{ From:   "Bill Goldberg" <[log in to unmask]>
{ Thanks to all of the people who helped me find a place to send my
{ ferrets.  It was really tough to get rid of them, but I didn't feel
 
I'm sorry...  why did you get rid of them?
 
{ From:   Brad Laraway <[log in to unmask]>
{ > From:   "Seth Morabito" <[log in to unmask]>
{ > blood almost every time, (perhaps I'm just thin-skinned :-, ) and usually
{ > hangs on through three or four sharp "NO!"'s and nose-flicks   She'll
{
{         What I've found out is my ferrets don't mind a thump on the nose
{ all that much.  But a lite tug on a wisker or two drives them crazy.
 
Another thing to do with biters is to let them bite your finger and then
stick it partially down their throat.  Not very nice but not dangerous.
You let them get uncomfortable and squirm abit after which you remove your
finger and give them another chance to be good.  :)
 
I think that we must remember that these little fuzzies are Ferrets and not
baby humans.  Ther are tough as nails and if you treat them like they treat
themselves they will respect you.  I find that I can "act" like a ferret and
hiss and eep at them and they respond appropriately.  :)  I think my wife
thinks I am loosing it when I hiss and bare my fangs.  :)
 
Just remember consistancey, kindness and instant swift retaliation work.
We had two biters that now only bite during officially sanctioned play
activties.
 
{ on how stop older ferrets from biting.  I guess he spent the last two
{ years stuck in a cage with out any human contact at all.  They didn't
{ even like to change the litter for fear of getting bit.
 
Our second ferret is 3 years old.  She no longer bites.  She did when we got
her.  If ferrets aren't socialised properly they don't know how to act around
humans.  In this case they are like human children.  People like the ones
you described SUCK!  Now that 'Ness and I own two carpet sharks we are almost
immune to nipping and biting of any ferrets regardless of age.  This is due to
us knowing how they are going to act and being able to act faster that they. :)
 
Good luck.
{ ---------------------------------------
{ From:   [log in to unmask]
{ I have two female ferrets (Moki, a year old white with silver guard
{ hairs, and Binky, a 3 month old sable), and live with three cats (also
{ females).
 
Where did you get the name Moki?
I am just curious because a character on Fraggle Rock is also named Moki.
{ ---------------------------------------
{ From:   [log in to unmask]
{
{ One of those "hard-shelled orangey flying bugs that collect on screen doors
{ after dark" was flying around.
 
June Bug?
--
Brian & 'Nessa (watched over by) Priscilla & Herman (carpet sharks)
"Maybe it's a gift, a special talent that I, alone, possess!"  --Wembley
"Maybe it's a curse, a special weirdness that only you are stuck with!"  --Red
 
[Posted in FML issue 0521]