RE: I have a few things I would like to ask today.  One is for those of you
who own dogs and ferrets.  What types of dogs generally get along well with
ferrets?  Is it the larger dogs or smaller dogs that get along well, or does
it even matter?  We were thinking of (not any time very soon) getting a Jack
Russell Terrier, so I didn't know how well (or not well) they would get
along with ferrets.  I also didn't know how it would be with another breed
of dog, either.
 
 
Hi Meghan -
We have a (large) shetland sheepdog.  She does very well with our ferrets -
doesn't attack them, hunt them etc.  Meep, our male ferret, and she play
tag, sniff each other, and in general get along well although I haven't
ever caught them sleeping together (although Meep has tried!).  Daisy, our
little female, does the nip and run routine on Shelley's feet and needless
to say this isn't a close relationship.  Shelley is very tolerating of
Daisy but even so when a nip hurts, Shelley reacts with a jerk, a growl,
and if Daisy is close she gets tossed with Shelley's nose or paw.
 
If you are going to introduce a ferret and a dog to each other, WATCH them
carefully and be sure the ferret has somewhere (or several somewheres) he
can run and hide that your dog can not get to.  We did find that in our
house, the ferrets tended to be more aggressive than our dog, but I doubt
that is true most of the time.  And unless, after a LOT of time has gone
by, I wouldn't leave both free in the same room when I wasn't there.
 
Karla
[Posted in FML issue 2405]