Okay, now, even though I'm new at this, I know enough about ferrets
from the reading to know that they (especially the youngsters) love to bite.
So here's my question.  Trella loves to play with me -- she likes it when I
tickle her tummy and she pretends to chew on my hand.  Occasionally, she bites
too hard and I correct her.  My question is, is this okay, or should all
biting be discouraged?  It seems that everytime I pick her up or anything, she
has her teeth ready (but like I said, she RARELY ever actually bites, she just
sort of pretends to chew).  What I'm afraid of is that she'll see me only as a
plaything and never get very affectionate (she would occasionally give me
kisses when I brought her up to my face; the past couple of days if she does
anything, she uses her teeth, again, not hard, but noses and lips are a lot
more sensitive!  I always correct her when she does this).  How do I encourage
the balance, and should I discourage all roughness?  How much of it will she
just grow out of?  Questions, questions, questions!  Thanks for your patience.
 I just want to make sure that she grows up to be gentle -- I want her to be a
good ambassador for ferrets when I take her out in public!  (Goodness knows
they need good examples -- it seems most people hear about the less
well-behaved ferrets out there)  The good news is she's starting to get pretty
attached to me -- she usually runs to me when she sees me -- makes a mom feel
pretty good! :-)
 
                             Laura
 
Laura L'Heureux
U. of Illinois VM96
[log in to unmask]
 
[Posted in FML issue 0309]