Hi, all!
 
        I know a few people have commented on the ferrets in the Beastmaster
already, but I thought I'd add my $.02.  It was one of my favourite movies
when it used to appear on HBO when I was, I think, in early high school.
It's been on network TV and TBS several times now.  The two ferrets, Kodo and
Podo, spend the better part of the movie riding in Marc Singer's (the
Beastmaster) bag.  Due to the gift he has for communicating with animals, he
is able to get their help in several situations in which thievery is needed.
They are all to happy to oblige (ex:  Singer needs keys to prison cell.
Singer ties rope around ferret and asks him/her to get keys.  Singer lowers
rope, ferret dook dooks over to guard, steals keys, and narrowly escapes
getting caught as Singer pulls him/her back up.  ex 2:  city gate needs
closed -- rope must be cut.  Singer sends both ferrets to chew threw rope.
Guard sees one and pulls her tail to straighten her out and chop her in two
as ferret dililgently continues chewing (a ferret ignore all surroundings
while mouth is occupied? -- nooo :) ).  Other ferret sees guard and quickly
bites hand -- knife chops rope instead of ferret and both jump off the gate
into the awaiting wagon full of hay and return to Singer's bag).  Okay, a
little fancy on the stunts, and as mentioned before, the chattering sounds
they make throughout the movie are totally unferret-like (but I think movie
producers just can't abide an animal with no sounds).  But all in all, they
depict ferrets as mischievous little creatures who just happen to be using
their mischief for the powers of good.  And the sadness of one dying when he
jumps at the villian and as a result falls into the fiery pit with him is
made up for by the brand new baby fuzzies at the end.  Personally, I think
it's pretty good for such an old movie, especially when newer things like NE
can't seem to get it right.
 
Sorry this is so long, but I also wanted to comment on the high-strung Zuki --
my Tribble was bought as a baby, so it wasn't so much teaching an older
ferret new tricks as yours is, but she took a good year of *persistent*
discipline and love before she calmed down and became what I look for in a
ferret.  I achieved this by simply relentlessly correcting her (generally
scruff, loud `no' in face, and nose flick hard enough to make her eyes water
a little) when she did wrong and relentlessly showing her affection when she
did good or was just hanging around.  When I got married and she had twice
the attention, she improved exponentially.  I think that although she acted
like she wanted none of it, actually she was dying for attention but just
didn't know how to ask for it in a positive way.  Now she does.  She's still
my naughtier one, but she doesn't bite and `Tribble, `NO!' actually works
from across the room.  The trick is consistency and lots of love.  Good luck.
 
Also, to add to the taller litterbox thing -- if you're concerned about their
being able to get in, just cut out part of one side so it's shallower.  I use
plastic shoeboxes from Walmart and do that -- costs less than $2 each and
works a *treat* -- perfect ferret size.
 
Laura L'Heureux Kupkee, Trella, and Tribble
U. of Illinois Vet Med Class of `96
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[Posted in FML issue 0962]