Broomie -
 
First the difference between a nip and a bite:
 
Bite - is hard, breaks the skin and you usually have to pry the ferret's
mouth open and off you
 
A Nip - is quick and doesn't break the skin, but it still hurts
 
Ferrets explore things with their mouths just like babies do, except they
don't always out grow it.  It seems like they always like to nip things
like, i.e., toes, lick, lick, lick, nip.
 
There are ways to train ferrets not to bite, but it isn't fool proof.  It
takes work on everyone's part.  If you are concerned for your 4 year old,
as you be with most kids, he should never be unsupervised with the ferret.
If you would be giving up the ferrets if they nip/bite, it would be best
not to get them.
 
Personally, if I were looking for 2 ferrets and I was presented with two
babes in bad housing, feeding and health conditions, I would not have
turned them away for being "defective".  This would show me that these
babes were made available to me because they needed me.  If the owner
isn't going to help them, can you help her learn what they need?  Is
there someone else in the area that could help or rescue these 2 cuties?
 
Here is how I nip and bite trained my guys:
 
This takes time and over the next month or two you will gradually see the
biting occurrences decrease.
 
Immediately and every time the ferret nips, yelp and say owie, cry,
anything your ferret does when hurt, then scruff the ferret, which will
look funny and yawn - I don't know why.  Scruffing is picking it up by
the loose skin on the back of the neck, like their Mom does.
 
Look into the face and say sternly and loud, "No bite, No bite!" several
times.  Blow in their face.  Then I drag them on the floor a little like
their Mom would.
 
Put the fert down and ignore it.
 
If it nips again, pick up the ferret and do it again.
 
If it doesn't nip again within a minute, reward the ferret by picking it
up and cuddling your furball.
 
It may take a long time for the baby to learn, a couple of times to
several weeks, but you will find they do it less often.
 
Now the critical thing is the ferret will be trained not to pick on you,
but if anyone else in your house is being nipped they must do the same
thing or the ferret will continue to nip them.  My husband wanted me to
be the bad guy and do the disciplining and couldn't figure out why the
ferret still nipped him.  Duh?
 
The other thing is when you play with them, don't let them nip your hands,
do the same thing.  They will be confused if you let them nip when playing
and don't discipline them but do it other times.
 
Consistency is the key!
 
Kim the Oregon one
 
Kim Reyes
Residential Specialist
John L. Scott Real Estate
Direct:  (503) 380-4195
Toll Free 1-877-490-2595
http://www.kimreyes.com
[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 3753]