -- we taught him when he was
a kit that we are the "parent ferrets" and that nipping us is a good way to
get hissed at and to get his face covered with sloppy wet kisses (oh the
strictness). Occasionally we would do the scruff-n-drag thing but the most
effective technique for us was the hiss-n-kiss. We assumed he had learned
not to nip people hard, but instead he has learned not to nip US hard --
everybody else is fair game.
The only thing I've been able to think of is to attempt to enlist
houseguests, friends and family who are visiting, in our hiss-n-kiss
campaign when he nips. Unfortunately, they have for the most part been
very reluctant to do this; it seems they would rather show how tough they
are by enduring his nips stoically (mostly with good humor) than to
discipline a ferret whom we obviously love. Maybe they don't want to hurt
his/our feelings, or maybe they are embarrassed to hiss at a ferret, but
for whatever reason he's not learning the right lesson. I'm worried he
might eventually nip a lawyer or somebody like that.
We have some houseguests from England right now; this morning he wandered
into the childrens' room; we found him when their terrified screams began
echoing down the hall. *Sigh*
Any suggestions/support would be welcome.
Thanks!
Brandon
[Posted in FML issue 3159]
|
|
|